10 Days Mikumi Ruaha Selous Experience

After breakfast, drive from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park with packed lunch for a game drive. Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park. It’s also the most accessible from Dar es Salaam. With almost guaranteed wildlife sightings, the open horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular center piece of Mikumi, draws frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains. Head back to the lodge late afternoon for overnight.

Today, we head to Ruaha National Park where we will have a game drive in the afternoon. This is a more extensive ecosystem, which includes Rungwa Game Reserve, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its South-Eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. Ruaha is believed to have a high concentration of elephants than any National Park in East Africa. It is also a place where, magnificent mammals like Kudu, Sable and Roan antelopes can easily be spotted in Miombo woodland. The park is also a habitat for endangered wild dogs. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and jackals.

After breakfast, you dedicate these days in Ruaha for morning and afternoon game drives. You will have all meals at your lodge. Ruaha National Park (10.300km²) is the most visited National Park in the southern part of Tanzania. Due to its size and the fact that the South of Tanzania is less visited than the northern parks, you still have ample of space and you will see hardly any safari vehicles. Ruaha National Park forms a border between Africa’s eastern and southern eco- system. Here you will find kudus, which you will find seldom further north and during the same time you can see grant gazelles which reach their southernmost breeding area. The source of life in the park is doubtless the Great Ruaha River with its huge numbers of crocodiles and hippos.

After breakfast, we head for a game drive en route back to Mikumi. This is to make our way to the Selous Game Reserve the following day as Mikumi is bordered to the south with the Selous Game Reserve, the two areas forming a unique ecosystem.

After breakfast, we head towards the Selous Game Reserve through Matemwe gate. After Morogoro, you will leave the tar road and drive along the Uluguru Mountains through remote villages. Depending on our time of arrival, we can go on a short game drive or you can spend this day relaxing in your lodge and to prepare for 2 full days of safari in this reserve.

Selous Game Reserve is the biggest wildlife conservation area in Africa and forms together with the bordering Mikumi and Udzungwa National Parks an area which is as big as Switzerland! Today, you drive through the northern part of the reserve which is open for photo safaris. On the way, you have plenty of time for unique wildlife encounters in this unspoiled environment. Besides the typical residents of the African bush, you can spot up to 400 different bird species. However, it is not always easy to see the animals and birds because of the dense vegetation. Optional Activities such as walking in the wilderness or boat cruise can be arranged at extra cost.

After breakfast, we drive towards the Indian Ocean through Mtemere Gate and at around noon you will reach Dar Es Salaam. Transfer to airport or hotel at your own arrangement.