When most people visit Tanzania, they typically go for the famous parks such as the Serengeti to experience incredible sights such as the wildebeest migration. But Southern Tanzania contains two of the best, lesser-known safari areas – Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, and Ruaha National Park.
These two parks offer diverse and undisturbed wilderness which is perfect for experienced safari-goers looking to for a unique adventure. Even first-timers will be amazed by the abundance of rare wildlife. The parks are remote with very few visitors which means no crowds to disrupt your sightseeing. A southern safari can provide a more authentic experience since the animals are less accustomed to cars and human noise allowing them to behave more naturally.
Nyerere National Park earned its UNESCO World Heritage status for its exceptional biodiversity and undisturbed habitats. It remains blissfully quiet and mostly undiscovered. It boasts the largest and diverse concentration of wildlife including a third of the wild dog population globally.
Ruaha National Park is a pristine wilderness which has an incredible variety of wildlife. The landscape consists of Miombo woodland, acacia grasslands, and large Baobab trees. This unique ecosystem attracts a diverse number of animal species. Some of the major attractions include Tanzania’s largest elephant population, giraffes, impalas, buffalo, lions, leopards, and endangered African wild dogs.
These two contrasting parks can easily be combined into a single itinerary (commonly referred to as the Southern Circuit) using internal scheduled flights. With a short 90-minute flight to Zanzibar, Tanzania also makes it easy to combine a safari with the beach.
My Experience Exploring Tanzania and Zanzibar
After arriving in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I was greeted at the airport and was taken to Dar es Salaam Serena where I would get a good night’s rest. The next morning, I woke early to enjoy a buffet breakfast with a wide variety of foods before heading to the airport to catch an internal flight to Ruaha National Park.
Getting through the small airport was smooth and easy. In no time, I boarded the 90-minute flight to Ruaha. Flying to Ruaha is a great option. It not only cuts down the travel time immensely but also gives you a unique view of the destination from the air.
After landing, we were met by our driver who took us for a game drive en route to our camp at Jabali Ridge. The camp is known for its sheer beauty and unique setting surrounded by Baobab trees and giant boulders. Arriving at Jabali Ridge was a joyous celebration. Our welcome was special and so much fun!
Accommodations at Jabali Ridge
Jabali Ridge has only eight luxury suites that are raised off the ground. I was fortunate to get room five which is the most elevated of them all. Each suite is expansive and airy with bird-nest thatched roofs and wooden shutters that slide to open up the rooms. The suites have king-sized beds with an en-suite bathroom with a flushing toilet and rain showers.
The fridge in my room was fully stocked with beverages. There was also an assortment of teas, coffee, and handmade cookies on the counter. The suite also had strong Wi-Fi and a desk with plenty of places to plug in devices to charge.
My favorite part of the suite was the outside deck which had a large cushioned bench. It was the perfect place to relax with a coffee or cold drink while admiring the untouched plains and hundreds-year-old Baobab trees.
There was also an infinity pool that overlooked the vast plains. It was a great place to take a dip and cool off during my downtime. There was even a bartender on hand to make fresh cocktails (or in my case, a fresh mocktail).
The Safari Experience at Ruaha National Park
Game drives took place in the mornings and afternoons. The morning started early with tea or coffee brought to my room. We would begin our drive with the rising sun. Our guide was quite impressive. He was not only knowledgeable but was great at spotting wildlife in the vast wilderness.
Along the way, he found a leopard relaxing in a tree. He listened carefully as a herd of buffalo approached the river and was able to predict their movement so he could position the vehicle for the best viewing. I knew the guides had to work really hard to find wildlife in the vast wilderness. Unlike other busier parks, the drivers didn’t have the advantage of communicating with one another to learn where the others had seen wildlife.
In addition to vehicle drives, walking safaris were also available.
