Multi-Country & Grand Tours · 8 days / 7 nights · 🇹🇿 Tanzania

Tanzania Southern Circuit (Selous + Ruaha) — 8 Days

Africa's largest reserve + Tanzania's wildest park — off the safari highway.

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Overview

The southern circuit is Tanzania's secret — vast parks, remote fly-in camps, vehicle density one-tenth of the Serengeti, and an emphasis on diverse safari modes (boat + foot + vehicle). Eight days split between Selous (Rufiji River) and Ruaha (wild cat country) gives you both the biggest and the wildest protected areas in Tanzania.

Route: Dar → fly Selous → fly Ruaha → fly Dar

Itinerary

Your day-by-day adventure

Tap into the rhythm of each day — locations, drive times, activities, and where you'll sleep.

  1. Day 1

    Dar → Selous

    Highlight: Photography stop in Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP)

    Flight + afternoon boat safari.

    📍 Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP) 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 180 km ⏱ ~3 hrs 🍽 L, D 🏨 Rufiji River Camp
    • Visit local market
    • Photography stop
    • Sunrise tracking
    • Guided nature walk
  2. Day 2

    Selous walking + boat

    Highlight: Photography stop in Ruaha National Park

    Dawn walking safari + afternoon Rufiji boat.

    📍 Ruaha National Park 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 240 km ⏱ ~4 hrs 🍽 B, L, D 🏨 Rufiji River Camp
    • Photography stop
    • Hot-spring soak
    • Game drives & sundowner
    • Bush breakfast
  3. Day 3

    Selous game drives

    Highlight: Photography stop in Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP)

    Full-day vehicle safari.

    📍 Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP) 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 240 km ⏱ ~4 hrs 🍽 B, L, D 🏨 Rufiji River Camp
    • Photography stop
    • Guided nature walk
    • Visit local market
    • Hot-spring soak
  4. Day 4

    Selous → Ruaha

    Highlight: Bush breakfast in Ruaha National Park

    Morning drive + bush flight to Ruaha.

    📍 Ruaha National Park 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 80 km ⏱ ~1 hrs 🍽 B, L, D 🏨 Jabali Ridge
    • Bush breakfast
    • Morning bird-walk
    • Cultural visit
    • Hot-spring soak
  5. Day 5

    Ruaha full day

    Highlight: Sunrise tracking in Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP)

    Ruaha River game drive.

    📍 Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP) 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 80 km ⏱ ~1 hrs 🍽 B, L, D 🏨 Jabali Ridge
    • Visit local market
    • Game drives & sundowner
    • Sunrise tracking
    • Hot-spring soak
  6. Day 6

    Ruaha full day

    Highlight: Visit local market in Ruaha National Park

    Mwagusi River sector.

    📍 Ruaha National Park 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 300 km ⏱ ~5 hrs 🍽 B, L, D 🏨 Jabali Ridge
    • Visit local market
    • Sunrise tracking
    • Bush breakfast
    • Game drives & sundowner
  7. Day 7

    Ruaha walking + drive

    Highlight: Morning bird-walk in Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP)

    Morning walking safari + afternoon drive.

    📍 Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP) 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 300 km ⏱ ~5 hrs 🍽 B, L, D 🏨 Jabali Ridge
    • Guided nature walk
    • Visit local market
    • Sunrise tracking
    • Morning bird-walk
  8. Day 8

    Ruaha → Dar

    Highlight: Visit local market in Ruaha National Park

    Dawn drive, brunch, flight to Dar.

    📍 Ruaha National Park 🚙 4x4 Land Cruiser 📏 240 km ⏱ ~4 hrs 🍽 B, L
    • Sunrise tracking
    • Visit local market
    • Guided nature walk
    • Hot-spring soak
Budget options

Choose your style of safari

Same itinerary, different comfort levels. Lock in the tier that fits your budget.

Budget
Budget — Comfort basics
$3,306 / pp
Single supp. +$120

Clean mid-range lodges and tented camps with reliable hot showers.

  • Shared 4x4 game drives
  • Full-board meals
  • English-speaking driver-guide
Book Budget
Most popular
Standard
Mid-range — Most popular
$3,890 / pp
Single supp. +$180

Established safari lodges and beach resorts (3–4★).

