7 Days Southern Tanzania Highlights - Nyerere & Ruaha

Southern Tanzania Highlights Safari – Nyerere & Ruaha National Parks

7 Days of Big Game, Wild Rivers & Untouched Wilderness

Discover the wild heart of Tanzania on this immersive 7-day Southern Tanzania Highlights Safari, exploring two of Africa’s most spectacular and untouched wilderness areas—Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park. Designed for travellers seeking a more exclusive and off-the-beaten-path adventure, this itinerary delivers incredible wildlife encounters, diverse landscapes, and a level of tranquillity rarely found in the more visited northern parks.

Begin your journey in the vast wetlands and river systems of Nyerere National Park, home to elephants, lions, giraffes, abundant hippos and crocodiles, and one of the last strongholds of the endangered African wild dog. Enjoy classic game drives, peaceful boat safaris on the Rufiji River, and incredible birdwatching in one of Africa’s largest protected areas.

Continue to the rugged beauty of Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest—and arguably most dramatic—wildlife sanctuary. With its baobab-studded plains, rocky escarpments, and wide river valleys, Ruaha offers exceptional predator sightings, huge elephant herds, and a rich diversity of antelope species. Multiple days here give you time to fully appreciate the remoteness, silence, and raw charm of this extraordinary landscape.

With comfortable, well-located camps, expert guiding, and seamless transfers, this itinerary offers a deep, authentic connection to Tanzania’s wildest places—perfect for seasoned safari lovers, photographers, and travellers craving true wilderness.

Key Highlights

• Explore Nyerere National Park, one of Africa’s largest wilderness areas

• Enjoy game drives, boat safaris, and incredible wildlife viewing along the Rufiji River

• Discover Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s biggest and most untouched safari destination

• Excellent sightings of lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and diverse antelope

• Dramatic landscapes—baobab forests, river valleys, rocky hills, and open plains

• Multiple full days in each park for slow, meaningful exploration

• Stay in comfortable lodges and camps in prime wildlife areas

• Ideal for photographers, adventure travellers, and those seeking a quieter, more exclusive safari

• Seamless light-aircraft transfers between parks and Dar es Salaam