Destination
Southern Tanzania
Remote parks, walking safaris, and no crowds. Selous, Ruaha, and Mikumi offer a different Tanzania — one that feels like the Africa of fifty years ago.
Why Visit Southern Tanzania
Southern Tanzania is the antidote to crowded safari parks. Remote, vast, and profoundly wild — these parks offer an experience that the busy Northern Circuit cannot match.
Remote & Uncrowded
Southern Tanzania's parks receive a fraction of the visitors of the Northern Circuit. In Selous and Ruaha, you can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle.
Walking Safaris
Southern Tanzania is the home of walking safaris in Tanzania. Explore at ground level in Selous and Ruaha — the way safaris were designed to be experienced.
River & Boat Safaris
The Rufiji River flows through Selous, creating exceptional opportunities for boat safaris, hippo sightings, and crocodile encounters from a different perspective.
Wild Dog Territory
Selous is one of the last strongholds for African wild dogs in Tanzania. Seeing a pack on a hunt is one of Africa's rarest wildlife spectacles.
Southern Tanzania's Parks
Three very different parks — each remote, each extraordinary.
Africa's largest game reserve
Selous Game Reserve
Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa — 54,000 km² of miombo woodland, grasslands, and riverine forest along the Rufiji River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remote safari experiences in Tanzania. Walking safaris and boat safaris here are exceptional.
Best Time
June–October for dry season wildlife viewing; November–May for green season and birding
Highlight
Wild dogs, boat safaris, walking safaris, hippos, black rhino
Park fees: $50 per person per day
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Remote Tanzania wilderness at its finest
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha is Tanzania's largest national park — 22,000 km² of rugged terrain, river valleys, and rocky outcrops. It is remarkably untouched, with fewer visitors than almost any other major Tanzanian park. Lions, leopards, and large elephant herds are resident year-round.
Best Time
June–October for dry season; November–May for wild flowers and newborn wildlife
Highlight
Giant lion prides, elephants, buffaloes, over 570 bird species
Park fees: $60 per person per day
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The accessible Southern Circuit park
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi is Tanzania's most accessible Southern Circuit park — just 300km from Dar es Salaam. It borders the Selous and offers excellent wildlife viewing with far less travel time. Lions, giraffes, zebras, and elephants are commonly seen, and the landscape is beautiful.
Best Time
June–October for dry season; year-round wildlife viewing
Highlight
Lions, giraffes, zebras, proximity to Dar es Salaam, affordable
Park fees: $30 per person per day
Learn More →Combine Northern & Southern Tanzania
The most complete Tanzania safari combines the Northern Circuit — Serengeti migration, Ngorongoro Crater — with the remote Southern parks. Two very different Tanzania experiences in one trip. Domestic flights connect the circuits in approximately 1.5–2 hours.
See Combined Circuit Itinerary →Planning Your Southern Tanzania Safari
How to Combine Southern with Northern Tanzania
The classic Southern Circuit itinerary flies from the Serengeti or Arusha to Selous or Ruaha — a 1.5–2 hour flight. Many travellers do Northern Circuit first (Serengeti, Ngorongoro), then fly south for a different, quieter Tanzania safari. Combining both circuits gives you the full range of Tanzania's safari experiences.
How Much Does a Southern Tanzania Safari Cost?
Southern Tanzania safaris are priced similarly to the Northern Circuit — Selous and Ruaha typically cost $350–700 per person per day including park fees, accommodation, meals, and guiding. The main additional cost is the domestic flight from the north (approximately $250–350 per person one way).
When to Visit Southern Tanzania
The dry season (June–October) is best for wildlife viewing in Southern Tanzania. The parks are less crowded than the north during these months. The wet season (November–May) brings greener landscapes, newborn wildlife, and excellent birding — but some roads become difficult.
Ready to Explore Southern Tanzania?
We have been arranging Southern Tanzania safaris since 1978. Tell us your timeline and we will design the right Southern Circuit itinerary for you.
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