Nyerere & Mikumi National Parks

Southern Tanzania Wildlife Expedition

A 7-Day Safari Through Mikumi & Nyerere National Parks

A Journey Into Untamed Landscapes

Seven days exploring two remarkable ecosystems, where wilderness, wildlife and the rhythm of nature shape every moment of the adventure.

Experience Tanzania Beyond the Safari

Our Southern Tanzania Wildlife Expedition is designed for curious travellers who value authentic experiences over crowded viewpoints, meaningful encounters over rushed itineraries, and the beauty of nature beyond the famous Big Five.

Exploring the vast wilderness of Mikumi and Nyerere National Parks, this seven-day expedition offers a different perspective on Tanzania—one shaped by patience, respect and genuine connection with the environment.

Why Southern Tanzania?

Southern Tanzania remains one of East Africa's best-kept safari secrets.

Far from the busy northern safari circuit, these landscapes offer open savannahs, ancient baobabs, winding rivers and extraordinary biodiversity without the crowds.

Here game drives become quieter and wildlife encounters are way more. Nature sets the pace, allowing you to disconnect from the outside world and feeling you connected again with nature.

Whether watching elephants cross the plains at sunrise, observing lions resting beneath acacia trees or drifting along the Rufiji River surrounded by hippos and crocodiles, every day brings a different story.

A Safari Built Around Observation

Our philosophy is simple: don’t chase wildlife, learn to observe it.

Rather than moving quickly from one sighting to the next, we slow things down.

We give space for moments to unfold naturally, so you can begin to notice the small details that are often missed when everything feels rushed. Over time, the bush starts to reveal itself in a different way—not as a series of isolated encounters, but as a living system where everything is connected.
Your guide is there to help you read that landscape. To understand what you are seeing, and sometimes what you are not seeing at first glance. Animal behaviour becomes more meaningful when you start to recognise patterns in how species interact, how predators move through their territory, how herds respond to pressure, and how seasons quietly shape everything from movement to survival. Even the birdlife, often overlooked, begins to tell its own story about the health and rhythm of the ecosystem.

There is also a deeper layer to this understanding, one that comes from spending time in a place like Southern Tanzania. The land itself changes with the light, the weather, the time of year.

Conservation is not an abstract idea here, but something that is visible in the way people work to protect these spaces and the wildlife that depends on them. In this way, every game drive becomes less about ticking off sightings and more about learning how to see properly.

What Makes This Expedition Different?

Small Groups: Travelling with a limited number of guests creates a more personal and flexible experience while reducing our impact on wildlife.
Authentic Wilderness: Southern Tanzania offers remarkable wildlife viewing without the heavy traffic often found in more visited parks.
Experienced Local Team: Our guides know these landscapes intimately, helping you discover not only iconic wildlife but also the smaller details that make every ecosystem extraordinary.
Slow Travel Philosophy: This is not a race to tick species off a list. It is an invitation to reconnect with nature.
Meaningful Impact: Through our close collaboration with local communities, this expedition directly supports conservation initiatives, education, and community development projects in the regions we visit.
Strong Respect for the Land: Our guiding philosophy is intentionally different from high-traffic safari approaches—we prioritise space, calm and natural behaviour over crowding or pressure on animals.

Beyond Wildlife

A journey through Southern Tanzania is also an opportunity to connect with the landscapes and communities that shape this remarkable region.
Depending on the itinerary and seasonal opportunities, guests may enjoy meaningful and authentic cultural experiences, local traditions and moments that reveal everyday life beyond the national parks.
These encounters are approached with respect, curiosity and a genuine desire to learn.

