19 DAYS WESTERN TO SOUTHERN CIRCUIT SAFARI
Trip information
Embarking on a Circuit Safari from Western Tanzania to Southern Tanzania offers an incredible adventure through diverse landscapes, rich wildlife, and unique cultural experiences. This journey typically takes several days and allows you to explore some of Tanzania’s most renowned national parks and reserves.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN TANZANIA (DAR-ES-SALAAM)
Welcome to Julius Nyerere International Airport. You have now touched down in Dar es-Salaam. You will arrive at Dar es Salaam at around 1300 hrs. You will have someone pick you up from the airport and directly transfer you to the Mediterranean Hotel, where you will check in and have an overnight stay. Dar-es-salaam is a very busy city and is rich in its nightlife. You can opt to relax as you prepare for your flight the next day which is Kigoma. You could also opt to enjoy the nightlife in Dar. This will mark your first day in Tanzania.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Mediterranean Hotel
Day 2 : FLY TO KIGOMA (2 HRS) .
On this day, you will be flying to the western side of Tanzania. You will fly from Dar to Kigoma in the late morning, which takes about 2 hours. Once in Kigoma, you will have someone pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel, which will be Kigoma Hilltop for dinner and an overnight stay. The hotel offers an amazing view that overlooks Lake Tanganyika. It is ideally a beautiful place where you can disconnect from reality as Kigoma city unravels itself. We recommend that you spend this day resting as you prepare for the beginning of the safari the following day. You could opt to explore the city and watch locals close up for the day.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Kigoma Hill Top
Day 3 : BOAT TO GOMBE AND TREKKING.
This day will begin at a normal pace. After you have had your breakfast, you will head out at around 0900 hours towards the lakeside to prepare for your transfer to Gombe Stream National Park. You will use a boat to get to the park and the transfer takes about 3 hours. You will be able to see stunning vegetative view with different bird species singing to you. Hippos and crocodiles tend to keep their distance because of the boat movement but you might get lucky and see one or two along the way. On your arrival in Gombe, you will head towards your accommodation for check-in and a hot lunch. In the meantime, you will be briefed on what to do the following day and how to prepare for the chimpanzee trek. Have dinner and stay overnight at Tanapa Bandas, where nature could not have been any closer.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Tanapa Bandas
Day 4 : CHIMPANZEE TREKKING.
Gombe is a Gorilla trekking is one of the best activities that you could experience during your stay in Tanzania. It allows you to come face-to-face with the primates in their natural habitat. It could be a bit exhausting, but meeting the chimps will give you the best feeling and it makes it all worth it.
Gombe Stream National Park is a park that is known for its unique setting and experience with primates. It is located close to Lake Tanganyika and is the best place to see chimpanzees in Tanzania. It gained more of its popularity after Jane Goodall, a conservationist, came into the picture. She took a lot of her time to study the chimpanzees and how they behave and her research has enabled multiple primates to exist in the park. Usually, trekking time is unpredictable, as you can meet the chimpanzee in any part of the journey. After the hike, you will head back to your accommodation for a hot lunch and a stretch. Aftercare is really important after trekking or hiking. Enjoy the hotel’s facilities as you prepare for the following day’s activities.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Tanapa Bandas
Day 5 : DRIVE TO KATAVI
On this day, you will begin your trip to Katavi, one of the most underrated national parks in the country. Your morning will not start too early but just after breakfast. You will depart with a packed lunch, as the journey is about 380km and will take a long time for you to get there. However, on the journey, there is a beautiful sight as you watch the sky stretch over the horizon.
On your way to Katavi, you will go through a place called Uvinza where salt production takes place. You can see the production take place from the comfort of your vehicle. The rest of the journey is filled with beautiful views of forests and vegetative cover. You will also encounter a lot of hawkers trying to sell you nuts. This is the typical way rural places do business in Tanzania. During your journey, you will stop for your packed lunch before you proceed with your journey.
A few more kilometres from where you will stop at will be enough to allow you to get to your destination. You will spend the evening at Katavi Wildlife Camp where you will enjoy an amazing view of the Katisunga plains. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at your accommodation as you enjoy your serene environment.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Katavi Wildlife Camp
Day 6 : GAME DRIVE IN KATAVI
Another beautiful morning in the most serene parts of Tanzania. You will head towards a full-day game drive as you explore Katavi National Park to the maximum. Of course, leaving as early as dawn is always a good option if you are looking forward to watching the world of the wild come to life. You will leave with a packed lunch when you go for a full-day game drive. However, you could also opt to get back to your accommodation for a hot lunch, get ready for an evening game drive and watch the animals get ready to settle in while the predators get ready for their daily hunt for a meal.
