5
Days
Selous (Nyerere) Experience
June To October- April & May
- November to March
- Private Safari
- Safari Photo Roof Landcruiser
- Private Local Driver-guide
Safari Overview
Forget the crowds. This is Tanzania the way it was meant to be felt — raw, unhurried and gloriously off the beaten track. Over five days you'll swap the busy northern circuit for the untamed beauty of the south, journeying from the coastal buzz of Dar es Salaam into the heart of Nyerere National Park (Selous), one of Africa's largest and wildest protected areas.
Your adventure begins gently, with a farm stay at Mbuyuni Farm Retreat beneath the rolling Uluguru Mountains — think birdsong, mountain views and your pick of easy-going farm pursuits. From there, a scenic drive threads past forests, rivers and rural villages, with a Maasai village visit offering a genuine window into local life before you reach the wilderness proper.
Then the wild takes over. Rumble through the golden Lake Manze plains in an open-roof Landcruiser, spotting buffalo, hippo and a dazzling cast of birdlife, before drifting along the mighty Rufiji River on a boat safari — a rare, magical way to watch the bush come alive from the water.
Nights are spent in characterful tented camps and lodges, all on Full Board, with a private English-speaking guide and a guaranteed window seat all yours. Intimate, personal and beautifully remote — this is southern Tanzania at its soul-stirring best. Come see the wild side.
- Settle in at a working farm retreat beneath the Uluguru Mountains
- Wind through the scenic southern circuit
- Step into Maasai life on a cultural village visit
- Track wildlife across the Lake Manze plains on open-roof game drives through wildlife-rich Nyerere National Park
- Travel private and personal, with your own driver-guide
Day 1 :
Dar es Salaam → Morogoro
Ease into the journey with a relaxed drive west from Dar es Salaam to the peaceful Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, tucked beneath the Uluguru Mountains. Spend the day soaking up the views and the gentle rhythm of farm life. With more than 230 bird species recorded here, it's a birder's delight — and there's plenty to keep everyone happy, from cycling to a lazy afternoon in the sun.
Optional Activities
Mountain biking, golf, tennis, guided farm tour and birdwatching
Accommodation
Mbuyuni Farm Retreat, Morogoro
Meals
Full Board
Day 2 :
Morogoro → Nyerere National Park
Set off early for Nyerere National Park, following a beautiful road that hugs the Uluguru Mountains. The scenery unfolds in layers — towering rocks, small rivers, dense forest, sweeping viewpoints and glimpses of rural village life. Along the way, a Maasai village visit brings a warm, authentic dose of local culture before you arrive in the late afternoon at Sable Mountain Lodge, perched near the park gateway.
Included Activities
Scenic southern-circuit drive and Maasai village tour
Accommodation
Sable Mountain Lodge
Meals
Full Board
Day 3 :
Lake Manze Game Drive
Today the wild takes centre stage. Explore the Lake Manze area of Nyerere National Park on a proper game drive, where the landscape shifts dramatically with the seasons. Keep your eyes peeled for herons, saddle-billed storks and pelicans, while buffalo and hippo gather at the water's edge. Go for two shorter sessions or one long, immersive drive — either way, the bush delivers.
Included Activities
Lake Manze Game Drive
Accommodation
Lake Manze Tented Camp
Swap wheels for water on an unforgettable boat safari along the Rufiji River — a slower, more soulful way to experience the wilderness as it wakes around you. Afterwards, settle in at Selous Wilderness Camp on the river's southern shore, where river-view tents, an outdoor pool and a relaxed lounge await. Local and international dishes round off a perfect day in the bush.
Included Activities
Rufiji Boat Safari in Nyerere National Park
Accommodation
Selous Wilderness Camp
Meals
Full Board
With the wild still fresh in your memory, leave Nyerere National Park behind and travel by road back to Dar es Salaam, where your southern Tanzania adventure comes to a close. A quiet farewell to a corner of Africa few ever get to see.
No Fixed Departure Dates
USD 4,240
USD 7,320
USD 4,920
USD 5,350
USD 4,150
USD 2,475
Frequently Asked Questions
Good To Know About This Safari
Your rate covers 4 nights' accommodation on Full Board, a private safari in a Landcruiser with Safari Photo Roof, an exclusive English-speaking driver-guide, all game drives (with a guaranteed window seat), all national park and transfer fees, 3 litres of drinking water per day and binoculars. The Maasai village tour, Lake Manze game drive and boat safari are all included. Excluded are international and regional flights, visas, travel insurance, vaccinations, personal items, and any new or increased park fees, taxes or government charges.
There are no gorilla or chimp permits on this trip — that's an East/Central African primate thing, not a southern Tanzania one. The Day 1 farm activities at Mbuyuni (mountain biking, golf, tennis, guided farm tour and birdwatching) are listed as pre-bookable optionals, so it's worth confirming any costs for these with us before you travel.
This is a private, tailor-made safari for a minimum of 2 and maximum of 6 guests, so it's just your group and your guide throughout.
General Info About Travel To Tanzania
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many international travellers require a tourist visa, which can usually be obtained through Tanzania’s official eVisa system before travel. Your passport should generally be valid for at least six months. We recommend checking the latest entry requirements for your nationality before departure.
Vaccination requirements depend on where you are travelling from and your recent travel history. A yellow fever certificate may be required if arriving from, or transiting for an extended period through, a yellow-fever-risk country. Malaria is also present in Tanzania, so travellers should speak to a doctor or travel clinic about appropriate precautions and recommended vaccinations before travelling.
Tanzania is well connected internationally, with flights arriving through major gateways including Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Your best arrival airport will depend on whether your journey focuses on the northern safari circuit, southern Tanzania, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar.
Pack lightweight, comfortable clothing in neutral colours for safari, together with a warm layer for cool mornings and evenings. Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, insect repellent and a hat are useful essentials. If you are visiting Zanzibar or climbing Kilimanjaro, your packing requirements will differ, so pack according to your itinerary.
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Cash remains useful for smaller purchases and tips, while major hotels, lodges and tourism businesses commonly accept international payment cards. It is a good idea to travel with more than one payment option and carry some local currency for smaller expenses.