Wildlife Safari
10-Day Complete Tanzania Safari & Southern Parks (Ruaha & Nyerere)
Almost all Tanzanian safari itineraries choose either the north or the south. The north has the Serengeti, the crater and the migration, and it carries the visitor numbers to match. The south has Ruaha and Nyerere, which between them cover a vast area with a fraction of the vehicles, and a genuinely different set of species.
Ruaha is Tanzania鈥檚 largest national park at over 20,000 square kilometres. It sits at a transition zone between eastern and southern African ecosystems, which is why you find greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope alongside the more familiar species. Its lion population is one of the largest anywhere, and prides here are unusually big. Wild dog are present and Ruaha is one of the better places in Africa to look for them.
Nyerere, carved from the former Selous Game Reserve, is defined by the Rufiji River. It is the one place on this itinerary where you can do a boat safari, and approaching hippo, crocodile and drinking elephant from the water is an entirely different experience from a vehicle. Walking safaris are also permitted here, which they are not in the northern parks.
Linking north and south requires internal flights, and they are included. The alternative, driving, would consume three days of the ten. This is an itinerary for a second safari, or for a first one where the traveller has both the time and the appetite to see how varied Tanzania actually is.
Planning your trip
Practical planning. The itinerary runs over 10 days, which sets the pace: each additional day reduces transfer pressure and gives the guide room to respond to conditions rather than follow a fixed schedule. We quote fees at the tariff period current at the time of booking, since park, conservation and crater charges are revised periodically and are a significant share of the total cost. Yellow fever certification is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country with risk of transmission, and travel insurance covering medical evacuation is a condition of travel on all our programmes.
Season. June to October is the classic dry season, when vegetation thins, water sources concentrate wildlife and roads are at their most reliable. December to March brings green landscapes, calving on the southern plains and lower rates. April and May are the long rains, when some tracks become difficult and a number of seasonal camps close.
In the parks. Stay in the vehicle unless your guide confirms a stop is authorised, keep noise low near wildlife, never feed animals and take all rubbish out with you. Off-road driving, drones and unsupervised walking are prohibited or restricted across the national parks and conservation areas. These rules exist because visitor pressure is the main long-term threat to the places you have come to see.
Where this trip goes
Read the full destination guides for every protected area covered by this itinerary before you travel. Each one sets out habitat, seasonality, access and the managing authority in detail.
Compare similar packages
If the length, pace or budget of this itinerary is not quite right, these alternatives cover comparable ground:
- 14-Day Ultimate Grand Tanzania Wildlife Circuit
- 3-Day Serengeti National Park Express Safari
- 4-Day Classic Northern Circuit (Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro)
- 4-Day Great Migration Tracking Safari
You can also browse the full package catalogue or the destination directory to build a custom itinerary with us.
Highlights
- Northern circuit and southern parks in one itinerary
- Ruaha鈥檚 large lion prides, sable, roan and greater kudu
- Boat safari on the Rufiji River in Nyerere
- Walking safari in the south, not permitted in the northern parks
- Internal flights linking the two regions
Trip itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Collection from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to an Arusha lodge. Afternoon at leisure and an evening briefing covering both halves of the trip.
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire
Morning departure and a full day in Tarangire on the northern river circuit, with dry season elephant herds along the permanent water.
Overnight in the Tarangire area or Karatu.
Day 3: To the central Serengeti
Through the Ngorongoro highlands and down onto the plains, entering at Naabi Hill and game driving into the Seronera valley.
Day 4: Full day Serengeti
A full day on the Seronera circuits, working the river course, kopjes and open ground with a picnic lunch in the field.
Day 5: Serengeti to the crater highlands
Morning game drive exiting east, with a stop at Oldupai Gorge, then up to a Karatu or crater rim lodge.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater, fly south
First light descent for a crater floor game drive, ascending before midday.
Transfer to Arusha or Lake Manyara airstrip for the flight south to Ruaha, arriving at camp in the late afternoon.
Day 7: Full day Ruaha
A full day in Ruaha along the Great Ruaha River, where dry season game concentrates. Ruaha鈥檚 lion prides are among the largest recorded anywhere, and the species list includes sable, roan and both kudu species.
Day 8: Ruaha to Nyerere
A morning game drive before the flight east to Nyerere National Park, landing on a Rufiji airstrip.
Afternoon boat safari on the river, approaching hippo pods, crocodile and elephant from the water.
Day 9: Full day Nyerere
A guided walking safari in the morning, which is permitted here and not in the northern parks, followed by a vehicle game drive or a second boat outing in the afternoon.
The lake system off the Rufiji is the most productive area for both.
Day 10: Nyerere to Dar es Salaam and departure
A final morning activity before the flight to Dar es Salaam for onward international connections, or a direct connection to Zanzibar for a beach extension.
Included
- All internal flights between the northern and southern circuits
- Nine nights accommodation on full board
- Private 4x4 in the north; camp vehicles and guides in the south
- All park and conservation area entry fees
- Crater service and vehicle descent fees
- Boat safari and guided walking safari in Nyerere
- All meals and bottled drinking water
Excluded
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional hot air balloon safari
- Drinks, laundry and personal purchases
- Tips for guides and camp staff
Accommodation
Nine nights on full board across four areas: the northern circuit lodges and camps, a camp in Ruaha and a river camp in Nyerere.
Southern camps are generally smaller and more remote than their northern equivalents, with fewer vehicles and a stronger emphasis on walking and boat activities. Camp-based guiding is the norm in the south rather than a travelling private guide.
FAQs
Why combine north and south rather than doing one properly?
Because they are genuinely different. The south has boat safaris, walking safaris, wild dog and sable, and a fraction of the vehicles. If you have ten days, seeing both teaches you more about Tanzania than ten days in one region would.
Are the internal flights included?
Yes, all of them. Driving between the northern and southern circuits would take three of your ten days, which is why we do not offer it as an option.
Is the south good for a first safari?
It can be, but the north is the better introduction because the density and the big five odds are higher. This itinerary gives you both, which is why it works as a first trip for travellers with the time.
What is the best season for the southern parks?
June to October, more strictly than in the north. The south gets heavier rain and many southern camps close entirely from around March to May. A January or February departure works but is less reliable.
Will I see the big five on this trip?
Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all realistically possible on the northern circuit, and rhino are seen in the Ngorongoro Crater with reasonable frequency though usually at distance. No operator can guarantee sightings of wild animals and we will not pretend otherwise.
Is a private vehicle included?
Road-based itineraries use a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, exclusively for your party, with a guaranteed window seat. Fly-in itineraries use camp-based vehicles shared with a small number of other guests, and a private vehicle can be added at extra cost.
What should I pack for a safari?
Neutral coloured layers, a warm fleece for early morning game drives, sun protection, binoculars and a camera with more storage than you expect to need. Soft-sided bags are required on any itinerary involving light aircraft, where the limit is typically 15 kilograms.
How much should I budget for tips?
Guidance rather than obligation: around 20 to 30 US dollars per vehicle per day for the driver-guide, and 5 to 10 dollars per guest per day for camp staff, pooled. We will give you a specific breakdown for your itinerary before departure.
How far in advance should I book 10-Day Complete Tanzania Safari & Southern Parks (Ruaha & Nyerere)?
For peak months, meaning July to October and the Christmas and New Year period, six to twelve months ahead. Camps and mountain permits in those windows genuinely sell out. For green season travel, two to three months is usually sufficient.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Every itinerary we publish is a starting point. Days can be added or removed, accommodation tiers changed, internal flights substituted for road transfers, and extensions to Zanzibar or the southern parks attached. Tell us the constraint and we will build around it.
