9 DAYS DAR – MIKUMI NP – RUAHA NP – NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
Overview
Mikumi National Park: Is home to a staggering 440 different bird species, including the most sighted Black-Bellied Bustard, Secretary Bird, Guinea Fowl, Ox Peckers, Bateleur Eagles, and Cattle Egret. These birds are both permanent residents and migratory visitors.
Ruaha National Park: The convergence of vegetation zone in this huge Park has resulted in unusual combination of animals, particularly Greater and Lesser kudu, together with Sable and Roan antelopes in the park a feature that is not found in other national park in the country.
Nyerere National Park: The Park’s panoramic plains are decorated with golden grass, savannah forests, riverine marshes and lakes. Rufiji River, the biggest river in Tanzania, cuts through the park and flows into the Indian Ocean.
Itinerary
2:00 PM – Arrival in Dar es Salaam
Arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). A private driver will transfer you to The Oyster Bay, a luxury boutique hotel in Dar es Salaam’s upscale Oyster Bay area, offering ocean views and elegant suites.
3:00 PM – Check-In & Relaxation
Settle into your luxury suite at The Oyster Bay. Unwind with a welcome massage at the hotel’s spa (included in your package) or relax by the oceanfront pool.
7:00 PM – Welcome Dinner
Dine at the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, enjoying a 4-course meal of fresh seafood and Tanzanian cuisine with paired wines, overlooking the Indian Ocean. Overnight at The Oyster Bay.
6:00 AM – Breakfast & Check-Out
Have breakfast at The Oyster Bay, featuring fresh tropical fruits and made-to-order dishes.
7:00 AM – Drive to Mikumi (4-5 Hours)
Drive to Mikumi National Park (approximately 300 km) in a luxury 4x4 Landcruiser with a pop-up roof (1 vehicle per 6-7 people). Pass through local villages and sisal plantations, with a brief stop in Morogoro for photos of the Uluguru Mountains.
12:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In
Check into Stanley’s Kopje, a luxury tented camp in Mikumi with panoramic views of the Mkata Plains, offering spacious tents with private decks and en-suite bathrooms.
1:00 PM – Gourmet Lunch
Enjoy a gourmet lunch at the camp, featuring farm-to-table Tanzanian dishes, served with views of the plains.
3:00 PM – Afternoon Game Drive (3 Hours)
Embark on a game drive in Mikumi, known for its open grasslands reminiscent of the Serengeti. Spot four of the Big Five—lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards—along with zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, and a unique subspecies of giraffe. Mikumi also offers a higher chance of seeing tree-climbing lions compared to other parks.
6:00 PM – Sundowner Experience
Enjoy a private sundowner in the bush, sipping champagne as the sun sets over the Mikumi Hills, a luxury touch unique to this tour.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Return to Stanley’s Kopje for a candlelit 4-course dinner with paired wines, overlooking the plains. Overnight in your luxury tent.
6:00 AM – Morning Game Drive (3 Hours)
Start with an early game drive on the Mkata Plains, spotting predators like lions and leopards, as well as hippos in the resident hippo pool and over 400 bird species, such as lilac-breasted rollers.
9:00 AM – Breakfast in the Bush
Enjoy a luxury bush breakfast with linen tablecloths, set amidst the grasslands, surrounded by wildlife.
10:00 AM – Continue Game Drive
Resume your game drive, exploring the Miombo woodlands for elands, impalas, and possibly African wild dogs, a rare sight.
1:00 PM – Picnic Lunch
Break for a gourmet picnic lunch near a waterhole, with shaded seating and chilled drinks, possibly spotting elephants drinking nearby.
2:00 PM – Maasai Village Visit
Visit a Maasai village near Mikumi to learn about their traditions, including beadwork and cattle herding. Participate in a traditional dance and interact with the community for a cultural exchange.
4:30 PM – Return to Camp
Return to Stanley’s Kopje for relaxation, perhaps with a cocktail on your private deck.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine at the camp, enjoying a 5-course meal under the stars, a luxury highlight of your Mikumi stay. Overnight in your tent.
7:00 AM – Breakfast & Check-Out
Have breakfast at Stanley’s Kopje, then check out.
8:00 AM – Drive to Ruaha (5-6 Hours)
Drive to Ruaha National Park (approximately 320 km), passing through Iringa town and the Udzungwa Mountains, with a packed gourmet lunch en route.
2:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In
Check into Ruaha River Lodge, a luxury lodge on the banks of the Great Ruaha River, offering spacious stone cottages with private verandas and river views.
3:00 PM – Afternoon Game Drive (3 Hours)
Take a game drive in Ruaha, Tanzania’s largest national park (20,226 km²), known for its large elephant population (over 10,000) and 10% of the world’s lions. Spot four of the Big Five—lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards—along with cheetahs, African wild dogs, and over 570 bird species, such as the kori bustard.
6:00 PM – Return to Lodge
Return to Ruaha River Lodge as the sun sets, offering stunning river views.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine at the lodge’s open-air restaurant, enjoying a 4-course meal with paired wines, listening to the river’s sounds. Overnight in your cottage
6:00 AM – Morning Game Drive (3 Hours)
Embark on an early game drive along the Great Ruaha River, spotting predators like lions and leopards, as well as giraffes, zebras, and sable antelopes. The riverbanks are rich with birdlife, hippos, and crocodiles.
9:00 AM – Breakfast in the Bush
Enjoy a luxury bush breakfast near the river, surrounded by wildlife.
10:00 AM – Continue Game Drive
Resume your game drive, exploring rocky kopjes for greater kudu and roan antelopes, and open plains for cheetahs and lion prides, some as large as 30 members.
