Untouched Wilderness Awaits
From river safaris to baobab valleys, the Southern Circuit offers Africa at its most untouched.
Explore the virgin parks
in Tanzania
Tanzania fulfils all dream of Africa, with jungles and primates, wildebeest migrations across, tropical beaches, highlands, authentic and unique culture, and even a snow-capped mountains. With effectively a quarter of the country set aside for reserves, Tanzania is the best game viewing countries in Africa.
Visiting Tanzania’s Southern Safari Circuit
Tanzania’s Southern Safari Circuit offers some of the wildest, most untouched, and least‑crowded safari experiences in East Africa. Far from the busy northern parks, this region is known for its vast landscapes, rich biodiversity, and authentic wilderness atmosphere. The circuit includes Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), Ruaha National Park, Mikumi National Park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, and Kitulo Plateau, each offering unique wildlife encounters and dramatic scenery.
Access
The main gateway to the Southern Circuit is Dar es Salaam, offering easy access to all parks by road, air, or train. Most travellers arrive through Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), while others connect from Zanzibar via scheduled flights to Dar es Salaam or directly to the national parks. Travellers coming from the Northern Circuit including Kilimanjaro, Arusha, or any northern national park can also connect easily through domestic flights to Dar es Salaam, Ruaha, Nyerere, or Mikumi
How to Explore the Southern Circuit
- Road: Comfortable 4×4 safari vehicles departing from Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Morogoro, Arusha
- By Train: Tanzania’s modern SGR train service from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and Dodoma provides a smooth, affordable, and scenic connection to the Southern Circuit.
- Air: Scheduled or charter flights to airstrips in Nyerere, Ruaha, Mikumi, Iringa and other southern parks, where guests are picked up directly for their safari.
Best Time to Visit
The main gateway to the Southern Circuit is Dar es Salaam, offering easy access to all parks by road, air, or train. Most travellers arrive through Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), while others connect from Zanzibar via scheduled flights to Dar es Salaam or directly to the national parks
- May to October – Dry Season (Best for Wildlife Viewing), the bush thins out, making animals easier to spot; wildlife gathers around rivers and waterholes especially in Ruaha and Nyerere; skies are bright with low humidity and minimal rain, making this the ideal season for classic game drives, walking safaris, and photography.
- January to April – green season (Best for Scen & Birding), the landscape becomes lush, green, and incredibly beautiful; migratory birds arrive, creating peak bird‑watching conditions; photography is excellent with fewer crowds, though early April and May can occasionally make game drives challenging due to rains.
- November – Early December (Short Rains), fresh vegetation begins to appear; wildlife disperses slightly but remains active; this is a great time for travellers seeking value, fewer vehicles, dramatic skies, and a quieter safari experience
The Southern Circuit is ideal for travellers seeking quiet parks, fewer vehicles, and raw, untouched wilderness. Wildlife viewing is exceptional, with large elephant herds, lions, leopards, African wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, buffalo, and over 400 bird species. The region is also famous for boat safaris, walking safaris, night game drives, and remote bush experiences rarely found elsewhere in Africa.
Accommodation
Options range from budget camps to semi‑luxury and luxury lodges, offering comfort, privacy, and immersive nature experiences both inside and outside the parks.
The Southern Circuit delivers a truly authentic African safari, combining vast landscapes, rich wildlife, and peaceful solitude perfect for adventurers, photographers, birders, and nature lovers.
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