Rufiji & Savannah Experience

Safari summary

3‑Day Safari from Zanzibar to Mikumi and Selous (Nyerere) National Parks
Introduction

Tanzania is a land where the call of the wild still echoes across vast savannahs, tangled woodlands, and winding rivers. For travelers based on the idyllic island of Zanzibar—surrounded by turquoise waters and swaying palm trees—a safari to the legendary national parks of mainland Tanzania is a compelling complement to beach life. Among these, Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve (now officially Nyerere National Park) rank among the most evocative safari destinations in East Africa, offering wildlife encounters that are both dramatic and deeply immersive. This narrative recounts a full journey from Zanzibar to these parks, capturing not just the itinerary but the spirit of the landscape, the rhythm of wildlife movements, and the profound sense of connection that comes with exploring Tanzania’s wild heart.

Day 1 – From Spice Island to Savannah: Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park
Departure from Zanzibar

The alarm buzzes in the pre‑dawn hours. In Zanzibar’s main town of Stone Town—an UNESCO World Heritage Site of winding alleys, ornate carved doors, and the scent of cloves in the air—the night yields to the promise of a new kind of adventure. As the sun’s first amber rays touch the Indian Ocean, travelers gather at the airport, boarding a light domestic flight bound for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s bustling coastal metropolis.

The airplane ascends, and below unfolds a mosaic of islands, coral reefs, and patches of mangroves that fringe the blue sea. Within an hour, the aircraft descends toward Dar es Salaam, where the heat and hum of East Africa’s largest city greet visitors. From the airport, safari vehicles are waiting—rugged, dusty, and ready to carry intrepid explorers toward the interior.

First Safari Drive in Mikumi

After checking in at a lodge or camp on the fringes of Mikumi, the safari vehicle rumbles toward the park’s interior for the first game drive. The savannah appears calm at first glance—a gentle sea of tawny grass kissed by sunlight. But this peaceful veneer belies the rhythm of life that pulses through every corner of the park.

The guide slows the vehicle as we approach a small watering hole. A family of elephants, trunks curled and ears flapping, drinks in measured, deliberate sips. Nearby, a parade of zebra moves in orderly stripes against the golden plain, their eyes alert to every whisper of movement. A short distance away, a herd of impala grazes serenely, ears twitching at the faintest hint of danger.
And then, in the distance—a flash of tawny gold and dark brown. Lions. Two adults reclining in the shade of a lone tree, their eyes half‑closed, yet perceptive to every rustle. Even in repose, their presence is magnetic—symbols of power that define the African wilderness.
As the sun begins to set, casting long orange shadows across the land, the game drive winds down. Birds wheel overhead; lilac‑breasted rollers flash their vivid plumage, and the soft calls of francolins rise from the grass. Back at the lodge, dinner is served under a canopy of stars—an orchestra of night sounds providing the soundtrack to a memorable first day in the wild.
Day 2 – A Tale of Two Parks: Mikumi to Selous (Nyerere) National Park
In the quiet pre‑dawn darkness, with the horizon blushing faint pink, safari vehicles again set out. This is the moment when wildlife stirs—lions stir from their night’s rest, herbivores venture out to graze, and birds trill the first songs of daylight.
The light over the Mkata Floodplain—the heart of Mikumi—shifts by the minute, turning the grass from gold to copper to bright yellow. Towering giraffes stretch their long necks toward acacia leaves, and buffalo move in slow, ponderous herds. Predators and prey share this space with a competitive, delicate balance.
Drive to Selous (Nyerere) National Park
The road to Selous Game Reserve—recently renamed Nyerere National Park in honor of Tanzania’s founding father, Julius Nyerere—takes travelers deeper into Tanzania’s wild south. The landscape along this route is diverse: stretches of thicket, dense woodland, and fields where Maasai herders graze cattle under the watchful eyes of their guardian dogs.
Day 3 – River Journeys and Final Safari Impressions
The third day begins with choice: whether to experience Selous from land or water. Many safari travelers opt for a boat safari on the Rufiji River, a quintessential Selous experience. Gliding silently across the dark water, the boat becomes a lens into a world where reflections shimmer and every ripple might betray the presence of life.

From the boat, hippos yawn cavernous mouths, fungi rising through the river in great, lazy curves. Crocodiles slip beneath lily pads. Elephants wander down to drink at the water’s edge, their ears flicking away flies. Minute creatures—dragonflies of electric blue and carmine red—dart like floating jewels across the surface.

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About this tour

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Fine details

Safari highlights

• Bird watching—with professional guide
• Boat, canoe, dhow, kayak, mokoro safari
• Photography safari—with professional guide

What’s included?

• Accommodation
• Airport transfers
• Meals
• Park fees