Southern Tanzanian Safari Circuit overview:

Accommodation: Vuma Hills – tented camp, Mufindi Highland Fishing Lodge – log cabins, Ruaha River Lodge – thatched bandas, Lazy Lagoon Lodge – beach bandas

Destinations: Mikumi National Park – Central Tanzania, Mufindi – Southern Highlands, Ruaha National Park – Southern Tanzania, Lazy Lagoon Island - Swahili Coast

Activities: Game drives, fly fishing, horse riding trails, mountain biking trails, kayaking, golf, bowls, badminton, birding, forest walks, fishing, motorboat excursions, guided nature walks, fishing, motorboat excursions, snorkelling, swimming, excursion to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Arrive: Dar Es Salaam

Depart: Dar Es Salaam

Southern Tanzania Safari Circuit experience:

Tanzania is the perfect country to combine a wildlife safari with a spectacular beach hideaway...
Udzungwa Mountains National Park has high density of endemism species with some plants and animals that are only found in these mountains – experience this on a walking safari through the park. Enjoy spectacular mountain scenery, on a private estate perched high on the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment – an ideal setting for relaxing or pursuing one of the many recreational activities on offer. Search for the Big Five during your game drives in remote Tanzanian wilderness – Ruaha National Park. Visit historical sites in Bagamoyo and enjoy the sun and surf on Lazy Lagoon Island.

Days 1 - 3: Mikumi National Park

Depart from Dar es Salaam at 10:30 for the flight to Mikumi National Park. On arrival you will transferred to your Tanzania safari lodge and enjoy lunch. After lunch there will be a late afternoon game drive. Vuma Hills Tented camp is perched above the trees stretching over the seemingly endless wilderness south west of Mikumi National Park. Vuma Hills has sixteen spacious colonial style tents with en-suite bathrooms and large verandas offering great views. There is a small swimming pool with great views over the Mkata River floodplains.

Mikumi was gazetted as a National Park in 1964 and is named after the Borassus palm trees. The Mkata plain supports vast herds of plains game such as wildebeest, impala, zebra and giraffe. Lion, leopard and wild dogs are seen in the park. Lichtenstein's hartebeest, greater kudu, roan and sable antelope are sighted in the surrounding hills. Mikumi is known for the ebony trees (used to make woodwind instruments) which grow in abundance, as well as the giant Baobabs and Hyphaene and Borassus palms. Game activities at Vuma concentrate on 4x4 game drives and it is possible to take an excursion to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is part of an ancient group of mountain ranges which stretch across Tanzania and Kenya. They were formed at least 100 million years ago and many endemic species have evolved here. Amongst the larger attractions are ten species of primate, three of which are endemic: the Uhehe (aka Iringa) red colobus, the Matunda galago and the Sanje crested angabey. With a day to explore slowly, you'll usually see the red, black and white colobus.

More than 400 species of birds live here, with many regional endemics like the Udzungwa forest partridge. A quarter of the plants here are endemic, including some Saitpaulia species, closely related to African violets. There are also endemic amphibians, reptiles, and butterflies.

Setting off in walking shoes, you'll explore the park's walking trails with a national parks' guide. Expect to pass streams and waterfalls amidst the thick forest vegetation.

Days 4 - 6: Southern Highlands - Mufindi

Enjoy a morning game drive en route to the airstrip where you will enjoy a picnic lunch, before your flight departs from Mikumi at around 12:00. On arrival you will take a road transfer to the lodge through the pine plantations, tea plantations and rain forest. Mufindi Highland Fishing Lodge is located in the heart of tea plantations deep in the southern highlands amidst spectacular mountain scenery, on a private estate perched high on the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment.

Mufindi Highland Fishing Lodge has nine comfortable en suite log cabins complete with bathtub, looking out on stunning mountain and lake scenery. The facilities include a large central building which contains the dining room, bar, television room, billiards room and lounge area as well as an outdoor balcony. There are various activities that you can enjoy at your Tanzania safari lodge such as; fly fishing, horse riding trails, mountain biking trails, kayaking, golf, bowls, badminton, birding, forest walks, guided nature trails to name a few.

You can also take a trip into the nearby village to learn more about rural subsistence lifestyle; visit the orphanage and school and meet the kids, parents and village elders.

Mufindi is an area of stunning beauty located above the Great Rift Valley in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania between the main towns of Iringa and Mbeya. The country side is spectacularly undulating ending abruptly at the 2000ft rift valley escarpment. The area has stunning scenery, dark thick montane rainforest and pristine tea estates interlaced with lakes, rivers and streams. The Mufindi District checklist contains more than 400 species and many of these are found on and around the Highland Lodge.

Although not on the usual 'tourist' route in Tanzania, the Mufindi Highlands is a great place to relax, enjoy the cool mountain air and discover a different aspect of the African bush.