Southern Circuit — Nyerere & Mikumi
This itinerary pairs Africa's largest protected wilderness with the accessible plains of Mikumi. Nyerere National Park — Tanzania's rebranded and expanded Selous Game Reserve — is vast enough to add a genuinely different dimension to a safari: boat trips along the Rufiji River alongside the usual game drives, with excellent odds of wild dog, one of Africa's rarest predators.
Game drives are by 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, with an English-speaking driver-guide throughout. In Nyerere, the boat safari is run by experienced local boatmen operating along a quiet stretch of the Rufiji.
Day By Day
Select a day to see the drive time, game viewing, and where you'll be spending the night.
South to the Rufiji River wilderness
Picked up in Dar es Salaam after breakfast, the drive heads south towards the Rufiji River and into Nyerere National Park, Africa's largest protected area and formerly known as Selous Game Reserve. On arrival, an afternoon game drive gives a first taste of the park's miombo woodland and open plains, home to some of the continent's largest remaining populations of elephant and African wild dog.
Morning game drive, afternoon on the Rufiji River
A morning game drive across Nyerere's plains and lake circuit, followed by lunch back at camp. The afternoon switches to a boat safari on the Rufiji River, gliding past hippo pods and basking crocodiles with a different vantage point on the park's birdlife, including fish eagles and colourful bee-eater colonies nesting in the riverbanks.
Final game drive, then north to the floodplain
One last morning game drive in Nyerere before checking out, with breakfast at camp. The route then heads north to Mikumi National Park, arriving in the afternoon in time for a game drive across the open Mkata floodplain, a landscape often compared to a miniature Serengeti.
The Mkata floodplain and Hippo Pool
A full day exploring Mikumi's game-rich floodplain, with morning and afternoon drives broken up by a picnic lunch at camp. Highlights include the resident lion prides that hunt the open grassland, large buffalo herds, and Hippo Pool, where dozens of hippos wallow within easy viewing distance of the vehicle.
Final game drive and drive back to the coast
A final morning game drive before checking out, with breakfast at camp. The route retraces the road back through Morogoro to Dar es Salaam, arriving in the early afternoon in good time for an evening flight or onward travel.
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Africa Adventure — Southern Circuit Specialists
Based in Mikumi, Morogoro, Gilbays Safaris runs daily departures into Mikumi National Park alongside safaris and tours across Tanzania — from game drives to Maasai cultural excursions.
