A safari to Tanzania’s Southern and/or Western Safari Circuits may leave you feeling as if you have stumbled upon one of the best kept secrets in the world. Lesser known than the heavily marketed Northern Circuit, visitors who explore the National Parks that make up these 2 circuits come away with an overriding feeling of complete satisfaction.
Some may say that the Southern Circuit is better suited to a ‘second-timer’ on safari – we beg to differ. If you are adventurous, you want to escape the crowds, you are not scared of flying, and you want some of the best game viewing experiences Africa can offer, then there is no reason why you have to go somewhere else first.
Your starting point for any Southern Circuit safari is Dar es Salaam – and depending on your flight arrival time you can either overnight in the city or you can fly straight out to your first safari reserve. Staying one night in the city will, of course, give you the opportunity to relax and recharge after an overnight flight, but if you are keen to get on safari as soon as possible, this is also possible!
The Selous Game Reserve is one of Africa's largest game reserves and, at 4 times the size of the Serengeti, epic doesn't even begin to describe it. It's a beautiful, remote wilderness abundant in wildlife and packed with panoramas, as well as more than half of Tanzania’s elephant population and the largest wild dog population in the world.
Many people will fly just into and out of Selous then head to the beach, but for the die-hard safari enthusiast, we would urge you to continue to explore further!
Ruaha National Park is an untouched, even more remote reserve known for its undisturbed wildlife, offering truly authentic safaris in isolated, rugged surroundings.
The main draw of the Western Circuit is the true remoteness of the Parks - requiring a 4 hour flight to get here, it is no wonder that visitors are few and far between.
The Katavi National Park is a true safari hideaway. Miles from anywhere, Katavi is so seldom-visited that you'll feel like the only travellers in Africa! This is then combined with the superbly secluded Mahale Mountains National Park or the Gombe Stream National Park - both secret, scenic retreats on the waters of Lake Tanganyika with a cheeky chimp population.
Starting and ending in Arusha, flights to this far-flung corner of Tanzania depart just twice weekly on a Monday or a Thursday, making for a nice 7 night Western Circuit safari trip with either 3 night spent in Katavi and 4 trekking chimps, or visa versa.
After all the excitement of either circuit, some beach down time might be in order. The stretch of coastline south of Dar is home to soft white sand beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, creating an idyllic barefoot paradise. Or hop across to Zanzibar, a breathtaking beach escape bursting with culture and history, coral reefs, palm-fringed beaches and crystal clear blue waters.
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Escape from the Crowds
10 nights
3 and 4 Star Accommodation
Sunshine Marine
Zanzibar
Ruaha River Lodge
Ruaha National Park
Destination: Tanzania.
10 night itinerary including Zanzibar and Ruaha National Park.
Your starting point for any Southern Circuit safari is Dar es Salaam – and depending on your flight arrival time you can either overnight in the city or you can fly straight out to your first safari reserve. Staying one night in the city will, of course, give you the opportunity to relax and recharge after an overnight flight, but if you are keen to get on safari as soon as possible, this is also possible!
