9 Days Best of South Tanzania Expedition

Today you will go hiking in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, one of 34 “World Biodiversity Hotspots”. Leaving after an early breakfast you will meet your guide at the national park entrance gate. The park can only be explored on foot and from the gate you will set off on a hike through the rainforest. The lush green mountains are home to 30 m high trees, reptiles, 400 bird species, butterflies and other animals. Twelve species of primates such as the Udzungwa red colobus or the Sanje mangabey – one of the most endangered primates in Africa – live here. A highlight of the walk is the 150 m meter high Sanje waterfall where you can swim. In the evening, you will return to Stanley’s Kopje Tented Camp, for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast you will drive southwest towards Iringa. On the way you will pass the scenic valley of the Great Ruaha River where majestic baobabs trees grow. You will continue through small villages before you arrive at Jabali Ridge – your overnight stay for the next three nights. After checking in, you will go on a game drive in the Ruaha National Park. The park is famous for its rugged beauty, kudus, over 570 bird species and elephants – about 10,000. You might also see buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, rare wild dogs, sable antelopes, giraffes, zebras, warthogs and the huge roan antelope.

Jabali Ridge checks all the boxes for travellers seeking a luxurious, boutique wilderness and wildlife experience in East Africa. The award-winning camp is perched atop a rocky outcrop, perfectly blending bleached organic woods, African-inspired décor, and the stunning natural beauty of the surrounding landscapes and animals. At the same time, our incredible infinity pool and on-site spa provide the perfect place to relax and gaze over the endless African bush. Ruaha National Park lies at an utterly unique and diverse crossroads featuring habitats and species from southern and east Africa. Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park offers some of the best walking safaris in Africa, rivalling South Luangwa in Zambia and Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. It showcases a truly unforgettable wilderness experience.

Accommodation: Jabali Ridge

After a hearty breakfast, your guide will take you on a last game drive in the Ruaha National Park. In the late morning, he will drop you off at the Ruaha airstrip inside the park and you will fly to the Nyerere National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After you have landed at the small airstrip, you will be picked up by a driver of the Rufiji River Camp, who will take you to the camp. Hot lunch will be served at the camp. In the afternoon, you will join a scheduled safari activity and return to the camp in time for dinner. You spend the night at the Rufiji River Camp.

Nyerere National Park is rugged and remote and far from the crowds. It is the largest wildlife conservation area in Africa. The variety of habitats including Miombo woodlands, grasslands, forests and swamps are home to a selection of wildlife such as elephants, black rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles. The swamps and lagoons along the Rufiji River attract animals for bathing and drinking and are perfect for avid bird watchers as there are more than 350 bird species in the reserve. You will explore this unspoilt wilderness by safari vehicle, boat and on foot.

Accommodation: Rufiji River Camp