13 Days Safari

Tour description
Discover the still largely unknown national parks of the south. On the way to the national parks you will get many more impressions about people and culture than on a pure flying safari. Drive through villages, cities, mountains and different landscapes. In the national parks you will encounter with a little luck the rare African wild dogs, lions and large herds of buffalo and elephants. Afterwards the small pearl Lazy Lagoon, a private peninsula, offers relaxation and recreation. Look forward to the white picture book beach in a turquoise blue lagoon.

Private guided tour with multilingual driver/guide in a 4 × 4 safari vehicle.

Day 1: Dar es Salaam
Your friendly driver/guide is already waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your hotel in Dar es Salaam. Smell the fresh sea air and relax in a cosy atmosphere.
(B/-/- | Transfer Airport Dar es Salaam (approx. 45 minutes) | Overnight stay: Slipway Hotel)

Day 2: Selous Game Reserve
After an extensive breakfast on the beautiful terrace of your hotel you will leave the coast and the sea behind you. The landscape slowly becomes hilly and you pass many small villages and settlements on your way to the big wilderness. Around noon you reach the Selous Game Reserve, the largest controlled game reserve in Africa. On the way to the lodge you will pass through Miombo forests, which shed their leaves in the dry season, and through open grasslands littered with trees, where wildlife can be easily observed. In the late afternoon you move into your comfortable tent chalet with beautiful views of the legendary Rufiji River.
(B/L/D | Drive Dar es Salaam – Selous Game Reserve (approx. 5 hours | Overnight: Rufiji River Camp))

Day 3: Selous Game Reserve
Spend a whole day game viewing in the safari vehicle. Relax and explore the bush at a leisurely pace. Enjoy the silence and peaceful atmosphere of the wilderness. Once again you will have the opportunity to observe many wild animals and with a little luck you will see an exciting hunt. Extensive umbrella acacias provide shade and are the main food for the many giraffes, which stroll gracefully through the forests in small groups. Large antelopes, gazelles and elephants love this typical African terrain as much as the great hunters of the savannah. With luck you will meet the rare and endangered African wild dogs. After all, the park is home to the largest remaining number in all of Africa. After many impressions you return to your beautiful camp at the Rufiji River.
(B/L/D | Game drive Selous Game Reserve | Overnight stay: Rufiji River Camp)

Day 4: Selous Game Reserve
Early in the morning you will go on a walking safari with a guide and an armed ranger from the National Park Authority. On foot you are very close to nature and your guide will reveal all the secrets of the wilderness and answer your questions competently. In the afternoon you explore the Rufiji River on a boat safari. Watch grunting hippos romping in the water and grazing on the sandbanks. Marvel at the countless crocodiles basking on the banks from the safety of the boat. Observe the colourful bird life in the water and on land. Very often you can see the pretty blue kingfishers here. Also buffalos, elephants and giraffes love to stay on the shore. Enjoy the magic of an African sunset and listen to the animal sounds of the river at night.
(B/L/D | 1x game drive | 1x walking safari | 1x boat safari | Overnight stay: Rufiji River Camp)

Day 5: Mikumi Nationalpark
The Mikumi National Park is home to large herds of buffalo and elephants. Be enchanted by the typical African landscape with acacias and the beautiful Borassus palms. The chances to meet many lions here are high. Enjoy a whole day in this still unspoilt and little visited African wilderness. Spend the night on a hill in the middle of a forest at Vuma Hill Tented Camp. A pool invites you to take a refreshing dip before a delicious dinner is served on the rustic wooden veranda. Listen to the voices of the bush babies while you enjoy your meal.
(B/L/D | drive Selous – Mikumi National Park (approx. 6 hours) | game drive Mikumi National Park | overnight stay: Vuma Hills)

Day 6: Ruaha National Park
The tour continues to the west, passing small villages and settlements. The beautiful Ruaha National Park, where countless giant baobab trees grow, is the big brother of the Tarangire National Park in the classic north. With its romantic African landscape it reminds us of the legendary film “Beyond Africa”. Spend the night in the Ruaha River Lodge, the only one directly on the Ruaha River. From the terrace of your comfortable tent chalet as well as from the restaurant and lounge, you can enjoy the view of the river landscape with its large rocks. Watch hippos, elephants and many other animals along the river. 
(B/L/D | drive Mikumi National Park – Ruaha National Park (approx. 5 hours) | game drive en-route | overnight stay: Ruaha River Lodge)

Day 7: Ruaha National Park
Another day with exciting game viewing awaits you. The special features of this impressive national park are large rare antelopes and gazelles as well as the endangered African wild dogs. They live in small packs of about 10 adult animals. Have your camera ready! This part of the park has a relatively high animal density and offers you unforgettable days in the African wilderness. Different landscapes like savannah with scattered acacia and baobab trees as well as the Ruaha River with its numerous side arms offer variety and very nice photo opportunities. In the late afternoon you return to your comfortable lodge. Tell your experiences over a romantic campfire at the riverbed and listen to the voices of nature.
(B/L/D | Game drive Ruaha National Park | Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge)

Day 8: Ruaha National Park
Take another game drive in the safari vehicle. Looking back on an eventful day, your way will lead you back to your accommodation. On your last evening in Tanzania enjoy a delicious dinner in a cosy atmosphere.
(B/L/D | Game drive Ruaha National Park | Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge)

Day 9-13: Lazy Lagoon Island
Now it is time to say goodbye to the wild nature of the south. After a short flight with a bush plane you will reach the tropical coast near Bagamoyo. A small boat will take you to the private peninsula in a few minutes. This dreamlike place with only 12 bungalows with sea view offers 9 km of white sandy beach. Swimming is also possible during the tides. Let your soul dangle and enjoy the peace and seclusion. The turquoise blue crystal clear water invites you to snorkel and dive. The bungalows are built from natural materials and are very comfortably furnished. Enjoy the sunset on your own terrace or balcony. 
(B/L/D | Flight to Bagamoyo | Boat Transfer Lazy Lagoon | Overnight: 4 nights Lazy Lagoon Island Lodge | Boat Transfer Dar es Salaam and drive to the airport (approx. 2 hrs.)

The safari is a private driving safari with a multilingual driver/guide, combined with a flight from the mainland to the Lazy Lagoon Peninsula. Walking Safaris require a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 6 people.

Change requests:
This trip is a proposal. The accommodations must be checked for availability. If they are not available, alternative accommodations will be offered. We can adapt the route, content and accommodation to your wishes. We are happy to arrange activities according to your wishes. Please contact us for an appropriate offer. We are happy to arrange a pre- or post-program for you, e.g. an extension of the safari in the classic north (Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park…).

B = Breakfast
L = lunch / picnic with lunch box
D = dinner