Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar

Combine the wilder side of Tanzania with the tropical beaches of Zanzibar. Journey through the southern safari circuit of Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve, before a short flight brings you to the border between Africa and the Indian Ocean.
10 Days
$5,500

Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar - 10 - $5,500

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

Day 1: Arrival at Dar es Salaam International Airport. Light aircraft flight to Nyerere National Park (previously called Selous Game Reserve). Afternoon game drive in Nyerere. 

Day 2: Full day safari in Nyerere National Park. Optional night game drives, boat safaris, and walking safaris. 

Day 3: Full day safari in Nyerere National Park. Optional night game drives, boat safaris, and walking safaris.

Day 4: Light aircraft flight to Ruaha National Park. Afternoon game drive. Evening campfire drinks and dinner. 

Day 5: Full day safari in Ruaha National Park. 

Day 6: Light aircraft flight to Zanzibar. Afternoon at leisure in Zanzibar. 

Day 7: Day at leisure in Zanzibar. Optional activities available. 

Day 8: Day at leisure in Zanzibar. Optional activities available.

Day 9: Day at leisure in Zanzibar. Optional activities available.

Day 10: Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport. International flight home. 

Is this trip right for me? 

Every trip to Tanzania is different. At Brilliant Africa, our job is to help you find a trip that matches your dreams, budget, and appetite for luxury and adventure. 

The trip below is one example of what's possible, but get in touch with our team, and we'll help you understand if it's right for you. We can use this trip as a starting point, or we can start with a blank sheet of paper and design a trip that's perfect for you. 

Start from Dar es Salaam and end at Dar es Salaam

Landmarks potentially visited on Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar

Itinerary

The itinerary below is designed to give you an overview of the route. Get in touch with our team for a full travel itinerary, or to create a tailor-made trip. 

Day 1: Nyerere National Park

On arrival at Dar es Salaam International Airport, you fly with Coastal Aviation to the Nyerere National Park, only an hour away (15 kg luggage limit per person; soft bags required for all flights on this itinerary).

Your guide from Roho ya Selous camp will meet you at the airstrip and game-drive you the short distance to the camp, giving an introduction to this beautiful reserve and its wildlife on the way. Settle into your spacious tent and after lunch, there’s time to relax by the pool before you set off on your afternoon safari activity. A boat safari is a lovely, relaxed introduction to the Selous, watching wildlife come to the water’s edge to drink, and stopping for sundowners on a sandbank.

Overnight Roho ya Selous. 


Days 2 to 3: Nyerere National Park

Each morning and afternoon you can choose from the safari activities on offer. Game drives are a good way of exploring farther afield and seeing the larger wildlife and predators. The Selous is home to a superb variety of wildlife including good populations of lion and leopard, and Africa’s largest population of wild dog. Walking safaris are a real treat and offer a slower pace to learn about the flora and fauna of the Selous. Boat safaris on the lake are particularly lovely in the afternoon, combined with a spot of fishing or sundowners, and are a good chance to get up close to pods of hippo and bird colonies nesting on small islands.

Overnight at Roho ya Selous. 


Day 4: Ruaha National Park

Depart on a short morning game drive to the airstrip to fly to Ruaha National Park, an hour and a half’s flight away. On arrival in Ruaha, a guide from Kwihala will meet you and game drive you back to camp, exploring this very different landscape on the way. Settle in, unwind and freshen up before heading to the dining tent for a delicious lunch served in a shady spot overlooking the sandy river.

Rest during the heat of the day before afternoon tea is served and you set off on an afternoon drive, searching for the big cats and other wildlife that make this park such a rewarding safari destination. In the evening, enjoy drinks around the campfire before a three-course dinner alfresco, surrounded by lanterns and often the sounds of elephants in the distance as they search for water.


Day 5-6: Ruaha National Park

Safari activities take place in the early morning and late afternoon, when the wildlife is most active. You will head out with expert guides on game drives to explore farther afield, on walking safaris to seek out the smaller details and learn how to track wildlife from prints and signs in the bush, and night drives to watch nocturnal species. Breakfast is often a picnic to maximise your explorations, and you will return to camp for lunch and a siesta.

Overnight Kwihala Camp


Day 7: Zanzibar

After breakfast, depart camp and game-drive to the airstrip, where you will fly to Zanzibar, 2.5 hours away. On arrival you will be met and driven by private vehicle to Matemwe Lodge in the north east of the island. Spend therest of the afternoon unwinding in your thatch-and-stone chalet right on the ocean, snoozing in the hammock or swimming in one of the two pools.

Overnight Matemwe Lodge. 


Day 8-9: Zanzibar

Spend your days at Matemwe relaxing and swimming in the warm Indian Ocean, taking a boat to the reef to snorkel or dive, kayaking along the shoreline looking for turtles, sailing in a dhow watching for dolphins or taking a picnic lunch to a remote sandbank.

Overnight Matemwe Lodge. 


Day 10: Dar es Salaam

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Zanzibar Airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam, only 20 minutes away, where you can connect to your international flight home.

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

Prices are per person based on two people travelling together. Travel during some peak season months will incur higher rates. 

For a tailor-made itinerary built around your interests and budget, get in touch with our team

Includes

  • Domestic flights.
  • All road transfers and airport pickups/drop-offs.
  • All accommodation as per the itinerary. Accommodation can be amended based on budget and preferences.
  • All camping equipment where necessary.
  • Fees for guides, scouts, drivers, and cooks.
  • All entrance fees as per the program.
  • Meal plan full board.
  • Fees for all activities as per the program.
  • Conservation charge. 

Excludes

  • International flights and visa fees.
  • Activities not mentioned or stated as optional in the itinerary.
  • Other personal expenses, souvenirs, tips and gratuities, etc.

Questions about this Trip?