13 Days Safari - Southern Circuit - Rick Trackers and Safaris

13 DAYS SAFARI - SOUTHERN CIRCUIT

Selous Game Reserve, Udzungwa, Ruaha, Mikumi National park, Ifakara, Dar Es Salaam

Overview

The southern parks present opportunities for a wide range of different safari experiences . Travel through varying landscapes from savannah to wetland , using a variety of methods , include walking and boat trips . The National Parks and Game Reserves in the south area are remote , only visited by few tourists .

This means you can sit quietly and relax for as long as you like taking a time to feel intimately connected with wilderness around you . Abundant in wildlife , the southern circuit offers fantastic game viewing and birds watching opportunities .

During this safari you will cover the best of the south , visiting Mikumi National Park , The Udzungwa Mountains , Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park as well as enjoying of cultural and historical interludes to your game drive .

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1

Arrive At Kilimanjaro International Airport

Arrive at KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and Rick trackers & safaris representatives will meet and transfer you to Arusha for dinner and overnight .

DAY 2 - 4

Selous Game Reserve

This morning the journey will start early in the morning after breakfast to Selous game reserve for approximately five hours.

Dotted with palm trees and crisscrossed by the channels of the Rufiji River , Selous is as unique as it is vast . Spanning an area larger than Switzerland , the reserve is home to one of the most significant concentrations elephants and lions on the planet .

Selous has exceptionally high variety of habitat including woodland , grassland and swamps , however only 5% of its area , north of the river is open for safari goers .

This still leaves a plenty of territories to explore . You will experience the wonders of the bushveld on foot , by vehicle and on a river cruise .

Spend nights out in the bush , sleeping in intimate fly – camps , savoring meals cooked over the hot coals and sleeping with a canopy of stars for a roof .

DAY 5

Ifakara

After breakfast , you’ll depart for your onwards journey to Ifakara , taking around five hours .

You’ll arrive to Ifakara around afternnon , where you’ll find your canoe ready and waiting . Sit back and relax as you’re punted upstream with a long pole .

It’s likely you’ll see hippos , crocodiles , Nile monitor lizard and many birds , including the endemic Kilombero weaver and shoebill .

You will spend the long afternoon out boating and enjoying your picnic lunch on a sand bank until late evening when you will drive back to you lodge / camp at UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS .

DAY 6

Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Wake early for breakfast before setting off on a morning game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater , the largest intact Crater in the world with forest areas inhabited by elephant and the open savannah where lions roam. Descend down 600 meters to the Crater floor with a picnic lunch.

DAY 7 - 9

Ruaha National Park

Leave Ngorongoro after breakfast and drive to OLDUVAI GORGE , a steep – sided ravine which is one of the world’s richest and best preserved Archaeological and Paleontological sites before entering the world famous Serengeti national park .
This vast park teems with wildlife from small herbivores to the large predators like lion , leopard and cheetah .

Enjoy the evening game drive on the way tour lodge / camp .

DAY 10 - 11

Mikumi National Park

This morning you’ll be traveling from Ruaha national park to Mikumi national park with a with a cultural stop en-route at the Isimila Stone Age Historical Site .

This archaeological site yielded very important fossils that provided some enlightenment about the origin on Mankind .

Mikumi national park is known for its rich variety of bird species , as well as larger numbers of giraffes , buffalo and elephants .

Also you may be able to spot lions , leopards and African Wilddogs .You will likely be able to spot many other mammals games like warthogs , eland , wildebeest , impala , and antelopes .

The Mkata River floodplain is an open expanse , where you will likes spot all the larger and smaller animals to satisfy your thirst for wildlife before the end of the tour .

Overnight at Mikumi lodge / camp .

DAY 12

Dar Es Salaam

After breakfast , you will depart for a short morning game drive , and then you will start your drive to Dar es salaam with a lunch break on the way .

The drive will take approximately six hours and you will reach your hotel / lodge at afternoon time and enjoying shower and lunch and a long rest .

DAY 13

Departure

On this day , you may decide to go out in the city for shopping while buying time before your departure .

Ricktracker representative will drive you to airport and that will be the end of our service but if wishing staying longer do not hesitate to contact us for more adventure activities or beach tour in Zanzibar.