5-Day Mikumi Udzungwa Selous Safari

$1,650 / person

5-Day Mikumi & Udzungwa Mountains & Nyerere (Selous) Safari — Overview & Highlights

This 5-day Southern Tanzania Safari explores the less-crowded gems of the Southern Circuit: Mikumi National Park's open savannas teeming with elephants, lions, giraffes, and buffalo; Udzungwa Mountains National Park's lush rainforests with endemic primates, rare birds, and stunning waterfall hikes; and Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), Africa's largest wildlife area, famous for Rufiji River boat safaris, walking safaris, and diverse Big Five sightings. Starting and ending in Dar es Salaam, enjoy private 4x4 drives, expert guiding, boat adventures, and comfortable lodges/tented camps for an authentic off-the-beaten-path experience.

Departure Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Departure Time Please arrive by 8:00 AM for prompt departure
Maximum travellers 6-7 per vehicle (private options available)
Languages English, Swahili (expert guides)
Includes
  • All park fees & conservation charges
  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking guide/driver
  • Full board accommodation & meals on safari
  • Airport transfers, bottled water & flying doctors insurance
Excludes
  • International flights & visas
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Tips for guide, cook & staff
  • Drinks & personal expenses
Popular Places
  • Mikumi National Park
  • Udzungwa Mountains National Park
  • Nyerere National Park (Selous)
  • Rufiji River

Open-Plain Game Viewing

The Mkata Floodplain delivers Serengeti-style open-country sightings — lion, elephant, giraffe and buffalo

Hippo Pool

Mikumi's permanent hippo pool is one of the most accessible in Tanzania — visible year-round

Unique Railway Approach

The park borders the TAZARA railway line — a genuinely different setting for southern Tanzania

Southern Circuit Starter

Mikumi is the ideal entry point to Tanzania's less-visited and less-crowded southern parks

Closest Game Park to Dar

Mikumi is less than 5 hours from Dar es Salaam — the most accessible wildlife destination from the coast

Zebra & Wildebeest Herds

Large seasonal herds of zebra and wildebeest graze the floodplain alongside permanent resident wildlife

5-Day Mikumi & Udzungwa Mountains & Nyerere (Selous) Safari Itinerary — Day by Day

  • 1
    Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park

    Pick up from Dar es Salaam hotel or airport after breakfast. Drive ~4-5 hours to Mikumi National Park. Afternoon game drive on the Mkata Floodplain — spot large elephant herds, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and diverse birdlife. Picnic lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at a comfortable lodge or tented camp in/near Mikumi.

  • 2
    Day 2: Full Day in Mikumi National Park

    Full day of game drives in Mikumi — morning and afternoon sessions focusing on predators, hippo pools, and vast savannas. Excellent Big Five potential in this compact, wildlife-rich park. Picnic lunch in the bush. Sundowner views over the plains. All meals and overnight at the same Mikumi camp/lodge.

  • 3
    Day 3: Mikumi to Udzungwa Mountains National Park

    Morning game drive in Mikumi, then short transfer (~2-3 hours) to Udzungwa Mountains. Afternoon guided forest hike to Sanje Waterfalls or Prince Bernhard's Trail — encounter endemic red colobus monkeys, rare birds, butterflies, and lush tropical rainforest. Picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight at a lodge near the park entrance.

  • 4
    Day 4: Udzungwa to Nyerere National Park (Selous)

    Morning hike in Udzungwa for more forest exploration, then drive (~5-6 hours) to Nyerere National Park. Afternoon boat safari on the Rufiji River — view hippos, crocodiles, elephants drinking, and abundant birdlife. Game drive en route if time allows. Dinner and overnight at a riverside tented camp in Nyerere.

  • 5
    Day 5: Full Day in Nyerere National Park – Return to Dar es Salaam

    Morning game drive or walking safari in Nyerere — spot wild dogs, lions, leopards, giraffes, and more in this vast wilderness. Optional boat safari extension. Picnic lunch. Afternoon transfer back to Dar es Salaam (~5-6 hours) with drop-off at your hotel or airport. End of a remarkable 5-day Southern Circuit Safari!