Southern Tanzania Big Five
11 nights, 2 distinct landscapes — southern tanzania big five.
From the first transfer to the final morning, every stop earns its place — huge prides and remote bush; the Rufiji River and wild dog.
Add a night in Dar es Salaam before or after — a relaxed arrival or a buffer before your flight home. Just ask.
Round trip · returns to Ruaha
What you'll see
The journey, one day at a time
Into Ruaha
Fly from Dar es Salaam into Ruaha, the country's largest park, where big prides hunt the sand rivers far from any crowd.
Along the Great Ruaha
Full days on Ruaha's sand rivers — exceptional lion country, greater and lesser kudu, and almost no other vehicles.
Along the Great Ruaha
Full days on Ruaha's sand rivers — exceptional lion country, greater and lesser kudu, and almost no other vehicles.
Along the Great Ruaha
Full days on Ruaha's sand rivers — exceptional lion country, greater and lesser kudu, and almost no other vehicles.
Along the Great Ruaha
Full days on Ruaha's sand rivers — exceptional lion country, greater and lesser kudu, and almost no other vehicles.
Along the Great Ruaha
Full days on Ruaha's sand rivers — exceptional lion country, greater and lesser kudu, and almost no other vehicles.
Into Nyerere
Fly on into Nyerere National Park — the vast former Selous — and take a first drive along the Rufiji channels.
River and bush
Full days mixing game drives with boat safaris on the Rufiji — hippo, croc, elephant and strong wild-dog odds.
River and bush
Full days mixing game drives with boat safaris on the Rufiji — hippo, croc, elephant and strong wild-dog odds.
River and bush
Full days mixing game drives with boat safaris on the Rufiji — hippo, croc, elephant and strong wild-dog odds.
River and bush
Full days mixing game drives with boat safaris on the Rufiji — hippo, croc, elephant and strong wild-dog odds.
Journey's end
A short flight back to Arusha connects to your onward journey.
The season changes what you see.
Calving in the south
The herds gather on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the southern Serengeti to calve — daily births and intense predator action.
Northern river crossings
The migration pushes north and the Mara River crossings begin — the headline months, and the busiest. Book well ahead.
Hand-picked camps & lodges
Jabali Ridge
An Asilia lodge tucked among boulders with a spa and pool — refined and superbly guided in remote Ruaha.
Roho ya Selous
An Asilia camp between lakes and woodland — stylish and well placed for boating and game drives.
Kigelia Camp
A classic Nomad bush camp under sausage trees — low-key and excellent for Ruaha's predators.
Kwihala Camp
An unfenced Asilia tented camp in the game-rich heart of the park — intimate and well guided.
Siwandu Camp
An elegant lakeside camp in the photographic heart of the reserve, strong for boat safaris and wild dog.
Sand Rivers Selous
A Nomad lodge on the Rufiji River — open, characterful, a byword for this corner of Tanzania.
Make it yours.
Add nights, swap a park, extend to the coast — this route is a starting point, not a fixed menu. Tell us how you travel and we'll route the rest.