Safari Safi

This Safari Safi leads from the north of Tanzania via Iringa to the southern national parks of Tanzania. You will enjoy game drives in the Ruaha and Mikumi National Park. Various activities in the Udzungwa Mountains are part of the program as well as scenic highlights with the Isimilia Stone Age Site.

Itinerary and highlights of Safari Safi

Day 1 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Arrival – Arusha

On Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport our driver will meet and greet you, assist you with your luggage followed by a private transfer to Arusha for overnight stay.

Day 2 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Tarangire National Park, game drive

Today you drive into famous Tarangire National Park for a full day game drive with picnic lunch, which is about three times the size of Berlin and known for its high number of elephants. The park was established in 1970 and is most famous for its large diversity of wildlife including Zebras, Elephants, Wildebeests, Elands, Buffalos, Thompson Gazelles, Great and Lesser Kudus, Giraffes, Cokes Hartebeest, Oryx, rhinos, birds where over 500 species have been identified there, tree-climbing lions and huge baobab trees. Interesting that permanent Tarangire River that shares a name with Tarangire park which takes over the northern part of Tarangire. Through the cut channels, the river flows upwards up to when it leaves the corner of the park, in the Northwest flowing into Lake Burunge the park is located between the fields of Masai Steppe to the southeast and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the north and west. The Tarangire is usually very dry and in fact drier than the Serengeti, though its vegetation is much greener especially with lots of elephant grass, vast areas with mixed acacia woodlands and some of the wonderful ribbons of the aquatic forest.

Driving time: 1,5h Distance: 105 km Game drive: 4-6h

Day 3 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Tarangire National Park – Dodoma

After breakfast enjoy an enroute short morning game drive in the national park then continue your journey to Dodoma regions, in recent years the route has largely been developed with tarmac road that takes you to Dodoma which is the capital city of Tanzania. However, there are some small portions of bumpy and rough roads. On the way you can make a stop at the Historical Town of Kondoa Irangi as well as a visit to the Rock Paintings (Kolo Rock Paintings). The cave drawings are said to be 50,000 years old.
Driving time: 4-5h Distance: 295km Game drive: 2h

Day 4 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Dodoma – Iringa, Isimilia Stone Age Site

Breakfast will be served at the hotel then you depart from Dodoma and continue with your journey towards Iringa for an onward journey to Ruaha National Park. The Isimila Stone Age is one of the historical and wonderful sites in East Africa, whereby the discoveries of Stone Tools, believed to have been used by ancient people during stone age about 60,000 to 300,000 years ago was discovered in 1950s amid a landscape of small canyons and eroded sandstone pillars, archaeologists discovered one of the most significant stone Age ever identified tools.  After the 1-hour hike we continue to the lodge.

Day 5 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Iringa – Ruaha National Park, game drive

Today after breakfast you head out for a daylong game drive inside the Ruaha National Park. Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania and East Africa. The addition of the Usangu Game Reserve and other reserved wetlands to the park in 2008 which increased the size of Ruaha National Park to about 20,226kms. The park is about 120 kilometers west of the nearest town of Iringa. The landscapes range from semi-desert bush land to extensive Miombo forests to endless plains. The road is well maintained and graded and takes around 2 hours’ drive from Iringa town. The Ruaha River extends up to 160 km and is the lifeline for crocodiles, hippos among others. Ruaha has it all. Aside from rhino, all major safari wild animals are present in huge numbers. The Lion Kingdom tend to live in large prides of sometimes more than 20 individuals. To feed themselves, they often attack big animals such as buffalo. Ruaha has an unusually high diversity of antelope, including many of the rarer species such as lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope, elephants, and the Great Kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), Wild-dogs, Zebras, Giraffe, and abundant Birdlife.
Driving time: approx. 2h Distance: 120km Game drive: approx. 5h

Day 6 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Ruaha National Park, game drive

After breakfast you can chose to either go on a full day game drive with picnics or two shorter excursions with hot lunch at the lodge. Ruaha National Park is part of an extensive ecosystem. These include the Rungwa Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhezi Game Reserves, Mbomipa which is formed by 19 villages in Iringa District which border Ruaha National Park.
Game drive: 8h or 2x 4h

Day 7 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Ruaha National Park – Udzungwa Mountains

Breakfast will be served at the camp then checkout and followed by a drive to the Udzungwa Mountains known as the Galapagos of Africa the park in Southern Tanzania covers more than 770 Square miles 1990 kms it is the only park in Tanzania with about 11 primate species with five of those living only with the area such as the endangered Iringa Red Colobus and Black and White Colobus Monkey. In the afternoon you can go for a hike of several hours to the Sanje waterfalls, which fall 330 meters into the depth over 3 cascades. Or take a walk to the nearby Mang’ula village a which has a vibrant market and lively drumming groups it is just a short drive or walk to the park.
Driving time: approx. 5-6h   Distance: 330km

Day 8 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Udzungwa Mountains – Sanje Water Fall

In the morning you go together with your guide on a 3–4-hour hike to the Sanje waterfall. It is the most impressive waterfall in Tanzania, from the top of which you can enjoy an impressive view in enjoy the Kilombero Valley. At the foot of the three Cascades, a small water basin offers the possibility to for cooling down. The afternoon is free for order.

Day 9 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Udzungwa Mountains – Mikumi National Park, game drive

After delicious breakfast today you leave Udzungwa highlands and drive to Mikumi National Park, you enjoy beautiful scenic view of this unspoiled land and sightseeing along the Kilombero country’s second largest sugar cane plantation we proceed on game drive inside Mikumi National Park. On your way you will see giraffes, zebras and baboons. Hippos cavort in the waterhole and crocodiles wait for their prey at the water’s edge. In the shade of the tamarind trees there are impressive elephants, buffalos, antelopes, and zebras as well as numerous lions and leopards.
Driving time: approx. 2h   Distance:150 km  Game drive: 4-5h

Day 10 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Mikumi National Park – Dar es Salaam

After breakfast you will leave the impressive Mikumi National Park enjoy game viewing enroute and drive to Dar es Salam enjoy panoramic scenic view on the coastal region, coconut palms, tree species with hardwood and sisal are cultivated, with so stops to purchase souvenir including hand woven baskets and other decorative items arriving bustling city of Dar es Salaam later in the evening for overnight stay.
Drive time: approx. 6h   Distance:290 km

Day 11 Safari in the South – Safari Safi – Day of departure Dar es Salam

After the overnight stay in Dar es Salam and your breakfast the journey ends. Depending on your international flight departure time you will be transferred directly to the Airport for your departure or spend rest of the day at leisure for late evening or night departures back home. This tour program can be customized and if you need to make any adjustment of number of safaris days, we are happy to assist you on creating another program of your preferences, please contact us with all the details and we will give you perfect match. This is suitable for an extension beach holidays trip to Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia Islands or Safari in the North as well as Uganda Journeys.