Quality of Service at Jabali Ridge
The camp’s staff was always available to guests to greet us and see if there was anything that we needed. There was meticulous attention to detail and creativity in everything they did. It was quite fun being on a game drive and coming across a pop-up bar out of nowhere that the camp had set up to provide us with refreshing cocktails. The cocktails and mocktails were deliciously made with fresh ingredients.
Guests’ mealtimes were alternated around the camp. The staff went above and beyond to entertain us and keep us engaged.
After three days, we departed for Nyerere National Park. Although the flight was a quick 65 minutes, the landscape changed drastically. The landscape was distinct from anywhere I have ever visited.
Accommodations at Roho ya Selous
While visiting Nyerere National Park, we stayed at Roho ya Selous. This camp was more traditional than Jabali Ridge. The rooms were large enough to fit a hippo pod with a large en-suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers. The bathrooms were stocked with plenty of eco-friendly products.
Unlike Jabali, the camp was situated at ground level. There were a total of eight tents including one family room. The tents were made from mesh and canvas. I enjoyed the openness of the tent allowing me to get a full view of any wildlife such as elephants walking right outside the tent.
At night, it felt like I was just sleeping out in the open African bush. The beds are fitted with an A/C cooling system that provides a cool evening breeze. This was a unique and special treat. Unlike other destinations I have visited in Africa where the temperatures get much cooler, it was still quite humid, so the A/C made a big difference.
The camp came equipped with strong Wi-Fi and a pool to enjoy during downtime.
The Safari Experience at Nyerere National Park
The wildlife in Nyerere National Park is abundant and diverse. There are rare animals such as male lions with no manes and wild dogs. While there, we also did a boat safari where we spotted hippos, crocodiles, and lots of bird species.
At night, after everyone had gone to bed, I enjoyed sitting around the campfire chatting with the camp manager, David. We talked while enjoying a beverage and taking in the star-filled sky.
Both camps that I stayed at during the trip, put a lot of effort into the delicious food they prepared. They provided some of the best pack lunches and bush breakfasts I have ever had. Being a vegan, the camp also made sure I had a great selection of food. I definitely went back for seconds and thirds.
After three days, we left for Zanzibar. We squeezed in another game drive on our way to the airstrip.
Arriving in Zanzibar
Just 90 minutes after takeoff, we landed on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. We were taken to Matemwe Lodge which would be the accommodations for our stay. The Matemwe area of Zanzibar is built on a low coral cliff overlooking the ocean. The property’s 12 individual bungalows are widely spaced and surrounded by beautiful gardens. All of the bungalows featured en-suite bathrooms with showers and double basins. Each had a private veranda complete with hammocks.
The bungalows all faced the sea giving guests lovely views of the water as they swing in their hammocks. It was fantastic to sit on the veranda spotting small boats of fishermen and watching the sunrise and sunset.
There are two swimming pools at the lodge plus a spa room with views of the sea. This lodge makes the perfect getaway for couples or people who want to simply relax. Each night, the temperature was perfect as we enjoyed dinners on the beach under the beautiful night sky.
Zanzibar offers a vast array of things to do including cultural visits to relaxing on the beach. My favorite activity was snorkeling. It was the best snorkeling I have ever experienced with so many fish within reach in the crystal-clear waters.
Making the Most of My Trip to Tanzania
Choosing to fly from location to location worked really well. Not only did it save a lot of time, but the transition between destinations was seamless from the time I arrived in Dar es Salaam to the minute I was dropped off at the airport to leave. As guests, it was nice to have someone at each point to meet and greet us. Despite being in such a remote location with strict dietary needs, we felt well taken care of.
Having a ton of experience visiting safari destinations, I can say this trip didn’t disappoint. Although the wildlife at Ruaha was more dispersed, it was an incredibly beautiful place. We still had some memorable wildlife encounters. The wildlife at Nyerere was prolific. I saw many animals that I have never seen before. It was also amazing to see so many crocodiles up close in the shallow waters fighting over a carcass. Both of these destinations are crowd-free giving them a truly authentic feel.