1:00 PM – Picnic Lunch
Break for a gourmet picnic lunch in a shaded spot, with views of the park’s dramatic landscapes.
2:00 PM – Afternoon Game Drive
Continue exploring, possibly spotting rare African wild dogs or bat-eared foxes, and enjoying the park’s untouched ecosystem.
5:00 PM – Return to Lodge
Return to Ruaha River Lodge for relaxation, perhaps with a cocktail at the riverside bar.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine at the lodge, enjoying a private bush dinner setup by the river, a luxury highlight of your Ruaha stay. Overnight in your cottage.
7:00 AM – Breakfast & Check-Out
Have breakfast at Ruaha River Lodge, then check out.
8:00 AM – Drive to Nyerere (6-7 Hours)
Drive to Nyerere National Park (approximately 400 km), passing through Morogoro, with a packed gourmet lunch en route. Nyerere, Africa’s largest park (30,893 km²), was upgraded from the northern part of Selous Game Reserve in 2019.
3:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In
Check into Selous Kinga Lodge, a luxury lodge on the Rufiji River, offering elegant tents with private decks and river views.
4:00 PM – Boat Safari on Rufiji River (2 Hours)
Experience a luxury boat safari on the Rufiji River, spotting hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds like kingfishers and white storks. Watch giraffes, elephants, and waterbucks come to the water’s edge as the sun sets.
6:30 PM – Return to Lodge
Return to Selous Kinga Lodge, enjoying the serene riverside setting.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine at the lodge, savoring a 4-course meal with paired wines, overlooking the river. Overnight in your luxury tent.
6:00 AM – Morning Game Drive (3 Hours)
Embark on a game drive in Nyerere, exploring its diverse habitats—lakes, open grasslands, acacia woodlands, and riverine forests. Spot the Big Five, including large elephant herds, buffaloes, and lions, plus rare African wild dogs and over 440 bird species.
9:00 AM – Breakfast in the Bush
Enjoy a luxury bush breakfast near a lake, surrounded by wildlife.
10:00 AM – Continue Game Drive
Resume your game drive, visiting the park’s volcanic hot springs and the Rufiji River’s tributaries for hippos and crocodiles, and possibly spotting leopards or hyenas.
1:00 PM – Picnic Lunch
Break for a gourmet picnic lunch on the shores of a lake, with shaded seating and chilled drinks.
2:00 PM – Afternoon Game Drive
Continue exploring, focusing on the park’s vast savannah for giraffes, zebras, and impalas, and its miombo woodlands for sable antelopes.
5:00 PM – Return to Lodge
Return to Selous Kinga Lodge for relaxation, perhaps with a cocktail on your deck.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Overnight
Dine at the lodge, enjoying a 5-course meal under the stars, a luxury highlight of your Nyerere stay. Overnight in your tent.
6:00 AM – Walking Safari (2 Hours)
Experience a guided walking safari in Nyerere, led by an armed ranger. Get up close to the bush, tracking smaller wildlife like bushbucks and learning about the park’s flora and animal tracks.
8:00 AM – Breakfast & Check-Out
Return to Selous Kinga Lodge for breakfast, then check out.
9:00 AM – Drive to Dar es Salaam (5-6 Hours)
Drive back to Dar es Salaam, with a packed gourmet lunch en route.
3:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In
Check back into The Oyster Bay for your final night, settling into your luxury suite.
4:00 PM – Afternoon at Leisure
Spend the afternoon relaxing—opt for a spa treatment (included), swim in the oceanfront pool, or explore Dar es Salaam’s vibrant markets with a guide (optional, additional cost).
7:00 PM – Farewell Dinner
Dine at The Oyster Bay’s restaurant, enjoying a 5-course seafood farewell dinner with paired wines, celebrating your safari journey. Overnight at The Oyster Bay.
7:30 AM – Breakfast
Have a final breakfast at The Oyster Bay, enjoying ocean views.
9:00 AM – Check-Out & Transfer
Check out and transfer to Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), a 30-minute drive, for your onward flight.
10:00 AM – Departure
Depart from Julius Nyerere International Airport, concluding your luxury safari.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Unlimited bottled drinking water during game viewing
- Unlimited game mileage
- Park entry fees and Crater fees (24hrs single entry)
- Professional English-Speaking Driver guide
- – A Friendly, Experienced and Passionate Driver Guide expert at a wide variety of skills: Flora and Fauna, Tanzania’s cultural and natural history
- 4X4 Custom built – Toyota Land cruiser
- – Pop-up Roof, Opening Sliding windows, Seat Belts, Heavy duty wheels, and Extra Fuel tanks
- – Refrigerator for cooling drinks, one pair of binoculars per couple, Eco friendly Trash Bag,
- – Wi-Fi on board during safari, Charging Outlets type Plug G for charging Cameras and smart phones
Cost Excludes
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and after safari
- Tips.
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees,etc)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
- Travel insurance and medical repatriation
- Beverage in the accommodation you will be staying
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Perhaps most unique to Mikumi are its African Wild Dog population and its large eland population. The largest member of the antelope family cuts a striking figure as it grazes on the open fields, and the park’s huge array of bird life (over 400 species) make it a birder’s paradise as well.
The convergence of vegetation zone in this huge Park has resulted in unusual combination of animals ,Particularly Greater and Lesser Kudu, together with sable and roan antelopes in the Park a feature that is not found in other National Park in the country.
With its largest wilderness area in Africa, Nyerere National park has relatively undisturbed ecological and biological processes, including diverse range of wildlife with significant predator and prey relationship. The might Rufiji with its renown population of hippo and Rhino flows to Indian ocean.
