SOUTHERN CIRCUIT – TANZANIA

Destination

OVERVIEW

The southern circuit creates a mixture of different experiences and attractions such as the beautiful landscape of the Eastern Arc Mountains ending in the green city of Mbeya, Mbozi Meteorite. Get exposure to stunning beaches while endorsed with cultural experiences in Kilwa kisiwani. Nyerere national park creates an opportunity for wildlife safaris and bird watching. If you would like a mixture of activities, the southern circuit is your best choice.

NYERERE NATIONAL PARK

Nyerere National Park is Tanzania’s largest National Park and one of favorite game viewing areas in Africa. Covering 30,000 square kilometres, is amongst the largest National Parks in Africa and is relatively undisturbed by human impact.

Nyerere National park was established in 2019 from the Africa’s largest and oldest game reserve (Selous game reserve) one of the most scenic wildlife destinations. The beauty of the park is matched by the quality of a safari here; boating, walking and fly camping compliment standard game driving in thriving wildlife areas. This is an outrageously good safari park and an essential component of any southern circuit itinerary.

The Nyerere National Park is a superb safari destination for both family safaris and African honeymoons, all the better for the ease of getting there and the lack of crowds. The park has the widest diversity of safari activities in the country, offering the boating safaris as well as standard game drives, walking safaris and legendary fly camping trips.

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

In 2008 the Usangu Game reserve merged its borders with Ruaha transforming it into Tanzania’s largest national park; it now covers more than 20,000km². Despite the size of the park there are still only a handful of camps found here, which has built Ruaha’s reputation as Tanzania’s best kept game viewing secret.

Ruaha’s wild and untrammeled feel is what sets it apart from other reserves, making it a popular choice for regular east African safari. Ruaha is well known for its varied dramatic scenery, which includes rolling hills; large open plains; groves of skeletal baobabs and along its southern border, the Great Ruaha River, from which the park gets its name. This is by far the most dominant geographical feature of the national park and, for the wildlife it is the most important.

Ruaha has a hot, dry climate which means the animals don’t tend to stray too far from dependable water sources. This makes predicting game movements far easier, particularly in the dry season.

MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park. It’s also the most accessible from Dar es Salaam. With almost guaranteed wildlife sightings, it makes an ideal safari destination for those without much time.

Since the completion of the paved road connecting the park gate with Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park has been slated to become a hotspot for tourism in Tanzania. Located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range, Mikumi is the fourth largest national park in Tanzania and only a few hours drive from Tanzania’s largest city. The park has a wide variety of wildlife that can be easy spotted and also well acclimatized to game viewing.