Low SeasonMarch - May & November - Mid December
1 Person$ 1,553
2 Persons$ 1,244
3 Persons$ 1,141
4 Persons$ 1,089
5 Persons$ 1,058
6 Persons$ 1,038
Southern Tanzania Safari
Nyerere River & Wildlife Safari 3 Days
Three days deep inside Africa's largest protected wilderness. An evening boat safari on the Rufiji River, a full day tracking wild dog and lion across Nyerere's vast circuits, and a dawn walking safari with an armed ranger before you return. A compact, complete introduction to the Southern Circuit's finest park.
3
Days
2
Nights
Dar es Salaam
Gateway
From $1,038
Per Person
Overview
Nyerere River & Wildlife Safari 3 Days Southern Tanzania
Three days deep inside Africa's largest protected wilderness. An evening boat safari on the Rufiji River, a full day tracking wild dog and lion across Nyerere's vast circuits, and a dawn walking safari with an armed ranger before you return to Dar es Salaam. A compact, complete introduction to the Southern Circuit's finest park.
Haven Trails operates this itinerary in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a 360° pop-up roof, an expert English-speaking southern circuit guide and all accommodation, park fees and safari meals included. Nyerere rewards even a short stay with an intensity of wildlife encounters rarely matched elsewhere in East Africa.
Rufiji Boat Safari
Evening on Africa's wildest river
Wild Dog Country
Best population in Africa
Walking Safari
Armed ranger at dawn
Full Day Circuit
Every Nyerere habitat
Elephants
Large herds year-round
2 Nights
Selous Safari Lodge
Wildlife You'll Encounter
Lion African Elephant Wild Dog Leopard Masai Giraffe Cape Buffalo Hippopotamus Nile Crocodile 450+ Bird Species
Day-by-Day
The Itinerary
1
Dar es Salaam Nyerere Evening Boat Safari
Dar es Salaam Nyerere Evening Boat Safari
Morning pickup from your Dar es Salaam hotel or airport at 8:00 AM for the four-hour drive south to Nyerere National Park via Kibiti, where a lunch break refreshes before the final run to the park. You arrive in the early afternoon. Time to check in, orientate and then head straight to the river for the evening boat safari on the Rufiji. The Rufiji at sunset is one of Africa's defining wildlife experiences: hippo pods surfacing alongside the boat, crocodiles on every sandbank, fish eagles calling from the riverine trees and the vast miombo woodland turning gold in the evening light.
Rufiji River Evening Boat Safari
Hippo Pods at Sunset
African Fish Eagle
Nile Crocodile Sandbanks
Accommodation: Selous Safari Lodge
Meals:
Lunch (Kibiti)
Dinner
Where You Sleep — Nyerere, First of 2 Nights
Choose your accommodation tier for this stage of the safari.
Nyerere National Park
Gold · Luxury
Gold · Luxury
Selous Safari Lodge
Nyerere National Park, Tanzania
A comfortable Rufiji River safari base with en-suite accommodation and direct access to Nyerere game drives, walking safaris and boat excursions.
River Setting En-Suite Full Board Safari Access
2
Full Day Nyerere Wild Dog Tracking
Full Day Nyerere Wild Dog Tracking
A full Nyerere day dedicated to the park's most remarkable wildlife. Beginning with wild dog tracking in the early morning, when the packs are most active. Your guide uses radio network intelligence and decades of local experience to locate the packs in their vast territories. The full day circuit covers the lake systems, the open grassland, the riverine forest edges and the miombo woodland zones. Each habitat delivering different species and different wildlife behaviour. Picnic lunch in the park. A sundowner drive along the Rufiji closes the day.
Wild Dog Pack Tracking
Lion Prides Grassland
Elephant Herds
Rufiji Sundowner Drive
Accommodation: Selous Safari Lodge
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch (picnic)
Dinner
Where You Sleep — Nyerere, Second of 2 Nights
Choose your accommodation tier for this stage of the safari.
Nyerere National Park
Gold · Luxury
Gold · Luxury
Selous Safari Lodge
Nyerere National Park, Tanzania
A comfortable Rufiji River safari base with en-suite accommodation and direct access to Nyerere game drives, walking safaris and boat excursions.
River Setting En-Suite Full Board Safari Access
3
Dawn Walking Safari Return Dar es Salaam
Dawn Walking Safari Return Dar es Salaam
The day starts before dawn. The armed ranger walking safari through the Nyerere woodland as the bush comes to life around you. Tracking, listening, reading the landscape at foot pace, a completely different perspective from the vehicle-based days before. Return to camp for a full breakfast and check-out, then the drive back to Dar es Salaam via Kibiti with a lunch stop en route, arriving at your hotel, the ferry terminal or Julius Nyerere Airport in the afternoon.
