Ruaha, Rufiji (Selous) & the Coast SOUTHERN TANZANIA EXPLORATION

Day notes

Having arrived in to Arusha (or Dar es saalam) you will be flown to Ruaha to beging your safari.

The keys to an outstanding game drive are experience, knowledge and a suitable vehicle. All game drives around the park are taken in open 4 wheel drive vehicles. These vehicles have been designed to ensure maximum visibility for all passengers. All have 2 way radio in case of emergency. The game drives are led by a trained, experienced English speaking guide who will ensure that you get the most out of every safari you make.  Many of the guides at Ruaha River Lodge have worked in the Park for years honing their knowledge of the Ruaha Park.  Their self motivation is enhanced by annual training.
 

Day notes

Having flown from Ruaha to Rufiji ( Selous) you will be settled in to your room for the next 4 nights .

All game drives are taken in open vehicles with a sun shade roof, so there are no impediments to anyone's view.  Guides at Rufiji are locally trained and are experts in the Selous area.

A game walk at Rufiji will really open your eyes to the finer details often missed on game drives - the spore,  footprints, the 'tillte five' representing the insect Kingdom are fascinating when evaluated and explained by your Walking guide.

Boating safaris in flat bottomed boats are perhaps the most relaxing way to game view.  Sharing the river with pods of hippo and floats of crocodiles giving you the opportunity to view birds nesting in the banks, monitor lizards and many water birds are just some of the highlights.

Day notes

We will arrange a flight to take you from selous to Bagamoyo from where you will be transffered by raod and then boats to Lazy lagoon. Being an island Lazy Lagoon is only accessible by boat.  The boat crosses several times per day so we will arrange to ferry you across on the most convenient crossing.
Bagamoyo was one of the most important trading points on the East African coast, serving at various times as a trading centre for ivory and for slaves. The name Bagamoyo means 'lay down your heart'; a relic of the slave trade as this was the exit port for many thousands of Tanzanians who left their hearts in their homeland.

Lazy Lagoon is situated at the end of a thin spit of land that forms a lagoon of azure waters a little south of the town of Bagamoyo. The spit, and a number of tiny islands in the lagoon, are home to mangrove forests, with spectacular high and low tides; the latter revealing miles of white sands, exposed corals, and naked mangrove roots and trunks.
 
The mainland is home to a number of small fishing villages, from which you can get up early to watch the fishermen take their ngalawas out of the calm lagoon waters and out into the Indian Ocean. Depending on the winds and the tides, they return from noon onwards, sometimes stopping to sell their catch to the lodge.
Imagine a private island in the Indian Ocean, the waves lapping the white sandy beach just metres from your bed. The day stretches ahead with promises of sun, snorkeling and mangrove exploration, just interrupted by freshly prepared meals.

The coral off the coast is home to myriad fish, sea anenomies and countless other creatures to drift over and marvel at. For the more ambitious, a dhow trip can take you further out. We have a number of sets of fins, snorkels and goggles for different ages and sizes.
There are also have a number of one and two person Kayaks to explore the coastline around the lodge from a different perspective. The lodge has  plenty of life jackets for all activities.

Depending on the tide, there are a number of spots where you can safely swim off the beach outside the main banda. At other times, when the currents are strong, or for those less adventurous, there is always the serenity of the swimming pool!