11-Days Fly-in Safari - Wild Nyerere & Ruaha & Katavi National Park

Dar es Salaam - Nyerere National Park - Ruaha National Park - Katavi National Park

5
4
3
1
2

Highlights

This amazing 11 Days safari to Southern and Western Tanzania will take you to the largest National Parks in the whole of Tanzania – the Nyerere National Park as well as to Ruaha National Park and the wild Katavi National Park. 
Apart from traditional safari game drives in 4×4 safari jeeps, you will get a chance to do walking safaris, boat safaris and night safaris are also activities that can be done here in these parks, which makes the best destinations for those looking for an active safari package.
The safari tour begins in Dar es Salaam and ends back at Dar es Salaam. On your return we can book for you a flight to Zanzibar, in case you which to combine this tour with a beach vacation in the Spice Islands of Zanzibar. 

This day you will start your way to Dar es Salaam International Airport, where you will catch a flight from Dar es Salaam and head south to the Nyerere National Park. On arrival at the Mtemere Airstrip, your will be welcomed by our Afrimine Tours guide who will transfer you in a 4×4 safari Landcruiser to your accommodation for hot lunch and some rest at your lodge.

In the afternoon you will have a boat ride on Rufiji River as a way of relaxing and having an introduction to this great wildlife habitat. You will encounter some hippos, crocodiles and various birds during this ride. You will later return to your accommodation, relax by the campfire, have dinner and spend the night there. Overnight will be at Lodge. 

1x Lunch/Dinner

During the next two days, (Day 2 and Day 3) you will explore the vast Nyerere National Park in a Safari Jeep Landcruiser with a pop-up roof.

Nyerere National Park covers an area of 30.000 square kilometers, which is almost twice the size of the renowned Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania. This is what has been gazetted as the Nyerere National Park and now under the management of Tanzania National Park (TANAPA), which is now separated from the few hunting blocks that remain around Selous.

In 1982, the Selous was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its vast size and almost pristine wilderness. It’s believed that the Selous is among the largest untouched wilderness on the African continent, and it’s comprised of large plains, forests, rivers and lakes all of which serve as wildlife habitats.

During the game drives you will explore all these habitats as you search for Africa’s Big Five animals and the other different wild animals that live here among which are: lions, zebras, elands, impalas, buffalos, bushbucks, elephants, oryxs, crocodiles, waterbucks, hippos, sable antelopes, klipspringers, pukus, duikers, giraffes, greater kudus, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, as well as the occasional leopards and spotted hyenas, not forgetting the largest thriving population of the endangered wild dogs. Rhinos on the other hand, can only be seen within the southern part of the game reserve. Your guide will be able to stop whenever you want to take photos so don’t leave your camera behind.

Those of you enthusiastic about bird watching, well the park will not disappoint you at all. There are very many bird species found here some living within the forest, the river banks as well as in the swampy areas.

In the evenings at the end of your day’s adventure across the park, you will head back to the lodge and have a revitalizing dip in the swimming pool and sundowners near River Rufiji. Overnight at a Lodge.

2x Breakfast/Lunchbox/Dinner

Today will be the final morning within the Nyerere National Park on your 11 days safari in Southern & Western Tanzania. After your breakfast, you will be taken to the airstrip where you will catch a direct flight to Ruaha National Park.

On landing in Ruaha, you will be met by by the lodge guide who will drive you to your accommodation. He will brief you on how you are going to spend your days in Ruaha and give you the highlight of your forthcoming adventure in the Ruaha National Park. You will check into your accommodation and have lunch and some rest before heading out for an afternoon safari game drive until later in the evening when you will check back in for dinner and overnight.
 
The Ruaha National Park is a less popular and hidden safari destination within Southern Tanzania with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. You will get a more secluded safari experience compared to that in the more tourist crowded parks in northern Tanzania. Some of the animals you will see include herds of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, wildebeests, various antelopes and maybe some lions. Overnight at a Lodge.
 
