See two of Tanzania’s largest parks, in this Seven Days / Six Nights Flying safari will give you ample time to explore and soak in the beauty of both Ruaha National Park and Selous Reserve, with plenty of opportunities to see the Big game with a huge variety of other wildlife that calls the parks home.
Flying from Dar Es Salaam and returning there after Seven days is an excellent way to see two of Tanzania’s largest Southern Circuit game parks.
Day 1: Flight from Dar Es Salaam to Nyerere National Park for game viewing
The Safari Air Link flight to Selous Game Reserve departs at 10:30 and arrives at approximately 11:15 (times may vary with schedule requirements). The guide from Lodge/ Camp will be at the airstrip waiting to greet you and take you to check-in at your Camp. Accommodation at camp/ Lodge is in large furnished tents with extensive platform veranda and en suite bathroom.
This huge conservation area is a World Heritage Site and named after Frederick Courteney Selous who died in the reserve. The area north of the sprawling Rufiji River is reserved for photographic safaris. The river is a myriad of wide-open water, lakes, and channels and Selous is the only reserve that offers boating safaris in addition to the more classic vehicle and walking safaris.
Selous is estimated to have one-third of Tanzania’s African Hunting Dogs. The landscape is predominantly flat and covered with miombo trees. Lions and leopards join the Hunting dogs as prevalent predators in the reserve and there is a good variety of prey animals from wildebeest and buffalo to smaller animals like warthog and impala. The river supports a rich and varied birdlife, the banks providing a nesting bank for the bee-eaters and fishing grounds for Kingfishers.
Day 1 includes an afternoon game activity which will have been arranged before your arrival by the manager. Game activities are on a shared basis, with groups of 4 or 6 in vehicles, boats, and on walks. Larger groups may be accommodated in a single vehicle for up to 8. The afternoon activity departs at 16:00 and returns at dusk in time to freshen up, drinks around the fire, dinner, and overnight at the Camp / Lodge. Meal Plan: L, D
Day 2 and 3: Explore the Nyerere National Park
The night before the manager will have discussed the options for today’s safaris, so you may have chosen an early morning walk departing camp at 0630 to return for a late breakfast at 0930 or an early bird game drive (0630-1130) or else have a bit of a lie-in and go out after breakfast at 0830 until lunch. A full-day game drive option is also available departing at 0830 and returning at 1600 for afternoon tea dinner and overnight stay at the same Lodge / Camp for both nights. Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 4: Fly to Ruaha National Park and Game viewing
An early walk or game drive brings you back in time for breakfast and the departure back to the airstrip for the onward flight to Ruaha National Park which is the largest Park in Tanzania and lies in the center of the country for check-in at your accommodation for lunch in this park with an abundance of wildlife in an array of sceneries which gives it a character all of its own. The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the park as it is the only permanent water source in the park. A full day game drive along the river takes you over rocky kopjes, home to the Greater kudu, Roan antelope, and elephant, and winds down along the river bank through open plains, perfect for cheetah and lion, herds of buffalo, warthogs, jackals, bat-eared Foxes – the list is endless. The river banks are rich with birdlife, hippos, and crocs. For the more adventurous, above the escarpment lives the more elusive Sable Antelope.
Ruaha is not only the largest park but also boasts a well-developed road network, so there are plenty of different drives to explore for morning game drives returning to the Lodge/ Camp for lunch. An afternoon spent on your veranda at the water’s edge, or sitting in one of the 2 bar areas will be an equally enjoyable part of your safari here where the animals wander in front of your room to come down to drink. An afternoon drive to the hippo pool to catch the sunset makes a perfect end to a day. Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 5 & 6: Ruaha National Park for Game viewing
During your time staying at the Camp/ Lodge, you can choose between half-day shared game drives or a full day with a picnic lunch enabling you to explore further afield in this enormous wilderness. Game drives are on a shared basis with either 4 or 6/7 in a vehicle. Private activities are available for a supplement. Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 7: Fly to Dar Es Salaam
After an early breakfast and a last morning’s game drive in Ruaha you will be dropped at the Airstrip for the flight back to Dar Es Salaam or if would like to extend your safari to visit more National parks or perfect paradises to unwind such as Zanzibar and Mafia Island. Meal Plan: B
