Twin Parks Southern Escape — 4-Day Safari
Two of southern Tanzania's most magnificent parks in four remarkable days — Mikumi's open lion plains and elephant herds at Dar es Salaam's doorstep, then the vast Nyerere wilderness with its Rufiji River boat safari, walking safari with armed rangers, and the wild dog country of the south.
Twin Parks Southern Escape — 4-Day Safari — Southern Tanzania
Two of southern Tanzania's most magnificent parks in four remarkable days — Mikumi's open lion plains and elephant herds at Dar es Salaam's doorstep, then the vast Nyerere wilderness with its Rufiji River boat safari, walking safari with armed rangers, and the wild dog country of the south.
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. The Southern Circuit is Tanzania's hidden gem — wilder, less crowded, and in many ways more rewarding than the more famous Northern Circuit. This is the Africa that most visitors never see.
The Parks — What Awaits
Mikumi National Park
Tanzania's fourth-largest park and the most accessible from Dar es Salaam — Mikumi delivers genuine open-plains safari from the moment you enter the gate. The Mkata flood plain is the park's wildlife heartland: a vast open grassland where lion prides hunt, elephant herds gather at waterholes, and giraffe browse the acacia canopy. Zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, and warthog move across the plains in large numbers, and the park's hippo pool is one of Tanzania's most reliable and impressive.
Nyerere National Park
Africa's largest protected area at 50,000 km². The Rufiji River is the park's beating heart — enormous hippo pods, crocodile concentrations, and superb bird diversity along its banks. The wild dog population is one of the most significant remaining in Africa. Boat safaris and walking safaris with armed rangers make Nyerere uniquely versatile among Tanzania's parks.
The Itinerary
1
Dar es Salaam → Mikumi — Afternoon Game Drive
An early 5:00 AM departure from Dar es Salaam for the drive to Mikumi National Park via Morogoro — where a hot lunch stop breaks the journey before the final stretch into the park. You enter through the Mikumi gate in the afternoon, and the first game drive begins immediately: the Mkata flood plain spreads out before you, and the safari begins with a warm reception from the park's resident wildlife — impala herds, elephant families, Masai giraffes at the acacia canopy, and the first lion sightings on the open grassland. Dinner and overnight at Camp Bastian.
2
Mikumi Full Day → Transfer to Nyerere
Breakfast from the lodge, then a morning game drive covering the hippo pool, the Mwanambogo Dam area, and the open plains — the classic Mikumi circuit that consistently delivers lion, elephant, buffalo, and superb birdlife. After the game drive, the long drive to Nyerere National Park begins — a seven-hour journey through increasingly remote and spectacularly untouched southern Tanzania countryside, with picnic lunch en route. You arrive at Selous Safari Lodge in the late afternoon — the sound of the Rufiji in the background, hippos grunting from the river.
3
Full Day Nyerere — Game Drive + Boat Safari
A full day in Africa's largest park. The morning game drive explores the miombo woodland and grassland zones — the landscapes most likely to yield lion prides, wild dog packs, and the enormous buffalo herds Nyerere is known for. Picnic lunch in the park. The afternoon transitions to the river: a boat safari on the Rufiji, where hippo pods surface alongside the boat, crocodiles line the sandbanks, and fish eagles call from the riverbank trees. The evening light on the water is extraordinary.
4
Dawn Walking Safari → Return Dar es Salaam
The final morning is the walking safari — the experience that makes Nyerere fundamentally different from any northern park. An armed ranger guide leads you into the Selous Forest at dawn, tracking lion prints, following elephant pathways, reading the sounds and signs of the wild at walking pace. Return to camp for breakfast, then the drive back to Dar es Salaam with packed lunches for the journey — arriving at your hotel, ferry terminal, or Julius Nyerere Airport in the afternoon.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- 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 (3 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
- 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
Why Haven Trails Adventures
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.
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 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.
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.
Every southern safari can be extended, combined, upgraded, or tailored to your group. Add the Udzungwa hiking experience, extend with Kilwa Beach, or combine with the Northern Circuit. Tell us your vision.
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. TATO licensed and MNRT certified.
