Mikumi National Park game drive with lions on the road during a Tanzania safari.5-Day Nyerere (Selous) & Mikumi Safari

Authentic Southern Tanzania safari — savannah, river and bush experience in one journey


Private safari in Southern Tanzania — designed around your travel dates, not a fixed package.

Explore Selous (Nyerere) and Mikumi at your own pace with a local guide and realistic travel plan.

Tell us your dates and we’ll prepare availability, route, and exact price.


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This private Southern Tanzania safari from Dar es Salaam combines a Nyerere National Park safari (Selous) and a Mikumi National Park safari in one itinerary.

In Mikumi National Park, you experience classic savannah game drives with open landscapes and strong wildlife visibility. In Nyerere National Park, the safari feels more remote and less crowded, with a wilder bush landscape and a more natural pace.

The program includes game drives in a Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, a boat safari on the Rufiji River, a guided walking safari with a local bushman focused on traditional knowledge and everyday life in the bush, and a visit to a Maasai village.

At the 2025 World Travel Awards, Tanzania was named Africa’s Leading Destination, with Nyerere National Park recognized as Africa’s Leading Scenic National Park.

This private safari tour starts and ends in Dar es Salaam.


Is this safari right for you? This safari is a great fit if you:

  • – want a quieter, less crowded safari experience than Northern parks  
  • – are interested in a mix of game drives and boat safari  
  • – prefer a more “wild” and less commercial safari  
  • – want a private trip with flexible pacing  

If you're not sure yet — just send us your travel idea and we’ll guide you.


Safari Highlights

  • Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
  • Route: Nyerere National Park (Selous) and Mikumi National Park
  • Accommodation: Lodges (comfort-level safari)
  • Transport: Private 4x4 safari vehicle Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and driver-guide
  • Type: Private, customizable Tanzania safari from Dar es Salaam
  • Experience: Combination of classic savannah and remote bush safari environments
  • Activities: Game drives, boat safari on the Rufiji River, and guided walking safari
  • Pace: Less crowded parks with a more natural and unhurried safari experience
  • Culture: Visit to a traditional Maasai village


This safari combines open savannah (Mikumi) with river-based wildlife experiences in Nyerere (Selous) — including boat safaris with hippos and crocodiles.

Each safari is planned individually based on your travel dates and preferences.


Request your safari plan

5-Day Private Tanzania Safari Adventure (pricing):

Price per person depending on group size (1–6 people)

Price depends on group size, travel dates, and accommodation level. Unlike fixed packages, this safari is planned individually — we adjust the route and pacing based on your trip. Send us your dates and we’ll confirm availability and exact pricing.

Comfort-level safari

1 person — 2822 USD
2 persons  — 1742 USD
3 persons  1390 USD
4 persons  1244 USD
5 persons 1225 USD
6 persons 1200 USD

What’s included in this safari price

Included

+ Support available throughout the safari

+ Private 4x4 safari vehicle Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
+ Professional English-speaking driver-guide
+ All park entry fees
+ Game drives as per itinerary
+ Boat safari and walking safari

+ Visit to a Maasai village

+ All meals during the safari
+ Drinking water during game drives

+ Accommodation in lodges

+ 5 days / 4 nights safari

+ Pick-up and drop-off (as per itinerary)

Not included

- International flights and visas
- Travel insurance

- Tips for guide and lodge staff (see tipping guidelines)
- Personal expenses

- Alcoholic and soft drinks (unless specified)


Request your safari plan


Who will guide your safari?  Your safari will be guided by a professional local Tanzanian guide with real experience in Southern Tanzania. We plan and run our safaris ourselves — not outsourced — so everything works smoothly on the ground. 


5-day Tanzania safari day-by-day itinerary   


Day 1 – Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park (Selous) + Boat Safari

Departure from your hotel in Dar es Salaam, starting your safari from Dar es Salaam with a drive to Nyerere National Park (approximately 4 hours). The journey passes through rural villages, offering a glimpse into local life, with opportunities to stop and try seasonal fruits along the way. Arrival at the lodge near the entrance of Nyerere National Park, followed by lunch and time to rest.

In the late afternoon, enjoy a boat safari on the Rufiji River, where you can observe hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birdlife from the water.

This offers a completely different perspective compared to classic game drives.

Dinner and overnight at a lodge near Nyerere National Park.

Day 2 – Game Drive in Nyerere National Park

After breakfast, full-day game drive as part of your Nyerere National Park safari, one of the largest protected areas in Africa. This Nyerere National Park safari offers a more remote and less crowded experience, with opportunities to see elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, and other wildlife.

Fewer vehicles allow for a more natural and less rushed wildlife experience.

Picnic lunch in the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge near Nyerere National Park.

Day 3 – Walking Safari + Transfer to Mikumi National Park

Early morning guided walking safari with a local bushman, focused on plants, tracking, and traditional knowledge of the bush.

This is not a typical wildlife walk, but a cultural and educational experience.

After breakfast, drive to Mikumi National Park. The route combines rural landscapes and local village life with sections of main road, giving a realistic view of everyday travel in Tanzania.

Arrival at the lodge near Mikumi National Park in the afternoon, followed by rest. Dinner and overnight at the lodge near Mikumi National Park.

Day 4 – Game Drive in Mikumi National Park

After breakfast, full-day game drive in Mikumi National Park, known for its open savannah landscapes and excellent wildlife visibility. This Mikumi National Park safari offers classic safari conditions, with good chances to see lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and other wildlife.

Open landscapes make wildlife easier to spot compared to more forested areas.

Picnic lunch in the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge near Mikumi National Park.

Day 5 – Maasai Village Visit + Return to Dar es Salaam

After breakfast, visit a traditional Maasai village, where you can learn about Maasai culture, daily life, and traditions.

A chance to experience local culture beyond wildlife and safari activities.

After the visit, drive back to Dar es Salaam (approximately 6 hours). Lunch is included on the way. Arrival in Dar es Salaam in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel, airport, or Zanzibar ferry.

Plan your Southern Tanzania safari. Tell us your travel dates and what you’re looking for — we’ll reply with a clear and realistic safari plan. No pressure, no obligation.

This safari is planned based on real routes, timing, and on-the-ground experience — so everything runs as expected.


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About the Parks and Experiences You’ll Encounter

Nyerere National Park

The largest national park in Africa, covering over 30,000 square kilometers and formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve. Named after Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, the park is defined by bush landscapes rather than open savannah. It supports a wide range of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wild dogs, and more. At the 2025 World Travel Awards, Nyerere was recognized as Africa’s Leading Scenic National Park, while Tanzania was named Africa’s Leading Destination.

Rufiji River

The largest river in Tanzania and one of the most important waterways in East Africa, home to large populations of hippos, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife — a key highlight of safari experiences in this region.

Mikumi National Park

One of Tanzania’s most accessible national parks, located within easy reach of Dar es Salaam. The landscape features open plains dotted with baobab trees and supports a variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and more.

Maasai Village Experience

A chance to visit a traditional Maasai community and learn about their daily life, customs, and relationship with the surrounding environment. This is a cultural experience that offers insight into one of East Africa’s most well-known pastoralist cultures.

Bushman Walking Experience

A guided walk with a local bushman, focused on plants, animal tracking, and traditional knowledge of the bush. This is not a typical wildlife walk, but a cultural and educational experience that offers a deeper understanding of how people live in and interpret the natural environment.

Want to understand how this safari fits into the bigger picture?

Explore Tanzania safari planning → Practical info

See how we plan and manage safaris → Why us


Not sure if Southern Tanzania is the right choice? Send us your travel idea — we’ll help you compare this with Northern parks and choose the best option.

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