- 8 Days, 7 Nights Safari
- Southside Combo -
- Mikumi | Udzungwa | Ruaha National Park
This is a perfect safari combination to visit three of the southern national parks in Tanzania.
Mikumi national park has a great variety of animals like the ‘Big Five’ and the chance that you will encounter lions climbing up trees is greater here than in other parks! Udzungwa national park is known for sightings of the rare Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey. You can find these two types only in this region. The park has the second largest biodiversity of any national park in Africa. And Ruaha national park is not only the second largest park but is probably home to more elephants than any other national park in East Africa.
This private safari offers you the flexibility to travel at your own pace, exactly the way you like it. You will have a private safari vehicle and guide. The hotels we selected for you during this safari are Silver class. If you prefer more luxury, you can choose Gold or Platinum class hotels.
NOTE: Udzungwa is offering a small choice of accommodations and these are very basic.
Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Dar es Salaam - Mikumi National Park
After breakfast your guide will pick you up at your hotel and you will drive to Mikumi national park. This is a 4 hours’ drive and upon arrival you will do your first game drive in the park.
Mikumi’s open horizons and abundant wildlife draws frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains. The park has a great variety of animals and most visitors come to Mikumi national park aiming to spot the ‘Big Five’ – cheetah, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino. The chance that you will encounter lions climbing up trees is greater here than in other parks!
Day 2: Mikumi National Park
Today you have the entire day to explore more of Mimumi national park on a full day game drive.
The Mkata Foodplain is a wide area in Mikumi National Park that is very good for wildlife viewing. Lions survey their grassy kingdom – and the zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo herds that migrate across it – from the flattened tops of termite mounds, or sometimes during the rains, from perches high in the trees. Giraffes forage in the isolated acacia stands that fringe the Mkata River, islets of shade favoured also by Mikumi’s elephants.
Mkata Foodplain is perhaps the most reliable place in Tanzania for sightings of the powerful eland, the world’s largest antelope. The equally impressive greater kudu and sable antelope haunt the miombo-covered foothills of the mountains that rise from Mikumi National Park’s borders.
Hippos live in a pair of mud pools and are one of the highlights. These are situated 5 km north of the main entrance gate. They are supported by an ever-changing cast of water-birds.
Day 3: Udzungwa Mountains Hike & Waterfalls
After breakfast you will have a short 1.5 hours car drive to Udzungwa national park. It has various habitats such as tropical rainforest, mountain and miombo forest, grassland and steppe. There are more than 400 species of birds, thousands species of plants and six species of monkeys – including the rare Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey – to be found!
Besides bird and monkey watching, Udzungwa is a magnet for hikers. Udzungwa national park has no paved roads and is only accessible on foot. An excellent network of forest trails includes the popular half-day hike to the Sanje Waterfall, which tumbles 170 meters through a misty spray into the wooded valley below. It is one of the larger waterfalls in Tanzania and lays hidden from the rest of the world in dense rain forest.
During your hike through Udzungwa Mountains you will see more variety of wildlife. They are home to many animals, including Abbott’s duiker, Kipunji and unusual animals such as the grey-faced sengi. Elephants are living in the forests along the southern escarpment.
Day 4 & 5: Ruaha National Park
On day 5 you will have a longer drive to drive to Ruaha national park. It is Tanzania’s second largest park and since it has a huge population of African elephants, chances are very good to spot large groups of them roaming around. It is probably home to more elephants than any other parks in East Africa!
Ruaha is also home to great mammals like kudu, sable and roan antelopes which cannot be found in any other national park. Other animals to spot include leopards, cheetahs, and giraffes. Many zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and jackals live in the park.
It has nearly 10% of Africa’s lion population and with a bit of luck, you may also see the endangered wild dogs in Ruaha national park!
Day 6 & 7: Ruaha National Park - Airport
In the morning you can make another game drive, depending on your accommodation and flight schedule. Then your driver transfers you to the airstrip for your flight to Dar Es Salaam for your departure flight and on day 7 you will arrive back home.
You like to extend your safari to visit more national parks or with a beach holiday? Tanzania offers perfect paradises to unwind after your safari, such as Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.
DEPARTURE DATES
The departure dates for all our Africa safaris, tours, holidays and travel packages are totally flexible according to your own personal needs. Please contact us for further and more detailed information, as well as information on our Africa safaris, tours, holidays and travel packages into Tanzania.
Inquiry
- Cost Covers
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Game drives as per Itinerary
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All Entrance fees and Government taxes
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Enough litters of mineral water and soft drinks
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Unlimited mileage on the safari
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Airport Transfers (upon Arrival and Departure)
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Full board accommodation on safari
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Services of Professional multilingual driver-guide
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Safari Jeep 4×4 with pop up roof suitable for game viewing
- Cost Does not Cover
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International and local airfare.
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Yellow fever vaccinations
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Passport, Visa, and Travelers Insurance
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Personal expenses eg. Laundry, beverages, etc.
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Tips for the support team
DISCLAIMER
Please note all trip prices are based on our own Company costs, fees, and supplier prices in effect at the time of booking. We reserves the right to alter trip prices should inflation, cost of fuel, labor, materials, or exchange rates change. If the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) raises park fees, or any hotel, lodge, camp or any other service provider raises their rates, We reserves the right to require additional payment from the client.
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