Direct operator since 1978Original photographyNamed local guides4.8★ on Google
Southern Circuit Tanzania — remote wilderness and extraordinary wildlife away from the crowds

Southern Circuit Tanzania

Southern Circuit Tanzania Safari

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4.8/5 from 149 TripAdvisor reviews

Remote. Wild. Extraordinary.

Tanzania's Last Safari Frontier

The Northern Circuit is extraordinary — we have been operating Northern Circuit safaris since 1978 and will tell you without hesitation that it is one of the finest wildlife experiences on earth. But it is also increasingly busy, increasingly packaged, and increasingly familiar to a generation of travellers who have watched nature documentaries before they have packed a bag.

The Southern Circuit is different. These are Tanzania's remote parks — Ruaha, Katavi, Selous, Nyerere, Mahale Mountains, and Mikumi — reached by air, serviced by small owner-operated camps, and visited by a fraction of the numbers that crowd the Serengeti in high season. The wildlife is as spectacular. The experience is quieter, more intimate, and more genuinely adventurous. You will not see 40 vehicles at a lion kill. You may not see another vehicle at all.

We have been taking guests to the Southern Circuit for decades — longer than almost any operator still operating. We know the camps, the guides, the logistics, and the wildlife patterns. We know which parks are best in which seasons, and which combinations make for a coherent journey. This is not a packaged product. It is our oldest and most quietly loved itineraries.

Why Go Southern

Four Reasons the Southern Circuit Is Different

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No Crowds

The Serengeti has 500,000 visitors a year. Katavi has 1,500. The contrast is immediate and profound. On the Southern Circuit, you will frequently spend an entire game drive without seeing another vehicle. This is not a manufactured 'exclusive' experience — it is simply what happens when a park is genuinely remote and difficult to access.

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Wild Dogs

Tanzania has one of the largest populations of African wild dogs in Africa, and Ruaha is their stronghold. The Southern Circuit is one of the few places where you have a realistic chance of seeing wild dog packs — and seeing them well. These are among the most endangered mammals in Africa, and watching them hunt in the vast spaces of Ruaha is unforgettable.

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Remote Access

These parks are reached by small aircraft landing on grass airstrips. There are no paved roads, no queue of safari vehicles at the park gate, no crowds at the waterhole. The journey itself is part of the experience: flying over the bush, landing in the middle of nowhere, and being met by your camp's team.

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Small Camps

The Southern Circuit's accommodation is owner-operated tented camps with 6-12 tents. There are no large lodges, no conference facilities, no poolside bars with 50 rooms. The camps are deeply personal: the owners are often in camp, the guides know every corner of the park, and the experience feels genuinely cared for.

The Six Parks

Every Park on the Southern Circuit

Ruaha National Park — remote Tanzania wilderness with elephant herds at sunset
African wild dogElephant herdsLion pridesRemote wildernessFly-camping

Ruaha National Park

Tanzania's largest national park at 22,000 km². Ruaha is wild dog country — it has one of the largest populations of African wild dog in Africa. The Great Ruaha River creates a permanent water source that draws elephants, lions, and leopards throughout the dry season. The landscape is dramatic: rugged hills, rolling savannah, and riverine forest. Less visited than the Serengeti but with wildlife density that rivals it.

Recommended: 3-5 days

Katavi floodplain — Tanzania's most remote wildlife spectacle at golden hour
Hippo podsFloodplain wildlifeBuffalo herdsGenuine solitudeRemote access

Katavi National Park

Tanzania's most remote major park, receiving fewer than 1,500 visitors per year. The Katavi floodplain shrinks in the dry season to concentrate hippo pods of 150-200 animals, surrounded by buffalo herds, lions, and crocodiles. The sight of that many hippos packed into a shrinking lagoon — with predators prowling the edges — is one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles in Africa. This is wilderness in its truest sense.

Recommended: 3-4 days

Mahale Mountains on Lake Tanganyika — forest-covered peaks rising from Africa's deepest lake
Chimpanzee trekkingLake TanganyikaForest walksBeach relaxationBirdwatching

Mahale Mountains

A forest-covered mountain range rising from the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Mahale is home to one of Africa's most habituated chimpanzee populations — you can trek into the forest and spend time with chimps in their natural environment. The setting is extraordinary: you arrive by boat across the world's second-deepest lake to a camp on the beach. The combination of primate trekking and lakeside relaxation is unlike anything else in Tanzania.

Recommended: 2-3 days

Selous Game Reserve — riverine wilderness and wildlife on the Rufiji River
Boat safarisHippos and crocodilesBlack rhinoWild dogsRemote wilderness

Selous Game Reserve

The largest protected area in Africa — 50,000 km² of wilderness in southern Tanzania. Selous is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the last great untouched wild places. The Rufiji River creates a unique aquatic safari experience: boat trips through papyrus channels, hippos, and crocodiles, combined with classic game drives. The wildlife is exceptional — elephants, hippos, crocodiles, wild dogs, and some of the last black rhinos in East Africa.

