Southern Tanzania safaris : Selous game reserve (Nyerere national park) and Ruaha national park are the destinations which are visited during Tanzania safaris in the southern part of Tanzania.
When visiting the southern part of Tanzania, the beauty of safaris in this part of the country is that the southern part of the country offers amazing wildlife viewing throughout the year without having to worry about the crowds.
During safaris in the southern part of Tanzania another advantage of travelling to this part of the country is that the accommodations are affordable and can cost between 200-300 USD. These lodges can be midrange, luxury or budget lodges.
Southern safari parks of Tanzania have unspoilt wilderness as compared to the parks in the northern part of Tanzania and they also have diversity in wildlife.
Ruaha national park
In Tanzania, Ruaha national park is the largest national park in Tanzania covering about 20,000 square kilometers.
When visiting Ruaha national park, numerous wildlife species can be seen during safaris and they include lions, elephants, kudu, antelopes, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs, buffalos, giraffes, hippos, zebras, waterbucks and many others.
Ruaha national park during safaris around the southern part of Tanzania can be explored by foot and also by vehicle. 4×4 safari vehicles are used when exploring the wilderness of Ruaha national park.
The walking safaris bring the tourists closer to the natural surroundings in Ruaha national park and wildlife species can also be spotted on foot with the company of a ranger guide. Ruaha river flows through the national park and along the shores of the river wildlife species can be seen during safaris.
Wildlife species such as lions, leopards and cheetahs prey on gazelles, impalas, waterbucks among others which gather around the water to drink around the Ruaha river which is the hunting ground for the predators.
Other activities which are carried out around Ruaha national park include Game drives which are done at different times of day including in the morning when wildlife species are active and also in the afternoon or evening when wildlife species graze around the savannah plains.
Nyerere national park
When exploring the southern part of Tanzania another place to visit for wildlife safaris is Nyerere national park which is also part of Selous game reserve.
Selous game reserve before it became Nyerere national park was considered the largest reserve in Africa. Nyerere national park covers about 30,000 square kilometers and it is home to numerous wildlife species such as the big cats like lions, leopards and cheetahs.
Other wildlife species which can be seen during safaris around Nyerere national park include elephants, rhinos, buffalos, giraffes, elands, wildebeests, zebras, hippos among others. The big five such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos can be seen around the destination during safaris.
The activities to take part in when visiting Nyerere national park include game drives, guided nature walks, cultural tours, and boat safaris.
Boat rides during tours in Nyerere national park are carried out along River Rufiji which is also a major attraction at the destination. Hippos and crocodiles as well as different bird species can be spotted during safaris in the national park. The duration for a boat trip when visiting Nyerere national park is about 2 to 3 hours and the boat trip can be done in the morning or at sunset.
Full day boat rides along the Rufiji river are also carried out when visiting Nyerere national park. Wildlife species like waterbucks, kudu, warthogs, elephants bathing on the shores of the river can also be seen during boat rides. A picnic lunch can also be enjoyed during a boat ride along the river. The price of this activity is about 25 USD to 30 USD per person for one hour boat ride on the river.
Another activity to take part when visiting Nyerere national park is the cultural tour. These cultural tours can involve taking part in interactions with the Maasai who are known for their nomadic way of life and unique culture. The cultural tour also involves going to the homes of the Maasai also known as the Maasai bomas, enjoying traditional dance performances and also seeing the local arts and crafts such as beaded jewelry of the Maasai.
When to visit the southern part of Tanzania
Safaris around the southern part of Tanzania are best visited during specific times of the year due to the nature of the topography.
The best months to visit the southern safari parks of Tanzania include June, July, August, September and October. June to October is also the dry season and it is a good time for wildlife safaris as wildlife species can be seen around water sources.
For activities like bird watching during safaris to the southern part of Tanzania, the time of the year which is recommended is from January to March.
How to get to the southern parks of Tanzania
During safaris around the southern part of Tanzania to destinations like Nyerere national park and Ruaha national park flights can be used during safaris.
Flights to Nyerere national park and Ruaha national park can be got from Dar es Salaam to the airstrips in the parks.
