Southern Circuit Tanzania Destinations
Best Southern Circuit Safaris in Tanzania
The Southern Circuit of Tanzania lies in the south and is one of Tanzania’s most famous safari routes. This area includes top national parks and reserves like the Selous Game Reserve, Udzungwa Mountains, Mikumi, Ruaha, Saadani, Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park, and Kitulo National Park.
A safari through the Southern Circuit offers amazing wildlife experiences in parks like Ruaha and Nyerere. With rich wildlife across Mikumi, Ruaha, Kitulo, Udzungwa, and the renowned Selous Game Reserve, visitors can enjoy some of the best animal sightings in the region.
Highlights
- Features top parks like Selous, Ruaha, and Mikumi
- Offers diverse wildlife with species from eastern and southern Tanzania
- Provides a secluded, true wilderness experience with fewer tourists
- Home Of Giraffe
- Great honeymoon location
- Includes walking safaris, boating, fly camping, and chimpanzee trekking
Where is Southern Tanzania?
Southern Tanzania is stunning and wild, attracting fewer visitors than the popular northern parks. Due to poor roads and greater distances, many travelers choose to fly between parks. The Southern Circuit offers a more secluded safari experience, with highlights like Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve, which are hidden gems for seasoned safari enthusiasts.
These southern parks can also be combined with the Serengeti in the north or linked with western Tanzania if time and budget allow. Starting from Dar es Salaam, visitors can explore Saadani National Park to the north or Mikumi National Park along the route heading westward.
Why go on a Southern Tanzania Safari?
A Southern Tanzania Safari is highly valued by safari lovers for several reasons. First, the game viewing is excellent, with a rich mix of animals from both eastern and southern Africa and plenty of predators. Open-sided vehicles make viewing even better, unlike the closed vehicles often used in the north.
These large parks and reserves provide an uncrowded and exclusive experience with few other vehicles, offering a real sense of Africa’s vast wilderness. The south and west also allow more activities than the northern parks, like walking safaris, boating, fly camping, and even mountain trekking to see wild chimpanzees.
While often overshadowed by the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, the south and west are perfect for both first-time and experienced safari-goers. Many first-timers we’ve sent have had an incredible experience.
Southern Circuit Tanzania National Parks
Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere National Park)
Nyerere National Park, formerly Selous Game Reserve, is Africa’s largest game reserve and a top destination in Tanzania’s Southern Circuit. Spanning 50,000 square kilometers, it’s one of Africa’s largest protected areas and remains largely untouched.
This scenic park offers diverse safari experiences like boating, walking, and fly camping, alongside classic game drives. It’s ideal for family safaris and honeymoons, thanks to easy access and fewer crowds. With the widest range of safari activities in Tanzania, Nyerere is essential on any Southern Circuit itinerary.
Ruaha National Park
In 2008, Ruaha joined with Usangu Game Reserve to form the Great Ruaha National Park, spanning 20,000 km². Despite its size, Ruaha has only a few camps, making it one of Tanzania’s best-kept secrets for game viewing.
Ruaha’s untouched, wild atmosphere draws seasoned safari enthusiasts, and its stunning landscapes—rolling hills, open plains, baobab groves, and the Great Ruaha River—create a dramatic setting. The Great Ruaha River, the park’s main feature, is crucial for local wildlife.
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park, Tanzania’s fourth-largest park, is a popular choice in the Southern Circuit due to its easy access from Dar es Salaam. Thanks to a new road link, it has become a hotspot for travelers with limited time.
Situated between the Uluguru Mountains and Lumango range, Mikumi offers a rich variety of wildlife and easy game viewing. Just a few hours from Dar es Salaam, it’s ideal for weekend or business visitors. Visitors often aim to see the “Big Five” and are rarely disappointed. Hippo pools and bird-watching along waterways add to its appeal.
Best things to do in Southern Circuit Tanzania Safari
The Southern Circuit of Tanzania is in the south of the country. It’s a famous safari area with top parks and reserves, including Selous Game Reserve, Udzungwa Mountains, Mikumi, Ruaha, Saadani, Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Marine Park, and Kitulo National Park.
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Popular questions about Tanzania Safari
You can see lions, which are big cats. You can also see elephants, which are very big animals with trunks. Giraffes, which have long necks, are common. Zebras, with black and white stripes, are easy to spot. There are many other animals too, like rhinos, hippos, and many kinds of birds.
The best time is from June to October. This is the dry season. It is easier to see animals because they gather around water holes. The weather is also nice, not too hot and not too rainy.
A safari can cost from $1,500 to $5,000. The price depends on how many days you go, where you stay, and what you do. Some safaris are cheaper and some are more expensive.
Pack comfortable clothes. It can be hot during the day and cool at night. Bring sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. A hat is good for keeping the sun off your face. A camera is great for taking pictures. Binoculars help you see animals that are far away.
Yes, it is safe if you go with a good guide and a trusted safari company. They know the area and the animals. Always follow the guide's instructions.
A good safari lasts 5 to 10 days. This gives you enough time to see different animals and visit different places without feeling rushed.
The Serengeti National Park is very famous. It has many animals and the Great Migration happens there. The Ngorongoro Crater is also amazing. It is a big volcanic crater with lots of animals inside. Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park are also good places to visit.
Yes, you can see the Great Migration in the Serengeti. It is a huge movement of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. They move to find fresh grass and water. The best time to see the migration is from June to July and from October to November.
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