Katavi National Park is known for having an array of different habitats. Starting from low-lying plains to thick reeds, Katavi has it all. It is also a home for herds of buffaloes. It also brags the existence of waterways that allow the presence of hippos and crocodiles. It has 2 seasons, rainy and dry, and it becomes hard for the animals who are in water habitats to live comfortably in the dry season. It is, however, a very beautiful and sound park with plenty of history and beauty. Spend your evenings at Katavi Wildlife Camp for a relaxing evening and unique African cuisine.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Katavi Wildlife Camp
Day 7 : GAME DRIVE IN KATAVI ON YOUR WAY TO SUMBAWANGA
After breakfast, depart with a packed lunch for the morning game drive in Katavi, then proceed to Sumbawanga, a small town between Katavi and Mbeya. Sumbawanga is a small city located in western Tanzania. It is the capital of the Rukwa region. Arrive at Kallambo Fall Lodge, have dinner on your own, then stay overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Kallambo Fall Lodge
Day 8 & 9: DRIVE TO MBEYA SPEND 2 NIGHTS IN UTENGULE
At this point, you might have realized that your safari has been customized in a way that allows you to enjoy wildlife while still getting a glimpse of the different cities of Tanzania. You will have breakfast as you take in the amazing view for one final moment before you depart to your next destination, which is the city of Mbeya. Today will be a long day but there is nothing to worry about! There will be plenty of stops where you will see lots of different things. You will leave with lunchboxes so that you can have a picnic lunch during the day. Tanzania is a very big country and has about 31 administrative regions. The eastern side of the country has been industrialized more and often attracts more people. The western part of Tanzania, however, is mostly untouched and is a beautiful place as a destination. Mbeya is sprawled with hills and has a beautiful, almost untouched landscape. To get to Mbeya, you will pass another very busy small city, Tunduma. Tunduma is a very busy region that borders Zambia and sees a lot of trade. People tend to think that industrialized cities like Dar es Salaam or Mwanza are busier than Tunduma but the truth is; that Tunduma is a hidden gem when it comes to business.
After a long day of driving, you will finally arrive at Utengule where you will spend 2 nights and have a delicious dinner under the African sky. Stretch out and enjoy your Two nights in Utengule.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Utengule Lodge
Day 10 : DRIVE TO RUAHA
On this day, you will depart after breakfast and have a polepole morning. You will depart from Utengule Farm and head towards Ruaha as your set destination. You will arrive at your lodge and have Lunch there, then relax for the rest of the day
Your accommodation will be at Ruaha River Lodge, where you will spend the night and have dinner. Take time to relax as you prepare for the next day’s surprises.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge
Day 11 & 12 : FULL DAY GAME DRIVE IN RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
The next two days will be spent solely on exploring the famous Ruaha National Park. Ruaha National Park is the biggest park in Tanzania and is known for its vast wildlife. Usually, people assume that Serengeti comes first due to its popularity but Ruaha actually wins when it comes to this.
Ruaha National Park holds a larger advantage over Serengeti because it has very few tourists and visitors. This gives it an excellent wildlife sighting opportunity. Ruaha is a well-kept open secret and holds one of the largest games in Tanzania. It is also known for harboring a large number of elephant herds. With the Ruaha River streaming through, the elephants are always found enjoying around its banks and it is a marvelous sight to the eye. Moreover, if you are keen on birds, then Ruaha will be the perfect place for you.
Your driver will ensure that you will have packed lunch all through as you enjoy a full day in this untouched and serene park. In the evening, you will have dinner and overnight stay at Ruaha River Lodge where you can have a moment of recollection about the whole day and what the following day promises.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge
Day 13 : DRIVE TO UDZUNGWA
This day will start very early and your driver will ensure that you leave with lunchboxes. You will be headed towards Udzungwa National Park, where you will hike using a trail that you will decide on. The first stop as you exit the camp will be at Tanapa Gate, where you will be instructed on different aspects that involve the hike that you will be doing. You will also be given information on the park and everything related to it. After the briefing, a guide will be handed to you and will be responsible for your safety while hiking.
There are different routes in this park that range from beginner to expert level. Depending on the time and your preference, you will decide on the best route for you. You will also have your picnic lunch at a viewpoint that is dependent on your route. Udzungwa has an incomparable view that overlooks villages and plantations in the almost untouched part of Tanzania. You will also be able to see the marvellous waterfall and experience the fresh breeze that is well-deserved after a busy hiking day.