The Journey

Day 1
Welcome to Tanzania
Your journey begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's vibrant coastal gateway. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed by our team and transferred to your carefully selected accommodation for the night.
Take this opportunity to relax after your journey, settle into the slower rhythm of East Africa, and meet your fellow travellers if you're joining a shared departure.
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Day 2
Into Nyerere National Park
Leaving the city behind, we travel southwest towards one of Africa's largest protected wilderness areas: Nyerere National Park.
The landscape gradually transforms into open bushland, villages and forests before giving way to the vast ecosystems that define Southern Tanzania.
In the afternoon, we swap four wheels for water during a boat safari along the Rufiji River. This unique perspective offers exceptional opportunities to observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants coming to drink, countless bird species and the extraordinary river life that makes Nyerere so distinctive.
As the sun begins to set over the river, you'll experience your first true taste of Tanzania's wild heart.
＋ Tap to expand− Tap to collapse
Day 3
A Full Day in the Wild
Today is dedicated entirely to exploring Nyerere National Park.
With its vast landscapes, ancient baobabs and remarkable biodiversity, Nyerere rewards those who are willing to slow down and observe. Every game drive is different, shaped by animal behaviour, weather and the subtle rhythms of the bush.
From large elephant herds and graceful giraffes to lions resting in the shade and the possibility of spotting elusive leopards or African wild dogs, every sighting becomes part of a larger story about life in the wilderness.
Our experienced guide will help you understand not only what you're seeing, but why it is happening.
＋ Tap to expand− Tap to collapse
Day 4
From Nyerere to Mikumi
Enjoy one final morning safari in Nyerere before beginning our journey towards Mikumi National Park.
Travelling across Southern Tanzania offers another perspective on the country, passing through changing landscapes and rural communities before arriving near Mikumi.
As evening falls, you'll settle into your accommodation, ready to discover a completely different ecosystem the following day.
＋ Tap to expand− Tap to collapse
Day 5
Exploring Mikumi National Park
Today we spend the entire day discovering Mikumi National Park, often referred to as one of Tanzania's most accessible yet underrated wildlife destinations.
Its wide floodplains attract elephants, buffalo, zebras, giraffes and numerous antelope species, while predators quietly patrol the grasslands.
With fewer vehicles than many of Tanzania's northern parks, Mikumi offers a peaceful safari experience where wildlife encounters often unfold naturally and without distraction.
Every game drive is approached with patience, allowing time to observe rather than simply move from sighting to sighting.
＋ Tap to expand− Tap to collapse
Day 6
Discovering Mikumi Beyond the Vehicle
This day offers the opportunity to experience Southern Tanzania from different perspectives.
Begin with a guided walking safari, where every footprint, bird call and track reveals details often missed from inside a vehicle. Walking through the bush offers an entirely different appreciation of the ecosystem and the smaller stories that make it come alive.
Later, continue exploring the park on a game drive in search of wildlife during the changing light of the afternoon.
Depending on seasonal conditions, group interests and available time, guests may also choose to replace part of the day with an excursion to the Uvidunda Mountains, to hike and to pay a visit to a nearby local community. These optional experiences provide a deeper understanding of the landscapes and cultures that shape Southern Tanzania.
As darkness falls, those who wish can join an optional night game drive, revealing a hidden world of nocturnal wildlife rarely seen during the day.
＋ Tap to expand− Tap to collapse
Day 7
One Last Morning in the Bush
If time allows before departure (and that depends on your return flights), we'll enjoy one final morning game drive, taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the African bush one last time.
There is always the possibility of one final unforgettable encounter—a herd of elephants crossing the road, lions greeting the sunrise, or a fish eagle calling across the plains.
Afterwards, we begin our journey back to Dar es Salaam, bringing the expedition to a close.
You may leave with thousands of photographs—or simply a collection of memories—but above all, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for one of Africa's last truly wild landscapes.
＋ Tap to expand− Tap to collapse