1x Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Over the next three days, you will spend time exploring this well-kept natural wildlife habitat as you search for different wild animals, birds and learn more about the flora. There are full day game drives with a picnic lunch in between or half day game drives with a few hours break to return at your accommodation to freshen up and have a nice hot lunch before setting out for the afternoon game drives if you wish.
There are also a number of optional activities such as night game drives and the exciting and very rewarding hot air balloon safaris on extra cost but its every cent worth it!
Special about Ruaha National Park is that it has one of the largest buffalo and elephant populations in East Africa, and an outstandingly big number of predators within its boundaries. It’s alleged that the second largest population of lions in the world is found in Ruaha. A large number of Cheetahs, the leopards and the endangered African Wild-dogs are also found within this park. There is a lot to see within Ruaha a reason why we have dedicated all these days to game viewing and photography.
 
Birders, well get ready to be impressed as Ruaha has a record of more than 570 different bird species so you can never fail to identify quite a number of them during your adventure drives. Because the park is seated within the transitional zone where the southern and eastern ecosystems over-lap, it supports a remarkably diverse blend of habitats that support very big numbers of bird, animal and plant species.
Because the park is less visited, chances are that you complete your stay here without encountering any other tourists a thing that will give you a totally private safari experience. Overnight at a Lodge.
 
3x Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Say goodbye to Ruaha National Park with lots of memories! Check out after an early breakfast and transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Katavi National Park further towards the West of Mainland Tanzania. This will be a shared chartered flight because there are no scheduled flights currently in this route. This flight therefore should be preferably on a Monday.
On arrival at the airstrip in Katavi, you will be picked up by the camp guide who will drive you to your accommodation where you will spend the next three nights, with game viewing opportunity on the way to the camp.
On arrival at your camp you will go through the program of the next three days with the camp manager who will explain for you what you expect during your stay, and what is included in your package.
 
After lunch and a couple of hours relaxation, you will set out on your first afternoon game drive. On an open sided safari landcruiser you will be led by a professionally trained and experienced safari guide who is a resident of the lodge and park, a fact that places him at an added advantage to know the best locations to spot animals.
Your afternoon game drives will continue until late afternoon when you will be taken back to your camp for dinner and overnight. Overnight at a Camp.
 
1x Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
 
Over the next few days (9 & 10), you will be able to explore this game park on morning and afternoon game drives. The number of wild animals living within Katavi National parks is very remarkable with some specialists alleging that perhaps it can be matched up to that of the Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania.
 
The park is known as one of the destinations with the highest number of hippo and crocodiles in Africa. The large population of hippos which is estimated to be over 600 depending on the time of the year is seen hibernation in the hippo pool a sight that cannot be seen anywhere else across the continent.
In Katavi National Park it is normal to witness up-close sights of lions fighting with the huge buffaloes as they try to hunt them down. There is also a large number of elephants living here, in addition to zebras, waterbucks, giraffes, hyenas, topi and leopards in addition to the very rare wild dogs. Game viewing here is definitely very rewarding. Very few tourists visit Katavi every year and that makes safari in Katavi National Park a unique and authentic experience. You almost have the whole park for yourself. Apart from safaris on a 4×4 safari jeep, Katavi also allows for walking safaris guided by armed rangers provided by Tanzania National Parks Authority, who are also trained naturalists. Overnight at a Camp.
 
2x Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
This is the final day of our amazing 11 days safari. You will wake up very early in the morning have a heavy nice breakfast, and them head out for one last game drive in Katavi National Park on your way as you are transferred to the airstrip where you will catch a flight heading directly to Dar es Salaam. At arrival you take your flight back home with unforgettable memories and a camera full of amazing photos or you take the connecting flight to Zanzibar Islands for your relaxing beach holidays.
 
1x Breakfast

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • 11 Days private safari as per program
  •  Accommodation in Lodges and Camps as per program
  • English speaking professional guide
  • Park entrance fees 
  • Game drives in the parks in private 4×4 safari vehicle (Unlimited Mileage)
  • Bottled Mineral Water on board the Safari Jeep 
  • Government Taxes, VAT plus TDL

NOT INCLUDED

  • Visa fees for Tanzania and travel insurance
  • Transfers in Dar es Salaam to airport and Hotel
  • Accommodation on arrival at Dar es Salaam 
  • Any Items and expenses of personal nature
  • Tips for the safari guide and lodge staff 
  • Extra cold and hot beverages
  • Domestic flight to Zanzibar
  • Laundry services at the lodges / camps

Book 11-Days Fly-in Safari - Wild Nyerere & Ruaha & Katavi National Park