After the hike, you will head over to your accommodation, where you will stretch and reminisce about the day. Have dinner and have a well-rested night as you prepare to go to the next destination.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14 : FULL DAY UDZUNGWA
Start your day early to make the most of the wildlife activity during the cooler hours of the morning. Aim to depart for the game drive at sunrise, as this is when many animals are most active. Begin your day by visiting the breathtaking Sanje Waterfalls, Miombo Woodlands,
Picnic Lunch: Have a picnic lunch and find a suitable spot within the park to enjoy your meal. Remember to follow Leave No Trace principles and carry any waste with you.
Hike to Prince Bernhard’s Waterfall:
Take a break from the game drive and embark on a short hike to Prince Bernhard’s Waterfall. This hike offers a different perspective of the park and allows you to stretch your legs. Explore the grasslands of Udzungwa, which are home to a variety of wildlife. Look out for giraffes, zebras, and other herbivores grazing in this open habitat.
Visit the Isunkaviola Cave:
Make a stop at the Isunkaviola Cave, which is known for its bat colonies.
This unique cave adds an interesting element to your game drive experience.
Late Afternoon:
Sunset Game Drive: As the day begins to cool down, embark on a late afternoon game drive. This is an excellent time to spot predators like lions and leopards, as they become more active during the cooler hours.
Evening:
Return to Camp or Lodge:
Head back to your camp or lodge as the sun sets. Reflect on the day’s sightings and enjoy a well-deserved dinner.
Meal Plan : Breakfast , Lunch And Dinner
Day 15 & 16 : DRIVE TO MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK & FULL DAY GAME DRIVE
At this point, we really hope that you have enjoyed the whole safari that has tried to go through a directional pattern and includes seeing cities as well. This is a day that requires you to move onto a new place. You will have breakfast at a normal time and start heading towards Mikumi National Park. Unlike the other transitions that you had to make park to park, Mikumi is actually quite near in comparison. It will only be about 2 hours max.
Mikumi National Park is the fourth largest park in Tanzania. It is quite closely located to major cities hence it is a perfect park for a day trip. Mikumi has a large area of vegetative cover like thickets and baobab trees. This is an ideal environment for the grazers and animals like elephants. Mikumi has an environment that is very similar to Serengeti hence nicknamed “Little Serengeti”.
You will enjoy the park and carry picnic lunch so that you can enjoy the view that extends over the horizon. In the evening, you will spend your night at Stanley’s Kopjes and have dinner under the stars.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight : Stanley’s Kopjes
Day 17 : DRIVE TO SELOUS.
This will be a polepole day and you will start your day with late breakfast around 0900hrs. You will then start your journey towards Selous Game Reserve; now known as Julius Nyerere National Park. The distance between Mikumi Area and Selous is about 160km but because of the road conditions, it might take longer. You will first have hot lunch when you are there and then starting your safari within the park.
Selous is a very beautifully preserved area that has been maintained for a very long time. It has a number of bird and plant species and is a home for herds of elephants. Although it is close to one of the most industrialized cities in Tanzania, it remains mostly untouched and you can enjoy a tourist-free day while going for a game. It also has River Rufiji cross it and the river creates a series of channels and streams. The park, through the river, is divided into 2 parts; the Northern and Southern parts.
You will spend the rest of your day doing game drive and then head towards Africa Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Take time to rest up and recharge as you await the following day’s activity.
Day 18 : GAME DRIVE AND BOAT RIDE.
On this day, you will have both game drive and Boat ride. You will not need to carry lunchboxes because you will head back to the hotel for hot lunch. Explore most parts of the reserve and enjoy all the wildlife that you will see.
After lunch and a bit of a breather, you will head over to the boat side and have a 2-hour boat ride. The boat ride allows you to get an eye-level view of the crocs and hippos as they exist in their natural habitat. The boat gives you a sunset view as your guide tells you about the different bird species that exist around you. Hopefully, this is magical enough for you to remember this beautiful moment for days on end.
In the evening, you will head back towards your accommodation for the last night as you prepare to depart from this beautiful experience.
Day 19 : DEPARTURE
This day’s beginning will most likely depend on the flight that is existing. Your guide will drive you to Julius Nyerere International Airport and have you in time for your flight.
At this point, we hope that you had an amazing time traveling with us and that the memories last a lifetime
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- Included
- Specialized Safari guide
- Private Transport
- Entrance Park Fees
- All Meals
- All airport Transfers
- Coffee and Tea in the car
- Accommodation
- Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Any item for personal use such us telephone bills
- Tips to safari guides and porters
- Health / travel insurance
- Masai boma visit and Olduvai Visit
- Laundry services.
- Any local or international flight and departure taxes.
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- Day By Day Itinerary Map