Exploring Tanzania’s Remote South

Meet your Travulous guide at your Nairobi hotel. After completing our arrival in country procedures, we depart for Arusha National Park.

Located in the foothills of the 4,566 metre high dormant volcano Mount Meru, and boasting spectacular views of Africa’s highest moutain Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park was established in 1960. The park has a range of different altitudes, from Mount Meru to Ngurdoto Crater and Momela Lakes, with each home to a rich variety of both flora and fauna.

Upon arrival in Arusha National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its accommodation’s facilities.

Driving Time: 4:30 hours + 1 hour border crossing

Meals: Dinner included, breakfast and lunch at own arrangement.

Overnight: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

Today, you can either enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Arusha National Park. Activities including game drives, walking safaris and canoe safaris.

There is an impressive range and density of wild animals to be found in Arusha National Park. Wildlife enthusiasts will have good opportunities to spot elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, hyena, giraffe, zebra, warthogs, waterburck, reedbuck bushbuck, and if they are lucky the elusive leopard. The park is known to be the home of up to 400 bird species, both migratory and resident, including waterbirds such as flamingo.

All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Arusha National Park).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.

Established in 1973, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is home to Africa’s highest mountain, the world famous Mount Kilimanjaro which stands at 5,895 metres. Requiring a minimum of 5 days to reach its summit, this famous mountain attracts many visitors. Once at the top, the views over the plains of Tanzania and Kenya are breathtaking. Kilimanjaro is encircled by mountain forest which offers shelter to numerous mammals, many of them endangered species.

Upon arrival in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 2:00 hours.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

Today, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Activities include game drives, bird watching, mountain climbing and cultural experiences.

Seeing Mount Kilimanjaro is without doubt one of the greatest highlights of visiting the African continent. Apart from witnessing the grandeur of the snow-capped mountain, there are many other activities surrounding Kilimanjaro for visitors to enjoy. The national park has a good offering of wildlife including 140 species of mammals, such as elephant, 7 species of primates including colobus monkey, and flocks of rare birds, of which the Lammergeyer is a sight to behold.

All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Tanga.

Tanzania’s third-largest city, Tanga was a once popular colonial and industrial centre. Home to wide and shady avenues, including a bygone beachside elegance that the waterfront with its sailing club and swimming club and grand old hotels once nurtured.

Upon arrival in Tanga, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 5:30 hours.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Tanga. Activities include visiting the city’s Ropeworks, Independence Avenue, Railway Station, Library and Old Harbour.

Areas to visit around Tanga include a visit to the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park or a guided tour through the Amboni Caves, dating from the Jurassic age which have inspired a number of mystical legends in their time. Local people regard the formation as being supernatural, the dwelling of a powerful deity. For this reason people come from all surrounding areas to offer prayers and sacrifices, seeking cures from sickness and suffering. Also worthwhile is a visit to Tongoni Ruins, a much older settlement of the same name that dates from the 13th to 16th centuries, as well as mosques, tombs and defensive walls from the 18th and 19th centuries.

All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in or around Tanga).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Mikumi National Park.

Due to the proximity of Mikumi to Dar es Salaam, the national park is popular with day visitors. As Tanzania’s fourth largest park, it has a main road which runs through it. As a result, the wildlife is used to visitors, making it easy to spot a good offering of wild animals. For Drive Into The Wild’s purposes, Mikumi serves as a good transfer destination enroute to the remoter Nyerere and Ruaha National Parks.

Upon arrival in Mikumi National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 5:30 hours.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Ruaha National Park.

Off the beaten path and lesser-known when compared with some of its neighbouring wilderness areas in the north of Tanzania, Ruaha is, after Nyerere, the second largest national park in the country. Named after the Great Ruaha River, which runs through it, and boasting a fantastic variety and concentration of wildlife, visitors are offered a truly exclusive safari experience.

Upon arrival in Ruaha National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 5:30 hours

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Ruaha National Park. Activities include day and night game drives, walking safaris, and boating safaris.

Wildlife in Ruaha is plentiful, offering good opportunities to spot lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, wild dog, hyena, jackal, zebra, and various types of antelope. Ruaha is known to have one of the highest concentrations of elephant in East Africa. Large herds tend to congregate along the river, and during the dry season, they can often be found digging in the riverbed looking for water. Birdlife is prolific and colourful, especially during the rainy season, with over 570 resident and migratory species recorded.

All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Ruaha National Park).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and return to Mikumi National Park. Refer to Day 7 for an overview of Mikumi National Park.

Upon arrival in Mikumi National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 5:30 hours.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Nyerere National Park, formerly called Selous Game Reserve.

Established in 2019, in honour of Tanzania’s first president, Nyerere is the newest and largest national park in Tanzania. Away from the crowds, the park is lesser known, giving it a more exclusive and wilder atmosphere. At the heart of Nyerere is the Rufiji River, the largest river in East Africa. The park boasts an phenomenal diversity of wildlife and is recognised as an important stronghold for the endangered wild dog, sable and puku antelope.

Upon arrival in Nyerere National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 5:30 hours.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Nyerere National Park. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, and boating safaris.

Nyerere National Park is home to a extensive variety of wildlife including the Big Five, although the rhino can be difficult to spot. It is also possible to see wild dog, hyena, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile, waterbuck, bushbuck, reedbuck, sable antelope, kudu and over 440 bird species. Apart from game drives, another option is to embark on a walking safari and discover the park’s wildlife up close, or enjoy a boating safari whilst observing hippo, crocodile and an abundance of bird species. 

All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.

Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Nyerere National Park).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Zanzibar, via Dar es Salaam from where we board a ferry or flight to Zanzibar.

Few names evoke such a romantic image as the spice islands of Zanzibar. Stone Town, its capital, is one of East Africa’s best cultural highlights and provides a fine example of a Swahili coastal trading town. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, it is home to a fascinating maze of narrow streets, ready for you to explore. Zanzibar also has beaches, with the Nungwi and Kendwa beaches in the north of the island ranking as some of its best.

Upon arrival in Zanzibar, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring Zanzibar or enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.

Driving Time: 3:30 hours + 1 hour flight.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

Today you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities or explore the sights and sounds of Zanzibar and the island’s many optional activities and tours on offer.

This is the Indian Ocean at its very best. Unwind on pure white sand beaches or enjoy a selection of optional activities. Learn about the rich history of Zanzibar, its culture or stunning marine life. Alternatively, participate in a great selection of optional activities including spa treatments, dhow and sailing tours, motorised and non-motorised water activities, snorkelling and diving, guided tours (Prison Island, Jozani Forest, spice plantation, and cultural excursions.

Spend the evening exploring Zanzibar or relaxing at your accommodation.

Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Zanzibar).

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.

Accommodations: When we create your itinerary, you will receive complete descriptions of all your property choices.

After breakfast, transfer to Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward travel arrangements.

Alternatively, consider extending this trip by adding one of our Extension Ideas (see below) to this program.

Driving Time: 1:15 hours.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.