Private safari
8-Day Southern Tanzania Wilderness Safari
Nyerere · Ruaha · Mikumi · Udzungwa, the least-crowded wilderness in East Africa.
8 days Southern Tanzania Best · Jun – Oct Private departureFrom $3,255 per person
What this journey holds.
Tanzania's exclusive Southern Circuit: river safaris on the Rufiji, walking adventures with expert rangers, legendary big-cat country, rare wild dogs, baobab valleys, open floodplains, and the ancient rainforests of Udzungwa.
- Group size
- Private departure, 2–6 guests
- Vehicle
- Custom 4×4 Land Cruiser, pop-up roof
- Guide
- Licensed English-speaking driver-guide
- Pace
- Moderate, with early starts and unhurried sightings
- Fitness
- Easy; no walking required
- Start / end
- Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK)
Three that we build the days around.
Rufiji River boat safari at golden hour
Walking safari with an armed ranger in Nyerere
Sanje Waterfall dropping 170 metres through the rainforest
A rhythm, not a rigid schedule.
Every day bends around the animals, the light, and how you like to travel. This is our starting shape.
- 01Arrival · Dar es Salaam
Personal welcome and transfer to your beachfront hotel. Optional National Museum, Mwenge Carvers Market or the Slipway at sunset. Overnight Golden Tulip.
- 02Nyerere & Rufiji River safari
Into one of Africa's great protected landscapes; afternoon boat safari among hippo pods, crocodiles and fish eagles. Overnight Nyerere Tented Camp.
- 03Nyerere game drive & walking safari
Wild dogs, large lion prides, elephants in palm-fringed wetlands; afternoon walk with an armed ranger.
- 04Fly to Ruaha
Baobab valleys, rocky escarpments and dry riverbeds; afternoon drive for elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs. Overnight Ruaha Hilltop Lodge.
- 05Full-day Ruaha
Sunrise predators, picnic lunch, over 570 bird species, leopards in the kopjes and sunset over the baobab plains.
- 06Drive to Mikumi
Rural villages and miombo woodland to Mikumi's open floodplains beneath the Uluguru Mountains. Overnight Camp Bastian Mikumi.
- 07Udzungwa rainforest
Guided trek among red colobus and Sanje mangabey, orchids and forest birds, to the Sanje Waterfall and natural pools. Overnight Udzungwa Forest Camp.
- 08Return to Dar es Salaam
Scenic mountain drive back to your hotel or the airport.
Nothing on the day of the shoot but the shoot itself.
- Airport meet-and-greet in Dar es Salaam
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with professional guide
- Luxury hotels, lodges and tented camps
- Park entry fees and scheduled safari activities
- Domestic flights or road transfers as quoted
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Optional activities (balloon safari, walking safari, cultural visits)
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Personal items, laundry and telephone charges
Tanzania, month by month.
This journey runs jun – oct. Here is how the year reads across the northern circuit.
Jan
Calving season in Ndutu
Feb
Peak calving, predator action
Mar
Green season, fewer vehicles
Apr
Long rains, lush and quiet
May
Rains ease, low season value
Jun
Dry season opens, herds move north
Jul
River crossings begin
Aug
Peak crossings, prime game viewing
Sep
Dry, concentrated wildlife
Oct
Excellent predator sightings
Nov
Short rains, dramatic skies
Dec
Herds return south to Ndutu
Frames from recent departures.
Every element is engineered around the camera. Vehicles carry only 3–4 photographers with a bean bag and a window mount at every seat. Guides are chosen for their tracking and their patience - we hold on a subject until the light gives us what it will.
- Max 3 photographers per vehicle
- Bean bags, gimbals, window mounts
- Sunrise & sunset departures
- Optional field-side image review with our photographic lead
- Private charters where flying saves the light
Guest voices
“Our guide gave us the two most extraordinary weeks of our lives. Every morning was thought through - the light, the position, the story. We came home with photographs we'll frame for the rest of our lives.”
Anna & Peter Halvorsen · Oslo · Great Migration, 2025
From first note to first game drive.
Four steps, no pressure, and a human on the other end of every message.
01
Tell us your dates
Share travel dates, group size and what you most want to see. We reply within 24 hours.
02
We shape the route
A tailored itinerary with camp options at three price points, and honest advice on season and pacing.
03
Confirm and prepare
A 30% deposit secures camps and park permits. We send packing, camera and health notes.
04
Arrive and travel
Met at the airport, driven by your own guide, supported on the ground for the whole journey.
Before you ask.
- How many people share a vehicle?
- Every departure is private. Your party has the whole 4×4 to itself with a guaranteed window seat and pop-up roof for each guest.
- Can this itinerary be customised?
- Yes. Every route here is a starting shape. We regularly extend nights, swap camps, add Zanzibar or restructure days around photography light.
- What does the price depend on?
- Season, group size and camp category. The quoted rate is a per-person guide for two travellers sharing in mid-season; we confirm exact pricing with your dates.
- What is the payment schedule?
- A 30% deposit confirms the booking, with the balance due 45 days before arrival. Bank transfer and card payments are both accepted.
- Is it suitable for children or older travellers?
- Yes. We adjust drive lengths, road transfers and lodge choices to suit families and to keep travel comfortable at any age.
- What should I pack for photography?
- A long lens (400mm+), a wide zoom, spare cards and batteries. We supply bean bags in every vehicle and can arrange charging in the field.
