Remote Tanzania: Safari & Beach

You are met on arrival into Dar es Salaam and are driven to the domestic terminal. You will then board your scheduled light aircraft flight and fly directly to Stielgers Gorge in Nyerere National Park.

A camp representative will meet you at the airstrip and drive you to Lake Manze Camp. Your stay is for the following three nights with all meals, conservation fees and shared safari activities included.

This rustic, eco-camp is a true wilderness experience and with no electricity in the 12 tents it is all about the wildlife. It is a fantastic wildlife area in the heart of Nyerere next to a lake after which the camp was named.

Depending on your time of arrival you may have a chance for an initial safari activity this afternoon or you might like to just settle into your surroundings ahead of the start of your safari adventure. 

You have the following two days on safari in Nyerere. Activities are usually arranged the previous night so you can decide what you would like to do on a daily basis. 

This is a great way of arranging your safari and gives you a great deal of flexibility. You have the choice between a morning and an afternoon game drive, a full day vehicle safari (with a picnic lunch) or a mixture of a game drive and a boat safari. Fishing and walking are also available depending on the season but cost extra, this can be prearranged when your booking your safari or organised directly with the camp.

The reserve boasts good numbers of lion, elephant, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, eland as well as the elusive leopard and wild dog.

You can have your morning safari activity this morning, or a have a lie in, and you will then be driven to the airstrip for your direct scheduled light aircraft flight to Ruaha National Park.

You are met on arrival at the airstrip and are driven to camp. Your stay is for the next three nights on a full board basis with two shared game drives a day and park fees included at the wonderful Mdonya Old River Camp.

This is the sister camp to Lake Manze Camp, where you have just come from, and as such you can expect the same style, eco-friendly ethos and real focus on the guiding, the wilderness and the experience. 

The topography of Ruaha is stunning and very different to the Selous, which gives fantastic variety to your African safari experience.

You have two full days on safari in Ruaha National Park.

This vast park at over 20,000 sqaure kilometres has an incredible concentration and diversity of wildlife, Ruaha is Tanzania's most significant National Park outside of the Serengeti. However, the park has just a handful of camps and receives about 5% of the volume of visitors that the Serengeti does to its remote location. 

Ruaha is home to huge lion prides which are infamous for taking on the largest mammals including elephants, giraffes, hippos and buffalo for their prey. Ruaha is Tanzania's best kept wildlife viewing secret and it is one of the holy grails in East Africa for those who love wild, remote, authentic safari experiences.

Today you can have your morning safari activity and then you are driven back to the airstrip in time for your scheduled light aircraft flight to Mafia Island.

You are met on arrival into Kilindoni on Mafia and are driven to  Butiama Beach Hotel where you spend the next five nights on a half board basis. Your stay is inclusive of breakfast (including fresh fruits, fruit juice, eggs, bacon, sausages, toasts served with jam and honey, pancakes, muffins and cereals) and a three course set menu dinner, tea, coffee, mineral water and use of sea kayaks.

Butiama is a pleasant little lodge, set at the back of a long beach, personally hosted by its Italian owners, with stylish public areas and a lovely swimming pool. It is particularly well located for swimming with whale sharks (best October to February)

Today you check-out of your lodge and are driven to the airstrip. You fly on your scheduled light aircraft flight to Dar es Salaam where you are met on arrival. You are driven to the international airport in time to check-in for your return international flight.