Direct operator since 1978
★ 4.8/5 TripAdvisor · 149 reviews
Trusted by 4,000+ travelers since 1978
Private safaris from $1,400/person
WhatsApp Kassim — reply within 2 hours
★★★★★4.8/5•149 TripAdvisor Reviews•Family-Owned Since 1978•No Brokers
12 days · Moderate
Southern Circuit Safari
Ruaha wild dogs and lion concentrations, Nyerere boat safaris on the Rufiji River, optional Zanzibar extension. No crowds. 75,000 km squared of wilderness, mostly yours. Fewer than 5% of Tanzania visitors go south.
Trip Highlights
“After doing the northern circuit twice, the south was a revelation. We had every game drive to ourselves. The wild dog tracking in Ruaha was the single best wildlife experience of my life. The boat safari on the Rufiji was something I did not know existed. Kassim organised the internal flights flawlessly.”
Your journey
Day by Day
Dar es Salaam to Ruaha National Park
Fly from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha airstrip (1.5 hours, scheduled or charter). Met by your guide at the airstrip. Afternoon game drive on arrival. Ruaha announces itself immediately — the Great Ruaha River, baobab woodland, and the sense of a park that is genuinely wild. First sightings before dinner.
Full Day Ruaha — River Drives
Morning drive along the Great Ruaha River. In the dry season, this is where everything comes. Elephant herds of 200+ at the water edge. Lion prides on the rocky outcrops above the banks. Crocodile and hippo in the pools. Afternoon into the miombo woodland for leopard, sable antelope, and lesser kudu.
Full Day Ruaha — Wild Dog Tracking
Your guide will have tracked wild dog pack locations overnight. Ruaha has one of the strongest wild dog populations in Tanzania. A morning following pack movement is different from any other wildlife experience — wild dogs are hyper-social, constantly communicating, and hunt at extraordinary speed.
Full Day Ruaha — Deeper Into the Park
Drive into the remote Mwagusi area or south towards Jongomero. This part of Ruaha sees almost no other vehicles. Elephant concentrations here are extraordinary in the dry season. Greater and lesser kudu together — only possible at the East/South Africa transition. Optional walking safari with armed ranger.
Ruaha to Nyerere National Park (Selous)
Fly from Ruaha to Nyerere airstrip (1-1.5 hours via Dar or direct charter). Nyerere is 50,000 km squared — one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Met at the airstrip. Afternoon boat safari on the Rufiji River — hippo pods, crocodiles, elephants drinking at the banks, fish eagles. Nothing in the northern circuit prepares you for a boat safari in the African wilderness.
Full Day Nyerere — Boat Safari + Game Drive
Morning boat safari on the Rufiji — the river circuit covers lake systems, reed beds, and forest edges. Afternoon game drive into the open woodland. Nyerere lion population is one of the largest in Africa. Buffalo herds of 500+. Wild dog sightings are common in the northern Nyerere woodlands near the Rufiji.
Full Day Nyerere — Walking Safari
Morning walking safari with armed guide — a completely different sensory experience from a vehicle. You feel the scale of Africa from the ground. Afternoon boat or game drive depending on conditions. Sundowner on the Rufiji banks — one of the finest endings to a day wildlife experience in Africa.
Full Day Nyerere — Lake Manze & Bird Safari
Full day covering the lake systems — Manze, Nzerakera, and Siwandu Lake. Nyerere is home to over 440 bird species. The lakes attract open-billed storks, yellow-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, African skimmers, and Pel fishing owls. Lion sightings around the lakes are consistent.
Nyerere to Zanzibar (Optional) or Dar
Fly from Nyerere to Zanzibar for 3 nights of beach (optional extension). Or fly to Dar es Salaam for international connections. The beach extension after the southern circuit is the natural conclusion — the transition from the remotest wilderness in Tanzania to the Indian Ocean takes 1 hour by air.
Zanzibar — Stone Town & Spice Tour (Optional)
If continuing to Zanzibar: Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage exploration and afternoon spice farm tour. Dinner at a seafood restaurant on the Forodhani waterfront. If departing from Dar: transfer to JNIA for international flight.
Zanzibar — Beach Day (Optional)
Full day on the east coast beaches. Paje or Matemwe — turquoise water, white sand, the Indian Ocean horizon. Snorkelling over the reef. The contrast to 8 days in the African bush is what makes this ending so satisfying.
Zanzibar to Home (Optional) or Dar to Home
International departure from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam. Direct connections to Nairobi, Doha, Dubai, Amsterdam, and London. End of what most clients describe as the most significant two weeks of their adult lives.
Ready to Secure Your Spot?
Peak season safaris fill 6–8 weeks ahead. Send your dates and we'll confirm availability within 2 hours.
Chat With Kassim NowTransparent pricing
Seasonal Rates
Green Season
Nov – May
Fewer crowds, lush landscapes, lower prices. Occasional rain.
Shoulder Season
Jan – Mar, Nov
Great value. Good weather. Moderate visitor numbers.
Peak Season
Jun – Oct
Dry season. Best wildlife viewing. Great Migration months.
Accommodation Tiers
Choose Your Safari Style
Budget
Camping & basic camps
- Camping or budget bandas
- Shared facilities
- All meals included
- Park fees included
Standard
Quality tented camps
- Quality tented camps
- Private en-suite facilities
- All meals included
- Park fees included
- Experienced guide
Luxury
Premium lodges & camps
- Luxury lodges or fly camps
- En-suite, hot water
- Gourmet meals
- Park fees & private concessions
- Private vehicle available
Every safari is tailor-made. Get a custom quote based on your dates, group size, and accommodation preferences.
Request a Custom QuotePark Fees — All Included in Your Price
All fees above are included in the Southern Circuit Safari price. No additional payments at park gates.
Everything covered
What Is Included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking guide
- All national park entry fees
- Full-board accommodation as per itinerary
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Airport transfers both ways
- Unlimited bottled water in vehicle
- Flying Doctors emergency air cover
- Ngorongoro Crater service fee (if applicable)
Budget for these
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa ($50 on arrival)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips and gratuities ($15-25/day guideline)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Alcoholic beverages
- Optional activities (balloon safari $560)
Accommodation Notes
Four nights in bush camps or lodges in Ruaha. Four nights in camps or lodges in Nyerere along the Rufiji River. All camps have en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and good meals. Upgrade to premier private camps available — ask Kassim.
Questions about this safari
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for private lodges?
Magical Tanzania — Bespoke Private Safaris
Our sister brand for custom-built itineraries with handpicked private lodges and exclusive-use camps.
Popular Add-Ons
What Our Safari Travelers Add
65% of our travelers extend with Zanzibar beach days
Zanzibar Extension
65%from $400
Kilimanjaro Climb
35%from $2,400
Lodge Upgrade
25%+$150/day
Free Tanzania Safari Cost Breakdown 2026
Get the exact 2026 cost of every Tanzania safari — park fees, operator pricing, seasonal rates, and broker vs direct comparisons. Instant download.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Book This Safari
Send us your dates and group size. We'll send you exact pricing within 2 hours. No obligation.
+255 749 087 101 · 7 days a week from Arusha · Direct operator — no brokers
Keep Reading
The Complete Southern Circuit Safari Guide
Want to understand the full picture before you book? Our Southern Circuit Safari Guide covers every park in detail — wildlife to see, best months to visit, how to get there, accommodation tiers, and what makes Nyerere, Ruaha, and Mikumi fundamentally different from the Northern Circuit.