Southern Tanzania Safari: The Complete Guide to Selous & Ruaha (2026/2027)

By Viesturs Marnauza, Senior Safari Expert at GetSafariTours. Updated April 2026.

A southern Tanzania safari takes you into the half of the country most travellers never see: 50,000+ km² of wilderness built around two giant parks, Nyerere (the former Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha. You get boat safaris on the Rufiji, walking safaris in lion country, and game drives without another vehicle in sight. This guide covers everything you need to plan the trip, including costs, timing, itineraries, and how the southern circuit compares to the Serengeti route up north.

Key Takeaways

• Two parks define the circuit: Nyerere National Park (30,893 km², formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park (20,226 km²).
• Budget: expect $600 to $1,400 per person per night for lodges, plus $400 to $600 per person for internal flights. Most 7-day trips run $4,500 to $9,000 per person.
• Best time: June to October (dry season, best game viewing). Green season December to March is cheaper and excellent for birding.
• Access: fly-in only in practical terms. Scheduled light aircraft from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha.
• Activities you cannot do in the Serengeti: boat safaris, walking safaris, fly-camping, night drives (in private concessions).
• Selous vs Nyerere confusion: in 2019, the northern photographic section of Selous Game Reserve was gazetted as Nyerere National Park. "Selous safari" and "Nyerere safari" now refer to the same destination.

What Is the Southern Safari Circuit?

The southern circuit is Tanzania's second major safari route, running through the country's south and south-west. It centres on Nyerere National Park and Ruaha National Park, with smaller additions at Mikumi, Udzungwa, and (further out) Katavi and Mahale.

The circuit sits on the opposite end of the country from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. It is quieter, wilder, and heavier on boat and walking activities. Nyerere alone is roughly the size of Belgium. Ruaha is bigger than several US states. Between them, they see a fraction of the Serengeti's tourism numbers.

If you want the classic Great Migration with the crowds that come with it, you book the northern circuit. If you want space, water-based game viewing, and a stronger chance of seeing wild dogs, you book the southern one.

Southern vs Northern Tanzania Safari: The Honest Comparison

This is the question almost every first-time visitor asks. Here is the short answer.

The short version: go north for the Migration and variety in one trip. Go south if you have been on safari before, if you are heading to Zanzibar anyway, or if the thought of ten vehicles at a lion sighting makes you want to cancel the whole thing.

A lot of seasoned travellers end up doing both on a two-trip plan, starting in the north and returning years later for the south.

Nyerere National Park (Formerly Selous Game Reserve)

Nyerere is the biggest national park in Africa. It covers 30,893 km², which is bigger than Belgium and just under the size of Maryland. The Rufiji River, Tanzania's largest, winds through the north of the park and feeds a network of lakes and channels. That river is why the park looks different from anywhere else in Tanzania.

The Selous Naming History

The park you are reading about was called Selous Game Reserve from 1922 until 2019. Frederick Courteney Selous was a British hunter and explorer. The reserve was established under German colonial administration in 1896 as Africa's oldest protected area.

In 2019, the government carved out the northern photographic section (roughly the northern third) and gazetted it as Nyerere National Park, named after Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's first president. The southern two-thirds remain the Selous Game Reserve, which is still used primarily for hunting concessions and is closed to general photographic tourism.

When search results and guidebooks say "Selous safari," they almost always mean the photographic part that is now Nyerere. The camps, activities, and wildlife you would have booked ten years ago are in the same place with a new name on the sign.

Wildlife in Nyerere

Nyerere has all of the Big Five, but with a twist. Lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo are common. Rhinos exist but sightings are extremely rare. What the park is known for is wild dogs. Nyerere holds one of the largest populations of African wild dogs on the continent, with pack sightings almost guaranteed in dry season.

Other highlights:

• Over 400 bird species, including the African fish eagle, Pel's fishing owl, and skimmers on the Rufiji.
• Huge crocodile and hippo populations along the river and lakes.
• Good elephant numbers, recovering after the poaching crisis of the 2010s.
• Sable and greater kudu in the drier woodland areas.

