9 DAYS DAR – MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK – RUAHA NATIONAL PARK – NYERERE NATIONAL PARK

TOUR OVERVIEW
This 9 days Tanzania safari from Dar es Salaam is a combination of the top national parks in Tanzania’s southern region. You will get the chance to explore both of Tanzania’s major national parks on your safari. The largest national park in Africa is Nyerere National Park (previously Selous Game Reserve), which shares its eco-system with Mikumi National Park and borders it on the north. Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s second largest park, followed by Serengeti National Park.

DAY1: DAR ES SALAAM – MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, drive to Mikumi National park, lunch served in en route to Morogoro. Mikumi is nestled between Uluguru Mountain to the northeast, Udzungwa Mountains and the Rift Valley escarpment to the south west as part of Nyerere’s ecosystem, it benefits from the highest game density of the entire conservation area. On arrival to the park enjoy afternoon game drives in Mikumi ‘till sunset.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge

DAY 2: FULL DAY IN MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast is served at Lodge. Morning game drive game drives in Mikumi National park which lies about 320km west of Dar es Salaam City and 107km from the nearest town named Morogoro on the highway from Dar es Salaam to Zambia, covering an area of 3230km sq. there is a high possibility of getting close to the Lion, Buffalo, Elephants, Impala and many more wildlife found in the area. After lunch visit the Maasai village in Mikumi before going back for dinner and accommodation.
Meals and overnight at your lodge

DAY 3: MIKUMI – RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast is served at the Lodge, there after check out and drive across Udzungwa chain of Mountains, crossing Ruaha Great River and the famous Kitonga Mountain, passing Iringa town for lunch to Ruaha National Park. Afternoon proceed to your lodge in Ruaha for evening game drives en route to your lodge in Ruaha National Park.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge

DAY 4: FULL DAY IN RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast is served at the Lodge; enjoy a full day of game drives in Ruaha National Park, The park was named after Great Ruaha River which cross the park and saves as its life line.
The park history dates back to 1910 when it was gazetted as Saba Game Reserve by the German. The name was changed to Rungwa game reserve in 1946 by British. In 1964 the southern portion of the game reserve was gazette as Ruaha National Park and in 1974 a small section of the southern part of the Great Ruaha River was incorporated into the park. Ruaha National Park is part of Rungwa, Kizigo and Muhesi ecosystem which covers approximately 45,000km sq.to make it the biggest National Park in East Africa after its nearby game reserves declared by the Government as part of Ruaha National Park.
Meals and overnight at your lodge

DAY 5: RUAHA – MOROGORO
Breakfast is served at the Lodge, drive to Isimila Stone ages for Cultural tourism, short walk across the valley and pillars made by erosion millions of years ago, the walk takes about 2 to 3hours. Thereafter drive to Kitonga inn locate at the foot of the famous Kitonga Mountain for lunch, thereafter proceed to your lodge for relaxation
Dinner and overnight at your lodge

DAY 6: MOROGORO – NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, drive to Nyerere National park, lunch served at Rufiji River Lodge, upon arrival in the park proceed for evening game drive in the park. Nyerere National Park is the largest game park in Africa – 4 times the size of the Serengeti. It possesses a diverse landscape from hot volcanic springs, sporadic lakes, channels from the Great Ruaha and Rufiji rivers.
Nyerere is Africa’s greatest national park that covers a wide variety of wildlife habitats including Lakes, open grassland, Acacia, Miombo woodland and riverine forests. The topography of the park varies from rolling savannah woodland, grassland plains and rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries. The Kilombero and Luwengu which together cover the greatest catchment area in East Africa, which flows from north to south provides the life-blood of Nyerere National park. Sailing or Rafting down the Rufiji River is a superb way of seeing game in the park.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge

DAY 7: NYERERE NATIONAL PARK FULL DAY
Breakfast is served at the Lodge, another full day of game drives in the park.
Nyerere National park as the largest protected wildlife area in Africa, due to its unique ecological importance this pristine uninhabited area was declared as “World Heritage Site” by United Nations in 1981. Selous is bigger than Switzerland or Denmark covering an area of about 54’600sq km. Nyerere boasts Tanzania’s largest and most important populations of Elephant, Buffalo and Wild dog in Africa. Almost 60’000 of Tanzania’s Elephant are found there as well as large numbers of Hippo; other species commonly seen are Lions, Bushbuck, Impala, Giraffe, Eland, Baboon, Zebra, Greater Kudu, etc. Waterbuck, Reedbuck gathers at the water edge of Lake Tagalala linked to the Rufiji River. Nyerere is also a prime destination for Bird-watchers; more than 420 endemic species have been recorded, evening drive back to the camp for overnight.
Meals and Overnight at your lodge

DAY 8: NYERERE NATIONAL PARK FULL DAY
Wake up very early morning, after a cup of tea/coffee transfer to Mtemere gate for Walking inside the Park with the escort of an armed ranger, the journey takes about 2 to 3hours, on arrival to your pick up point you will be transferred back to the Lodge for Breakfast. There after proceed with short game drives till lunch which will be served at the lodge.
Boat Safari in the afternoon is another way of game viewing on the Rufiji River; it offers a unique experience as the Nyerere is the only park in Tanzania and East Africa where this option is available. Rufiji River is one of the most dramatic rivers in Tanzania’s National Parks which is navigable all year round. The chance to get out of the vehicle and view game from a boat is one of the things which make Nyerere National Park such a great place to visit.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge

DAY 9: NYERERE NATIONAL PARK DAR ES SALAAM
After breakfast, enjoy half day of game drives in the park, Nyerere National Park is Africa’s greatest conservation area and covers a wide variety of wildlife habitats including Lakes, open grassland, Acacia, Miombo woodland and riverine forests. The topography of the park varies from rolling savannah woodland, grassland plains and rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries. After early lunch, check out of the Camp and drive back to Dar Es Salaam, on arrival drop off at the airport for your onward flight back home.
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