Day 1
Welcome to Tanzania
Your journey begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's vibrant coastal gateway. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed by our team and transferred to your carefully selected accommodation for the night.
Take this opportunity to relax after your journey, settle into the slower rhythm of East Africa, and meet your fellow travellers if you're joining a shared departure.
Day 2
Into Nyerere National Park
Leaving the city behind, we travel southwest towards one of Africa's largest protected wilderness areas: Nyerere National Park.
The landscape gradually transforms into open bushland, villages and forests before giving way to the vast ecosystems that define Southern Tanzania.
In the afternoon, we swap four wheels for water during a boat safari along the Rufiji River. This unique perspective offers exceptional opportunities to observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants coming to drink, countless bird species and the extraordinary river life that makes Nyerere so distinctive.
As the sun begins to set over the river, you'll experience your first true taste of Tanzania's wild heart.
Day 3
A Full Day in the Wild
Today is dedicated entirely to exploring Nyerere National Park.
With its vast landscapes, ancient baobabs and remarkable biodiversity, Nyerere rewards those who are willing to slow down and observe. Every game drive is different, shaped by animal behaviour, weather and the subtle rhythms of the bush.
From large elephant herds and graceful giraffes to lions resting in the shade and the possibility of spotting elusive leopards or African wild dogs, every sighting becomes part of a larger story about life in the wilderness.
Our experienced guide will help you understand not only what you're seeing, but why it is happening.
Day 4
From Nyerere to Mikumi
Enjoy one final morning safari in Nyerere before beginning our journey towards Mikumi National Park.
Travelling across Southern Tanzania offers another perspective on the country, passing through changing landscapes and rural communities before arriving near Mikumi.
As evening falls, you'll settle into your accommodation, ready to discover a completely different ecosystem the following day.
Day 5
Exploring Mikumi National Park
Today we spend the entire day discovering Mikumi National Park, often referred to as one of Tanzania's most accessible yet underrated wildlife destinations.
Its wide floodplains attract elephants, buffalo, zebras, giraffes and numerous antelope species, while predators quietly patrol the grasslands.
With fewer vehicles than many of Tanzania's northern parks, Mikumi offers a peaceful safari experience where wildlife encounters often unfold naturally and without distraction.
Every game drive is approached with patience, allowing time to observe rather than simply move from sighting to sighting.
Day 6
Discovering Mikumi Beyond the Vehicle
This day offers the opportunity to experience Southern Tanzania from different perspectives.
Begin with a guided walking safari, where every footprint, bird call and track reveals details often missed from inside a vehicle. Walking through the bush offers an entirely different appreciation of the ecosystem and the smaller stories that make it come alive.
Later, continue exploring the park on a game drive in search of wildlife during the changing light of the afternoon.
Depending on seasonal conditions, group interests and available time, guests may also choose to replace part of the day with an excursion to the Uvidunda Mountains, to hike and to pay a visit to a nearby local community. These optional experiences provide a deeper understanding of the landscapes and cultures that shape Southern Tanzania.
As darkness falls, those who wish can join an optional night game drive, revealing a hidden world of nocturnal wildlife rarely seen during the day.
Day 7
One Last Morning in the Bush
If time allows before departure (and that depends on your return flights), we'll enjoy one final morning game drive, taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the African bush one last time.
There is always the possibility of one final unforgettable encounter—a herd of elephants crossing the road, lions greeting the sunrise, or a fish eagle calling across the plains.
Afterwards, we begin our journey back to Dar es Salaam, bringing the expedition to a close.
You may leave with thousands of photographs—or simply a collection of memories—but above all, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for one of Africa's last truly wild landscapes.

Your Home in the Wild

During the expedition, guests stay in carefully selected accommodation located in the green belt areas surrounding Mikumi and Nyerere National Parks.

These properties are not inside the park gates, but in the buffer zones between the park boundaries and nearby settlements—offering a quieter, more grounded safari experience while still keeping you extremely close to the action. In most cases, the park entrances are just a short 20-minute drive away.

Each property is chosen for its comfort, character and proximity to nature, offering a peaceful place to relax after each day in the bush while maintaining the authentic atmosphere of a true safari experience.

a peak into the your accommodation

Every Journey Starts With a Conversation

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Included & Excluded

Included

Accommodation for 6 nights in carefully selected safari lodges/camps and hotels
Day 1 overnight accommodation in Dar es Salaam
Full-board accommodation during the safari portion of the expedition
Professional English-speaking safari guide throughout the expedition
All scheduled game drives in Nyerere and Mikumi National Parks
Boat safari on the Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park
Guided walking safari in Mikumi National Park
Airport or hotel transfer arrangements as specified
All private safari transfers between destinations, fuel and vehicle costs
All National Park entrance fees for included activities
Boat Safari & Walking Safari fees
Drinking water during safari activities
Expedition assistance before and during your journey
Support from our local team throughout the experience

Not included

International flights to and from Tanzania
Domestic flights (unless specifically included in your package)
Tanzania visa fees
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks outside of included meals
Laundry services and personal purchases
Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and camp staff

Nature is unpredictable

Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, as animals move freely within their natural environment. The itinerary may be adjusted depending on weather conditions, road conditions, wildlife movements and park regulations. Our priority is always to create the best possible experience while respecting the environment and the animals we encounter.

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, cancellation, baggage and safari activities.

Additional Information

Each expedition is carefully designed around a specific vision, combining thoughtful route planning, meaningful locations, and a philosophy centred on authentic encounters with nature.
To ensure every detail runs smoothly, all practical arrangements — including accommodation, transport, permits, bookings, and local services — are managed through trusted, licensed local partners who share our commitment to responsible and meaningful travel.

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