  • Private 4x4 with pop-up roof
  • All game-park fees
  • Bottled water
  • Welcome drink on arrival
Book Standard
Premium
Premium — Upgraded lodges
$5,252 / pp
Single supp. +$250

Premium lodges and luxury tented camps (4–5★) in prime locations.

  • Private guide & vehicle
  • Sundowner setup
  • Laundry service
  • Airport meet & greet
Book Premium
Bucket list
Luxury
Luxury — Bucket-list
$7,196 / pp
Single supp. +$420

Top-tier lodges, signature suites, and exclusive concessions.

  • Private driver-guide
  • Champagne sundowners
  • Private vehicle throughout
  • Butler-style service
  • Guaranteed window seat
Book Luxury
On this safari

What's onboard

pool Swimming Pool
spa Spa & Wellness
air Hot-Air Balloon
fitness_center Gym / Fitness
pets Pet-Free Zones
favorite Honeymoon Setup
bedtime Star Beds / Decks
Your route
Interactive map · OpenStreetMap
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Live forecast · Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP)
29°C Clear sky · 3 km/h wind
Updated 2026-05-18T17:30
  1. 🌦 31° 22° 💧 0.5mm
  2. 🌤 31° 22°
  3. 🌦 30° 22° 💧 0.9mm
  4. 🌦 31° 21° 💧 0.5mm
  5. 🌤 31° 21°
  6. 🌦 31° 21° 💧 0.3mm
  7. 🌦 30° 21° 💧 0.6mm
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Live wildlife observations
Recently spotted near Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere NP)

Real observations published to GBIF by researchers, lodges, and citizen scientists — refreshed daily.

Paraxerus flavovittis
2026-01-02 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Lavia frons
2026-01-02 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Giraffa tippelskirchi
2026-01-02 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Crocuta crocuta
2026-01-02 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Plocepasser mahali
2026-01-22 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Hippopotamus amphibius
2026-01-03 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
2026-01-03 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Phacochoerus africanus
2026-01-02 · Tanzania, United Republic of
Source: GBIF.org — Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Where you'll sleep

Hotels & lodges on this tour

Hand-picked properties — swap any for an upgrade at booking.

★★★★★ 9.1/10
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Safari Lodge · Serengeti National Park
From $395 / night · +$65 upgrade
Free Wi-FiAir-conditioningSwimming PoolBush BreakfastHot-Air Balloon
412 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
★★★★★ 9.2/10
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Safari Lodge · Ngorongoro Crater
From $425 / night · +$65 upgrade
Free Wi-FiRestaurantSpa & WellnessHot-Air BalloonAirport Transfers
318 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
★★★★★ 9.2/10
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Beach Resort · Zanzibar & Stone Town
From $395 / night · +$180 upgrade
Swimming PoolGame DrivesCultural VisitsLaundry ServiceSolar Powered
287 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
★★★★★ 9.0/10
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Safari Lodge · Lake Manyara National Park
From $320 / night · +$65 upgrade
Free Wi-FiSwimming PoolRestaurantBar / LoungeLaundry Service
234 verified reviews
Book on Booking.com ↗ Add to trip
Getting here

Flight schedules to your gateway

Indicative fares from key hubs — our team can hold seats while you decide.

AirlineRouteDepartsArrives DurationDaysFrom
KLM
KL569		 AMS → JRO
Amsterdam · Kilimanjaro · 1 stop 		09:55 20:30 8h 30m Daily $980 Book on KLM ↗
Qatar Airways
QR1369		 DOH → JRO
Doha · Kilimanjaro · Non-stop 		07:25 13:50 6h 25m Daily $830 Book on Qatar Airways ↗
Turkish Airlines
TK1063		 IST → JRO
Istanbul · Kilimanjaro · Non-stop 		20:00 05:00 8h 00m Daily $700 Book on Turkish Airlines ↗
Ethiopian Airlines
ET817		 ADD → JRO
Addis Ababa · Kilimanjaro · Non-stop 		10:25 12:50 2h 25m Daily $420 Book on Ethiopian Airlines ↗

Fares are indicative round-trip economy and shift with demand. We rebook fare drops within 24 hrs.

In the price

What's included & what's not

check_circleIncludes

  • All internal bush flights
  • 7 nights full-board tented camps
  • Boat + walking + vehicle safaris
  • All park fees + armed ranger

cancelExcludes

  • International flights
  • Visa
  • Premium spirits
  • Tips
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