Recommended: 2-3 days

Nyerere National Park — pristine river wilderness and wildlife away from crowds
Pristine wildernessRiver systemsWild dogsBirdlifeOff-grid adventure

Nyerere National Park

Africa's largest national park at 21,000 km², formerly part of the Selous. Nyerere was established to protect the Rufiji River basin and its extraordinary wildlife. The park is even more remote than Selous, with fewer visitors and camps. The landscape is varied — river channels, lagoons, wetlands, and dryland forest create diverse habitats. Wildlife includes elephants, hippos, crocodiles, lions, leopards, and wild dogs.

Recommended: 2-3 days

Mikumi National Park — accessible Tanzania wilderness with elephants and rolling savannah
Accessible Southern CircuitElephantsNear Dar es SalaamShort safariReal wilderness feel

Mikumi National Park

The most accessible Southern Circuit park — only a 4-hour drive from Dar es Salaam or a 45-minute flight. Mikumi is often combined with a Northern Circuit itinerary as an add-on, or as a standalone short safari from the coast. The park is bordered by the Selous and has similar wildlife: elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and buffaloes. It is a productive park with reliable wildlife viewing, and significantly quieter than the Northern Circuit.

Recommended: 1-2 days

Combined Circuits

The Ultimate Tanzania Safari: North + South

Start in the North

Northern Circuit

Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire. Begin with the iconic — the Great Migration, the rhino, the endless plains. Then fly south to the wild.

Compare

Northern vs Southern Circuit

Not sure which circuit is right for you? Our head-to-head comparison covers wildlife, logistics, cost, and experience so you can make the right choice.

Common Questions

Southern Circuit Tanzania — FAQ

What is the Southern Circuit in Tanzania?
The Southern Circuit is Tanzania's collection of remote southern and western national parks: Ruaha, Katavi, Selous, Nyerere, and Mahale Mountains. Unlike the Northern Circuit with its well-tended roads and established tourist infrastructure, the Southern Circuit is genuinely wild. Parks are reached by air, accommodation is small and owner-operated, visitor numbers are tiny, and the wildlife feels undramatized. This is Tanzania's last frontier.
How is the Southern Circuit different from the Northern Circuit?
The Northern Circuit is Tanzania's established safari route: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire. It is logistically straightforward, well-signed, and visited by tens of thousands of people per year. The Southern Circuit is remote, requires more effort, and rewards travellers who want something genuinely different. The wildlife is as spectacular — often more so — but the experience is quieter, more intimate, and feels less like a product and more like an adventure. You will not see 40 vehicles at a lion kill on the Southern Circuit.
How many days do you need for the Southern Circuit?
The Southern Circuit requires more days than the Northern Circuit because of the distances between parks. A minimum of 8-10 days allows you to sensibly combine two parks — for example, Ruaha with Katavi, or Katavi with Mahale. Twelve to 14 days allows a three-park itinerary. The park-to-park distances are significant: you will typically fly between parks, which takes 30-90 minutes but requires careful scheduling with camp or airline operations.
What is the best time to visit the Southern Circuit?
The dry season (June to October) is the only reliable time for most Southern Circuit parks. The wet season floods the floodplains in Katavi and Selous, making game viewing difficult and in some cases closing camps. Ruaha is more accessible year-round but wildlife concentrates dramatically in the dry season. The peak season for the Southern Circuit is August to October. For Mahale Mountains — where the main attraction is chimpanzee trekking — the dry season (May to October) is essential, as the forest trails become impassable in the rains.
Is the Southern Circuit safe?
The Southern Circuit is as safe as any Tanzania safari destination. The main practical concern is its remoteness: there are no medical facilities in these parks. Your camp's first-aid capability is your first and only line of care before a medevac. Travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage is essential. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all Southern Circuit parks. Tsetse flies are present in some areas — light-coloured clothing and insect repellent help.
Can you combine the Southern Circuit with the Northern Circuit?
Yes — a Tanzania Safari that combines both circuits is one of the most rewarding trips in Africa. A typical combination would be 4-5 days on the Northern Circuit (Serengeti and Ngorongoro) followed by a flight south to the Southern Circuit (Ruaha or Katavi) for 3-4 days. The contrast is extraordinary: from the iconic plains of the Serengeti to the remote floodplains of Katavi. We have been designing combined-circuit safaris for decades and know how to make the logistics work smoothly.
How much does a Southern Circuit safari cost?
Southern Circuit safaris are more expensive than Northern Circuit safaris because of the flying costs between camps and the exclusive nature of the accommodation. A 10-day Southern Circuit safari (two parks) ranges from $4,500 per person (standard tented camps) to $9,000+ per person (premium camps). The cost reflects the exclusivity: some camps have only 6-10 tents, all logistics are handled by small owner-operated teams, and flights between parks are by private charter or scheduled light aircraft.

Ready to Go Wild?

The Southern Circuit is our most quietly beloved itineraries. Tell us what you are looking for — how many days, what wildlife, your experience level — and we will design something genuinely unforgettable.

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