Armed Ranger Walking Safari
Tracking Lion & Elephant Spoor
Return Drive via Kibiti
Dar es Salaam Arrival
Accommodation: N/A
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch (Kibiti)
Tour Pricing
2026–2027 Prices
2026–2027
High SeasonMid December - Late February
1 Person$ 1,733
2 Persons$ 1,334
3 Persons$ 1,201
4 Persons$ 1,134
5 Persons$ 1,094
6 Persons$ 1,068
Peak SeasonLate June - October
1 Person$ 1,853
2 Persons$ 1,394
3 Persons$ 1,241
4 Persons$ 1,164
5 Persons$ 1,118
6 Persons$ 1,088
Price per person in USD. Internal flights are excluded where applicable.
The Destination
The Park What Awaits
Nyerere National Park
Africa's largest single protected area. 50,000 km² of miombo woodland, Rufiji River wetlands and remote grassland supporting Africa's greatest wild dog population, enormous elephant herds, the full Big Five and over 450 bird species. Boat safaris on the Rufiji River and walking safaris with armed rangers are signature Nyerere activities unavailable in most East African parks.
50,000 km²
Africa's Largest
Wild Dogs
Best population
Rufiji River
Boat safari
450+
Bird species
What's Included
Inclusions & Exclusions
What's Included
- Return 4x4 Land Cruiser (pop-up roof) from Dar es Salaam
- Expert English-speaking naturalist guide
- All national park entry and conservation fees
- All accommodation (2 nights, as per itinerary)
- All safari meals as per the itinerary
- Bottled water and soft drinks in the vehicle daily
- Government taxes
- Hotel/airport pickup and drop-off in Dar es Salaam
Not Included
- International flights to/from Tanzania
- Tanzania tourist visa (required approx. $50 USD)
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Alcoholic beverages throughout
- Safari guide and crew gratuities (discretionary)
- Optional activities not listed in itinerary
- Personal items and souvenirs
Where You Sleep
Accommodation Your Safari Home
Every night of this safari is as carefully chosen as the game drives themselves. Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers are available for each stage of the journey. Use the tabs inside each day of the itinerary above to browse where you'll sleep, or scroll back up to compare tiers night by night.
Silver · Budgeted
Gold · Luxury
Platinum · Exclusive
Custom Accommodation Available
All accommodation on this safari is fully customisable. If you have a specific property in mind. Or would like to mix Silver, Gold or Platinum nights. Simply let us know. Haven Trails works with all major properties and many exclusive private camps. Contact us at info@haventrails.com or WhatsApp +255 713 334154.
Why Book With Us
Why Haven Trails Adventures
Expert Southern Circuit Guides
Our southern circuit specialists have guided extensively in Nyerere, Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa. They know the best game drive routes, the wildlife concentrations by season, and the hidden corners of these vast, untouched parks.
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser
All southern safaris depart in a private, custom-built 4x4 Land Cruiser with a 360° pop-up roof. Never shared with strangers. Your vehicle, your pace, your experience.
The Road Less Travelled
The Southern Circuit is Tanzania's most undiscovered safari destination. Fewer tourists, wilder landscapes and wildlife encounters with depth and intimacy impossible in the Northern Circuit's busier parks.
Based in Tanzania
Haven Trails is based in Moshi, Tanzania. Not a booking platform abroad. Our local team has deep knowledge of road conditions, seasonal wildlife movements and the best lodges throughout the Southern Circuit.
Fully Customisable
Every southern safari can be extended, combined, upgraded, or tailored to your group. Add Mikumi National Park, extend with Kilwa Beach, or combine with the Northern Circuit. Tell us your vision.
Responsible Safari
Haven Trails operates in strict compliance with TANAPA and TAWIRI regulations. We use community lodges where available and support anti-poaching initiatives in Nyerere and Ruaha.
TALA Licensed
4.9/5.0 Rating
24/7 Support
Fair Trade Tourism
FAQ
Common Questions
Is 3 days enough time in Nyerere?
Three days is the minimum we recommend for Nyerere and it works well. You get an evening boat safari, a full uninterrupted game drive day dedicated to wild dog and lion tracking, and a dawn walking safari before you leave. If you want two full game drive days plus Mikumi added on, consider our 4 or 5-day itineraries instead.
What accommodation is used?
Selous Safari Lodge for both nights, beautifully positioned on the Rufiji River and one of the most atmospherically located lodges in the southern circuit. Included in the package price.
Is there a fly-in option for Nyerere?
Yes. Haven Trails can arrange a fly-in from Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere Airport to Nyerere's airstrips (Mtemere or Siwandu) for a significant time saving and an extraordinary aerial view of the park. Contact Haven Trails for fly-in pricing, which replaces the road transfer.
What is the best season for wild dogs in Nyerere?
African wild dogs are present in Nyerere year-round but the denning season (June-September) is the best time to see packs with puppies, making sightings more reliable and more extended as the pack returns to the den. The dry season is also better overall for game viewing density. Haven Trails guides use real-time tracking information to maximise wild dog sighting probability.
Can I extend this safari?
Yes. Adding a night and a full game drive day in Mikumi National Park converts this into our 4-day Nyerere Classic Safari Escape, or a further day into the 5-day Southern Secrets Safari. Contact Haven Trails to discuss the extended itinerary.
