On this off the beaten track safari we explore the prolific gamelands of southern Tanzania, visiting its two biggest and most remote national parks: Ruaha and Selous. We fly between parks to maximise the time spent in the reserves and we search for the prolific wildlife that inhabits the area including hippo, elephant, lion, wildebeest and crocodile. From our comfortable eco-lodges nestled in the national parks we observe wildlife and take game drives on open safari vehicles as well as boat and walking safaris. Along the way we interact with the locals in small villages, visit the Stone Age pillars of Isimila and sample local tea in the Mufindi Estate, We end our tour spending a few days relaxing by the untouched coast of Lazy Lagoon, an isolated paradise boasting with coral reefs, mangrove trees and tropical forest.
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
1
Join tour Dar es Salaam. Fly to Ruaha.
Join the tour in Dar es Salaam. This morning we will take a short flight to Ruaha National Park. This afternoon will be free for you to enjoy your surroundings.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel
in Ruaha River Lodge
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner
Ruaha River Lodge
Ruaha River Lodge is one of the oldest lodges in Ruaha National Park. Accommodation comprises of very spacious detached bandas built of local stone and thatched roofs stunningly located along the banks of the Ruaha River.The large verandas at the bandas and also in the lounge areas provide a peaceful place to watch animals coming down to the river to drink.
2
Game viewing in Ruaha NP
Over the next two days we will make various game drives. Ruaha has a reputation for having more elephants than any other national park in Tanzania. They are found throughout the park, together with wild dogs, greater and lesser kudu, mongoose, waterbuck, leopards and lions along with many other smaller species. Over 520 species of birds have been recorded in Ruaha, including the rare migrant Eleonora’s falcon. Even Pel’s fishing owls and Dickinson’s kestrel can be seen in the densely wooded areas of the Ruaha River. Game drives will be in our 4WD landrover/land cruisers. Today we take an early morning game drive and return for lunch at the lodge followed by a late afternoon game drive. Alternatively you may wish to stay and relax by our lodge and see an abundance of wildlife nearby.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel
in Ruaha River Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3
Game viewing in Ruaha NP
Today we continue with our game drives within the National Park embarking on a full day's excursion taking a picnic lunch with us.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel
in Ruaha River Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4
Visit Isimila Stone Age site; drive to Mufindi Tea Estate
Today we have a full day's drive to Mufindi via Iringa. We will make a short stop at Neema crafts in Iringa to break our journey. We then continue on to visit one of the finest Stone age sites in East Africa at Isimila. It is a site of spectacular free-standing natural rock pillars formed by millions of years of weathering, Tools, together with the bones of two extinct animal species were found here and are believed to date back 60,000 years. We continue south through the highlands to Mafinga, where we turn off onto a dirt track and head to the tea estates. We stay tonight on a colonial farm, magnificently located adjacent to the Mufindi Tea Estate in comfortable log cabins.
Overnight Standard Lodge
in Mufindi Highland Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mufindi Highland Lodge
Mufindi Highland Lodge is situated on a private 2,000 acre estate, adjacent to the Rift Valley escarpment, an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Mufindi estate is a working farm and provides organic meat and vegetables for the lodge restaurant. Accommodation is provided in log cabins and whilst not as luxurious as other properties has been chosen for its character and cultural richness.
5
At Mufindi Tea Estate
In the highlands the cooler climate and fertile soil is ideal for growing tea which is sold throughout the region and overseas. Tea cultivation remains a labour intensive industry and provides valuable employment. We have the chance to learn about the production of tea and sample a local cuppa after we tour the tea estate! There are also opportunities for walking around the nearby forests as well as enjoying the many activities on offer such as horse riding, golf, fly fishing, croquet and even watching sheep dogs in action! In the afternoon we will visit the local village and orphanage.
Overnight Standard Lodge
in Mufindi Highland Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6
Fly to Rufiji River Camp in the Selous Game Reserve
Today we will take a short drive to a local airstrip for our flight to the Selous Game Reserve. Our camp on the Rufiji River is in large walk-in tents with private facilities. Here at night we may hear the fracas of hippos fighting or the grinding and crunching of elephants feeding on vegetation around the camp. Later this afternoon we will take our first game drive in the reserve.
Overnight Comfortable Permanent Tented Camp
in Rufiji River Camp
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rufiji River Camp
Rufiji River Camp has a great location high up on a bank overlooking the Rufuji River, affording fantastic views. Recently modernised and completely updated, the camp now has 11 tents and three family suites on raised wooden platforms overlooking the river. Each tent has a large shady thatched roof and outside sitting area from which to enjoy the sights and sounds of the African bush. The camp also has a small pool and offers boat safaris on the Rufiji River, and game drives encompassing the three nearby lakes.
7
AM Game drive; PM boat safari in Selous Game Reserve
Today we will start with an early morning game drive with some free time to relax in the middle of the day. This afternoon we will head out on a boat safari along the river. You may float past pods of hippos, while crocodiles bask on the banks and enjoy the golden light of the late afternoon and watch the flame red sunset over the doum palms.
Overnight Comfortable Permanent Tented Camp
in Rufiji River Camp
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8
AM Game Drive; PM Fly Dar es Salaam; Boat transfer to Lazy Lagoon
This morning we will have our final game drive in the Selous Game reserve. Later this afternoon we will take our flight to Dar es Salaam. Here we will cross the city to take our short boat transfer to Lazy Lagoon situated on a peninsular which arcs out from the Tanzanian coastline. There is little to do but beachcomb, snorkel and watch the passing dhows.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel
in Lazy Lagoon
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lazy Lagoon
With 9kms of deserted beach, Lazy Lagoon lies in the Zanzibar Channel, offshore from mainland Bagamoyo. The large and airy self-contained beach bandas have shaded verandas and hammocks overlooking the ocean, whilst the main lodge offers a lounge, bar, dining area and swimming pool.
9
Day at leisure
Today is free for you to relax and unwind. You may choose to participate in some of the water activities available, such as swimming, snorkelling, canoeing or windsurfing.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel
in Lazy Lagoon
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10
Optional excursion to Bagamoyo Town; PM Free
This morning there is an optional excursion to Bagamoyo, recently designated as Tanzania’s seventh world heritage site and the oldest town in Tanzania. Bagamoyo's history has been influenced by Arab and Indian traders, the German colonial government and Christian missionaries.Bagamoyo was the major slave trading post in East Africa. Bagamoyo, which means ‘lay down your heart’ in Swahili, was probably given this name because Bagamoyo was the last place the slaves would stay in Tanzania before being shipped off to foreign lands. Although the slave trade officially ended in 1873, slaves continued to be sold and traded in Bagamoyo through the end of the nineteenth century. The Holy Ghost fathers established their first mission station in Bagamoyo in 1868, and it was in its chapel that Dr. Livingstone's body was brought from the interior and kept before being shipped back to Europe. Remains of German's colonial buildings as well as those of Arabs are the main attractions in Bagamoyo.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel
in Lazy Lagoon
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11
AM Free; Drive to Dar es Salaam where the tour ends
This morning is free for you to relax and enjoy your last hours at your beach retreat. This afternoon we will head back to dar es Salaam where the tour ends.
Included meals: Breakfast
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