Activities

This is where Nyerere pulls ahead of anywhere in the north:

• Boat safaris on the Rufiji. You float past pods of hippos and sunbathing crocodiles at eye level. Unique in Tanzania at this scale.
• Walking safaris with an armed ranger. Half-day walks out of most camps.
• Game drives, both morning and afternoon.
• Fly-camping: a second night out in a minimal mosquito-dome camp on a three-day walking trip.
• Night drives in some camps with private concession access.

Best Camps in Nyerere

Standouts (covered in depth in a forthcoming lodges guide):

• Roho ya Selous (Asilia): tented, central location, strong wildlife concentration.
• Sand Rivers Selous (Nomad): riverfront, classic old-Selous atmosphere, superb boat access.
• Siwandu: lakeside, excellent for boat and walking combinations.
• Kiba Point: small, exclusive-use, family-friendly.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha is the other half of the circuit and, in wildlife terms, the underrated one. At 20,226 km² it is the second-largest national park in Tanzania. It sits in the transition zone between East and Southern African wildlife zones, which is why you can see greater kudu, sable, and roan antelope alongside the standard East African cast.

The Numbers

Ruaha is quietly one of Africa's best big-cat parks:

• Estimated to hold around 10% of the world's remaining lion population. Prides of 20+ are common.
• Over 571 recorded bird species, more than any national park in East Africa.
• Some of the largest remaining buffalo herds in the region, running to 500 or more at peak.
• The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the park and the focus of most game viewing.

Elephant numbers took a heavy hit between 2009 and 2015, dropping from around 34,000 to 15,836 (TAWIRI census). Numbers have since stabilised and slowly started climbing.

Why Wildlife Spotters Love Ruaha

Three things set Ruaha apart:

1. Cheetah and wild dog on the same trip. Both are present, and Ruaha is one of the few places in East Africa where you can reasonably expect both in one week.
2. Walking safaris with real predator density. Nomad, Asilia, and Kigelia all run strong walking programmes.
3. No crowds. The park recorded around 21,000 visitors in 2012 (most recent reliable figure) compared to 350,000+ for the Serengeti. You will often have a sighting entirely to yourself.

Getting Around Ruaha

The park has one main road spine along the Great Ruaha River and a network of smaller tracks into the hills. Most camps sit on or near the river. Drives are long because the park is enormous, so expect full-day outings with picnic lunches.

Best Camps in Ruaha

• Jabali Ridge (Asilia): rocky outcrop, luxury, strong guiding.
• Kigelia Ruaha (Nomad): under the sausage trees, tented, classic safari atmosphere.
• Kwihala Camp (Asilia): light on footprint, central location.
• Mdonya Old River Camp: best value in the park, simple but well located.

The Lesser-Known Southern Parks

Most itineraries stick to Nyerere and Ruaha, but a few add-ons are worth knowing.

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi is Tanzania's fourth-largest park at 3,230 km². It is accessible by road from Dar es Salaam (about 5 hours), which makes it the go-to option for travellers on a shorter schedule or tighter budget. You get lions, elephants, hippos, and the Mkata floodplain, which has a Serengeti feel at a fraction of the price.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa is not a Big Five park at all. It is a rainforest park focused on hiking, waterfalls, and primate species endemic to these mountains, including the Udzungwa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey. Most itineraries add it for one or two nights if the group includes keen birders or walkers.

Katavi National Park

Katavi is the remote one. It sits in western Tanzania and requires a longer flight. In dry season (September and October), the Katisunga Plain becomes one of the most concentrated wildlife scenes in Africa, with thousands of buffalo and hippos crammed into shrinking water holes. Paired with Mahale (chimpanzee trekking on Lake Tanganyika), it makes an extraordinary final week for seasoned safari travellers.

Best Time to Visit Southern Tanzania

Seasonality matters more on the southern circuit than in the north because the parks are vast and water is the main driver of animal concentration.

