10-day Ultimate Southern Tanzania Bush & Beach Safari

On your arrival at Dar es Salaam Airport, you'll be met by a friendly member of Foxes Safari Camps who will escort you to the Serena hotel and help you check-in. Whether you'd like to explore the city or get some rest it's up to you, but tomorrow your real Tanzanian adventure begins!

The following morning we'll pick you up from the hotel at 09:00 after breakfast and return to the airport for the Safari Air Link flight to Nyerere National Park (Selous).

Flight No 01 (times may vary with schedule requirements)
Departure Time: 10:30.  Arrival Time 11:15

A guide from Rufiji River Camp will be at the airstrip waiting to greet you and take you on a game drive through the park before helping you check into your room.  In the afternoon you will go out and begin to explore Nyerere National Park (formerly known as Selous) with a game drive, before
returning to camp at dusk - just in time to freshen up before drinks around the camp fire.

NYERERE NATIONAL PARK (SELOUS):
This huge conservation area is a World Heritage Site with the area north of the sprawling Rufiji River reserved for photographic safaris. The river is Tanzania's largest and consists of a myriad of wide-open water, lakes and channels - allowing us to offer the only boat safaris in Tanzania - in addition to the classic vehicle and walking safaris. Recently, this photographic region of Selous Game Reserve has been converted to a National Park called Nyerere, named after Tanzania’s first elected president, Julius Nyerere, and is Tanzania's largest national park

The night before, the manager will have discussed the options for today's safaris. Here's what you would be able to choose from and turn your bucket list into a reality:

Early Morning Nature Walk:
Departing at 06:30, returning for a late breakfast at 09:30.

Early Bird Game Drive:
Departing 06:30 with a packed breakfast, returning at 11:30.

Morning Game Drive:
Departing after breakfast at 08:30, returning in time for lunch.

Morning Boat Safari:
Departing after breakfast at 08:30, returning in time for lunch.

Full-Day Game Drive:
Departing after breakfast at 08:30 with a picnic lunch, returning at 16:00 for afternoon tea.

Afternoon Game Drive:
Departing at 16:00 and returning at dusk, in time for sundowners.

Afternoon Boat Safari:
Departing at 16:00 and returning at dusk, in time for sundowners.

Nyerere National Park has the highest concentration of elephants of any one park in Tanzania and is estimated to have one-third of all Tanzania’s African Hunting dogs. The landscape is predominantly flat and covered with miombo trees. Lions and leopards join the Hunting dogs as prevalent predators in the reserve and there is a good variety of prey animals from wildebeest and buffalo to smaller animals like warthog and impala. The river supports a rich and varied bird life, the banks providing a nesting bank for the bee-eaters and fishing grounds for Kingfishers.

An early walk or game drive brings you back in time for breakfast and the departure back to the airstrip for the onward flight to Ruaha National Park.

Flight No 02 (times may vary with schedule requirements)
Departure Time: 11:00  Arrival Time: 13:00

One of Ruaha River Lodge's guides will greet you at the airstrip and take you to the lodge and help you check-in.

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

Ruaha National Park is the second-largest national park in Tanzania and is located in the centre of the country. This magical place lies in the convergence zone where northern and southern hemisphere birds and mammal species overlap, resulting in an overwhelming number of birds (530 recorded) plants (1400) and a large number of mammal species. The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the park as it is its only permanent water source.

A full day game drive along the river takes you over rocky kopjes, home to the Greater kudu, Roan
antelope and elephant, and winds down along the river bank through open plains, perfect for cheetah, herds of buffalo, warthogs, jackals, bat-eared Foxes – the list is endless. The lion population here is now so large (largest in Tanzania) that they have gained film rights for their prowess at hunting Giraffe - which is not their traditional fare. The river banks are rich with birdlife, hippos and crocs. For the more adventurous, above the escarpment lives the more elusive Sable Antelope. 

Ruaha also boasts a well-developed road network, with plenty of different routes to explore for morning game drives before returning to the lodge for lunch. Time spent on your veranda at the water’s edge, or sitting in one of the 2 bar areas will be an equally enjoyable part of your safari here where the animals wander in front of your room to come down to drink. Finish off your day with an afternoon drive to the hippo pool and catch the African sunset over the plains.

During your time staying at Ruaha River Lodge choose between half-day shared game drives or full-day with picnic lunch promising an action-packed day out in the unscripted Tanzanian bush.

Early Morning Game Drives:

Departing at 06:30 with a picnic breakfast, returning at 11:30

Morning Game Drives:

Departing after breakfast at 08:30, returning in time for lunch.

Afternoon Game Drives:

Departing at 16:00 and returning at dusk, in time for sundowners.

Full-Day Game Drives:

Departing after breakfast at 08:30 with a picnic lunch, returning at 16:00 for afternoon tea

After breakfast, you will have the chance to enjoy one final game drive through Ruaha as you slowly wind your way to the airstrip for your flight to The Swahili Coast.

Flight No 03 (times may vary with schedule requirements)
Departure Time: 13:15 Arrival Time: 15:45

You will be warmly welcomed off the plane by a member of The Lazy Lagoon Island Lodge team who will transfer you to the Lazy Ferry. A scenic boat ride follows, taking around 15 minutes to get to the secluded Lazy Lagoon Island Lodge just in time for cocktails and dinner.

During your time staying at Lazy Lagoon Island Lodge you can do as little or as much as you like. Here are some activities to look forward to with some best suited for the adventurous souls amongst us:

• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Kayaking
• Paddle Boarding
• Sailing
• Beach Walks

LAZY LAGOON ISLAND:

The island is 9km long and the lodge is the only habitation on the island. We do share the island with some wildlife, notably suni antelope, bush bigs, monkeys and bush babies. At low tide, there is a wonderful display of brightly coloured starfish on the exposed rocks in vivid red, orange and green.

Being offshore the low tide does not leave you miles from the water’s edge, and sea swimming is possible at all tides from the inward side of the island. There is also a small swimming pool.
For the more active you can explore the island on foot (we are still waiting for someone to get to the other end and back so will you accept the challenge?) or try your hand at kayaking around the
Mangroves.

Bagamoyo town on the mainland opposite the island was the original port for Tanzania and saw all the Explorers off on their expeditions and the Slave caravans return from the interior. The history of the town is similar to Stone Town on Zanzibar, with a slave market, Arabic-style buildings, and the oldest Catholic mission on mainland Tanzania. Guided tours are available around the town and surroundings.

Depending on the departure time of your international flight, a boat and car will be ready for your transfer from the Island to Dar es Salaam airport.