Tanzania’s Northern Circuit - Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire - draws the crowds. The Southern Circuit doesn’t. Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) together cover over 90,000 km², making them two of the largest protected areas in Africa, yet they receive a fraction of the visitor numbers. This five-day itinerary combines both parks and is the most compelling case for why the south deserves your attention.
The Route at a Glance
Day 1–2: Nyerere National Park (Rufiji River) Day 3–5: Ruaha National Park (Great Ruaha River)
Most travellers arrive via Dar es Salaam (Julius Nyerere International Airport). Flights into Nyerere’s Siwandu airstrip run daily with Coastal Aviation and Auric Air, and the transfer to Ruaha is a short charter hop rather than a backtrack to the coast. Reverse the order if you prefer to end closer to the beach.
Day 1: Arrive Nyerere - Rufiji River Game Drive
Fly from Dar es Salaam to Siwandu airstrip (approximately 45 minutes with Coastal Aviation; from around USD 200–280 one way per person depending on season). Your camp vehicle meets you on the strip for a direct transfer - no check-in queues, no resort bus.
Afternoon game drive along the Rufiji River. Nyerere is famous for its hippo and crocodile populations - these are among the densest concentrations in Africa. Elephant herds, buffalo, and lion round out the big game, with African wild dog sightings more reliable here than almost anywhere else on the continent.
Where to stay - Nyerere:
- Luxury: Roho ya Selous - intimate seven-suite camp on the Rufiji; walk-in showers, private decks, guided boat safaris at dusk. Rates from approximately USD 950–1,400 per person per night (2026, full board + activities).
- Mid-range: Siwandu Camp (formerly Selous Safari Camp) - 12 tented suites, pool, excellent guiding team. Rates from approximately USD 650–900 per person per night.
- Budget: Selous Mbega Camp - six tents on the riverbank, no pool but the guiding is personal and the value is hard to argue with. From approximately USD 280–380 per person per night.
All rates are full-board and include twice-daily game drives. Walking safaris and boat safaris cost extra at some camps.
Search hotels in Dar es Salaam on Booking.com
Day 2: Full Day in Nyerere - Boat Safari on the Rufiji
An early morning game drive before breakfast to catch predator activity. Return to camp for brunch, then a boat safari along the Rufiji in the afternoon - the river system is one of the great features of the southern circuit and simply doesn’t have a Northern Circuit equivalent. Hippo yawns, fish eagles, and crocodile lunges make for extraordinary wildlife encounters from the water.
Consider a guided walk if your camp offers one (most do). Nyerere’s walking safari concessions are well-established and guides carry rifles - the experience of tracking game on foot here is genuinely different from anything a game drive delivers.
Sundowner drinks by the river, then dinner under canvas.
Day 3: Fly to Ruaha - Settle In and Evening Drive
Charter flight from Siwandu airstrip to Jongomero or Msembe airstrip in Ruaha (approximately 45–60 minutes; from around USD 300–450 per person on shared charters). Arrange this through your camps - they coordinate transfers and often offer packaged rates.
Ruaha is larger than the whole of Switzerland and supports 10% of the world’s remaining lion population. The landscape is completely different from Nyerere’s river channels - drier, rockier, with baobab-studded plains and the Great Ruaha River as its spine. Elephant concentrations here are extraordinary: herds of 200+ are not unusual in the dry season.
Where to stay - Ruaha:
- Luxury: Kwihala Camp (Asilia Africa) - eight tents under vast thorn trees, solar-powered, exceptional guiding. Rates from approximately USD 800–1,200 per person per night (full board + activities).
- Luxury alternative: Jongomero Camp - nine secluded tents on the Jongomero Sand River, deliberately remote, large private concession. From approximately USD 950–1,400 per person per night.
- Mid-range: Mwagusi Safari Camp - owner-operated, intimate eight tents, legendary naturalist Chris Fox built this camp’s reputation over 30 years. From approximately USD 600–850 per person per night.
- Budget: Tandala Tented Camp - simple, unfenced bush camp, honest guiding, community-focused. From approximately USD 200–300 per person per night including park fees.
Settle in, afternoon tea, then an evening drive along the river.
Day 4: Full Day in Ruaha - River Drive and Walking Safari
Early start before dawn. The Great Ruaha River is the centrepiece - driving its banks reveals extraordinary concentrations of elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard in the dry season (June–October). Greater and lesser kudu are common here and largely absent from the Northern Circuit - a reliable differentiator.
A guided walking safari occupies the mid-morning heat. Ruaha’s walking concessions are excellent, particularly from Mwagusi and Kwihala. Minimum age is usually 16; fitness level is moderate (4–6 km in bush).
Afternoon back along the river. Wild dog sightings are possible (Ruaha supports a resident pack); the guides maintain tracking networks between camps.
Day 5: Final Morning Drive - Fly Out
One last game drive before breakfast. Flights from Msembe or Jongomero airstrips connect back to Dar es Salaam (approximately 1 hour) or Zanzibar (ask your operator about combined routing). Most flights depart by midday - plan your final drive accordingly.
Budget Summary
Costs vary significantly by season and accommodation tier. The figures below are per-person estimates for two people travelling together, based on 2026 pricing.
| Tier | Estimated Daily Rate (pp) | 5-Day Total (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury | USD 950–1,400 | USD 4,750–7,000 |
| Mid-range | USD 580–850 | USD 2,900–4,250 |
| Budget | USD 250–350 | USD 1,250–1,750 |
Park fees are typically included in camp rates for fly-in properties. For Ruaha, the national park fee is approximately USD 70 per person per day (2026); for Nyerere, approximately USD 75 per person per day. Budget camps may charge these separately - confirm before booking.
Domestic flights add approximately USD 500–800 per person for the full routing (Dar → Nyerere → Ruaha → Dar). Coastal Aviation and Auric Air both operate scheduled services; private charters cost more but allow flexible timing.
Best Time to Visit
June to October is peak dry season. The Great Ruaha and Rufiji rivers drop, concentrating wildlife around water sources and making game viewing exceptional. Days are warm (25–32°C), nights can be cool (12–16°C). Book lodges 6–12 months ahead for this window.
January to March is the green season - lower rates (often 30–40% off peak), lush landscapes, and outstanding birding. Game viewing is still good; just expect longer grass and occasional afternoon rain. Wild dogs are sometimes denning in February, which is a rare and remarkable thing to witness.
April to May - avoid. Heavy rains close most bush tracks and several camps shut entirely.
What Makes the Southern Circuit Different
The honest answer is: fewer people. The Serengeti can have 100+ vehicles at a single lion sighting. In Ruaha on a busy morning you might share a sighting with two other vehicles. In Nyerere, sometimes none.
You also get genuinely different species - greater kudu, sable antelope, and African wild dog are all more reliable in the south than the north. And the Rufiji River boat safaris are an experience with no Northern Circuit equivalent.
The southern circuit rewards travellers who plan ahead and accept that logistics take more effort. The payoff is proportional.
Browse Tanzania safari tours to find southern circuit operators, Ruaha packages, and Nyerere boat safari combinations.
Book Your Trip
- Flights - Find the best fares to Tanzania
- Travel Insurance - Get covered before you go
- eSIM - Stay connected from landing
- Airport Transfers - Pre-book your transfer from Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam
- Car Rental - Compare prices across providers
- Tours & Activities - Browse Tanzania tours on GetYourGuide