The sweet spot for most people is late July through early October. Wildlife is at its most concentrated, the weather is pleasant (cool mornings, warm afternoons), and the Rufiji is still high enough for good boat safaris. By October the river channels narrow and boat safaris become more limited.

For deeper seasonal detail, see our best time to visit Tanzania guide.

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Sample Southern Circuit Itineraries

Here are three itinerary shapes that cover 95% of what travellers actually book.

5 Days: Nyerere Quick Trip (good Zanzibar add-on)

• Day 1: Fly Zanzibar or Dar to Nyerere. Afternoon game drive.
• Day 2: Morning boat safari. Afternoon game drive.
• Day 3: Walking safari. Evening sundowner.
• Day 4: Full-day game drive with picnic lunch.
• Day 5: Morning drive, fly out.

This is the classic add-on to a Zanzibar beach holiday. Plug it onto the start or end.

7 Days: Nyerere and Ruaha Combo

• Day 1 to 3: Nyerere (as above, condensed).
• Day 4: Fly Nyerere to Ruaha. Afternoon drive.
• Day 5 to 6: Ruaha game drives and optional walks.
• Day 7: Morning activity, fly out to Dar or Arusha.

The most popular southern circuit itinerary. Gives you both parks at a reasonable pace.

10 Days: Full Southern Immersion

• Day 1 to 2: Mikumi (drive in from Dar).
• Day 3 to 5: Nyerere.
• Day 6 to 8: Ruaha.
• Day 9 to 10: Ruaha walking safari or Udzungwa add-on.

This is the deep option. Builds in a fly-camping or walking element and gives both parks the time they deserve.

How Much Does a Southern Tanzania Safari Cost?

Costs depend heavily on lodge choice and group size. Here are the rough bands for a 7-day Nyerere and Ruaha trip, per person, sharing a tent or room.

Cost Breakdown

Beyond the nightly rate, budget for:

• Internal flights: $400 to $600 per person for Dar to Nyerere to Ruaha to Dar. These are small aircraft with 15 kg luggage limits (soft bag only).
• Park fees: included in most camp rates but worth checking. Park entry runs $70 to $82.60 per person per day.
• Tips: $20 to $30 per guide per day, $5 to $10 per day to camp staff pool.
• Drinks and extras: most camps include local beer, wine, and spirits.

For a full breakdown of northern and southern costs, see our Tanzania safari cost guide.

Getting There: Fly-In Only, In Practical Terms

The southern circuit is a fly-in destination. You can drive into Mikumi and technically into Nyerere, but the roads are long, rough, and will cost you a full day each way. Nobody books their own safari and drives it.

Main Flight Routes

• Dar es Salaam (DAR) to Nyerere (Siwandu airstrip): 45 minutes, scheduled daily.
• Dar es Salaam (DAR) to Ruaha (Msembe or Jongomero airstrip): 90 minutes.
• Zanzibar (ZNZ) to Nyerere: 60 minutes, scheduled daily.
• Arusha (ARK) to Ruaha: 2 to 3 hours via Serengeti stops.

Scheduled flights are operated by Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, and Safari Air Link. Small Cessna Caravans (12 to 15 seats) are the norm.

The Zanzibar Angle

This is the strongest logistical argument for the southern circuit: if you are already going to Zanzibar for the beach portion of your trip, Nyerere is a 60-minute flight away. You can do three nights Nyerere then fly straight to Zanzibar without doubling back through Arusha. That saves a full travel day and often cuts $300 to $500 off flight costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thought

The first time I went on a southern Tanzania safari, our guide cut the engine on a sandbank halfway down the Rufiji. Hippos grunted in the channel twenty feet away. A fish eagle called upstream. Not a single other boat for the two hours we were out there. You will not find that in the Serengeti in August. The south is not better than the north. It is just different, and the difference is worth the longer flight.

If you are ready to plan your trip, browse our southern Tanzania safaris and we will build something around your dates.