Southern Tanzania safari, Usangu Expedition Camp, Ruaha NP

Southern Tanzania: Off The Beaten Track - 11 Days

(Fly-In Safari)

Usangu Expedition Camp Tent Interior, Ruaha, Tanzania

Roho Ya Selous Lounge Area, Nyerere NP, Tanzania

"Away from the crowds and in the heart of the wilderness - pure magic"

Experience the ultimate luxury Southern Tanzania safari, journeying deep into some of the country’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas. Begin with a night in Dar es Salaam before flying to Ruaha National Park and heading to a secluded expedition camp in the Usangu Wetlands. Enjoy an authentic and intimate safari experience far from the crowds for three nights. Continue by road for three nights at the exclusive Kokoko in northern Ruaha, where the rugged landscapes and exceptional wildlife provide a spectacular contrast, before flying on to Nyerere National Park for three nights at the stylish Soho Ya Selous. Combining remote wilderness, exceptional wildlife, intimate luxury camps and seamless fly-in travel, this off-the-beaten-track Tanzania safari is designed for travellers seeking an exclusive and authentic Southern Tanzania experience beyond the traditional safari circuit.

Detailed itinerary

All charter flights: Dar es Salaam to Usangu, Kokoko to Nyerere, Nyerere to Dar es Salaam
Road transfer: Usangu to Kokoko
Full board accommodation
All local brand beverages
All airport and airstrip transfers
Shared safari drives in open-sided safari vehicles at all safari lodges
Walking safaris & night drives
Park Entrance fees throughout
Flying doctors medical evacuation cover
Government taxes and levies
Laundry service

Southern Tanzania Off the Beaten Track Map

After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport for your charter flight into Ruaha National Park where you will be transferred to the remote Usangu Expedition Camp.

This unique camp is located near the Usangu Wetlands and is for the adventurous traveller who wants to support tourism activities that enable conservation. From your intimate tented safari camp situated above the high-water mark under the shade of miombo woodlands, you will experience a personalised and exclusive experience. With stunning views, your safari tent has an en-suite bathroom and hot water showers. Your meals are cooked over an open-fire and you eat under the sun and stars.

Whilst at Usangu you can enjoy safari drives along the river and through forested regions in search of big cats, elephant, giraffe, and sable and roan antelope. Head out on foot to explore the dry seasonal floodplains and better understand the importance of the Usangu Wetlands. Assist with the conservation camera traps and see what interesting wildlife is in the area and experience unique night drives using thermal imaging synced with an iPad. Spend time at Usangu's fly camp whilst boating and fishing. Evenings bring breathtaking sunsets across the park while enjoying a delicious and wholesome dinner around the open campfire.

Stay at:
Usangu Expedition Camp or similar

After a morning safari drive and breakfast a road transfer will take you to a completely different part of Ruaha National Park for a magical three night stay.

Kokoko Camp is located in prime wilderness in northern Ruaha National Park. Here you can disconnect from the everyday and reconnect with yourself and your surroundings. Whilst at this private boutique camp, all activities are tailored to your interests and you have the opportunity to spend blissful days exploring the dry Mwagusi River on walking safari, safari drives and night drives. Delight in incredible stargazing from the comfort of your tent, and enjoy secluded dinners in the riverbed, surrounded by flickering lanterns. The exclusivity of Kokoko Camp ensures an intimate experience.

This classic, expedition-style tented camp, is immersed in the vast, sprawling land of iconic towering ancient baobabs and dense forests. The camp features just three uniquely designed safari tents, offering simple yet comfortable accommodation, made of mosquito net mesh to maximise the outside-in views. Each tent has a retractable canvas roof above the bed that allows you to stargaze from your bed, an en-suite bathroom and outdoor bucket shower.

The camp’s location in Ruaha National Park makes it one of the finest destinations for exciting wildlife viewing. Animals can be seen gathering at waterholes dug earlier in the day by elephant, while predators wait patiently to ambush their prey. Offering some of the best walking safaris in Africa, Kokoko Camp operates only through the dry season months to capitalise on the opportunities for walking that Ruaha National Park provides.

Stay at:
Kokoko Camp or similar

After a final safari activity and a lovely breakfast you will transferred to Msemebe Airstrip for a charter flight to Mtemere Airstrip in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous National Park). Enjoy three full days in the heart of Nyerere - one of Africa's largest and most important biodiversity regions, home to a significant population of wild dog and teeming with incredible wildlife including lion, elephant and giraffe.

Roho ya Selous sits on a small peninsula, offering stunning views of Lake Nzerakera. Your carefully designed stretch canvas tent, with an en-suite bathroom and indoor and outdoor showers, provides 180-degree views of the waterways, teeming with crocodile and hippo. A swimming pool provides welcome relief from the afternoon heat, or a refreshing cool off after a walking safari. In the evenings, gather around the fire for sundowner drinks while listening to the grunts of nearby hippo.

Nyerere's landscapes are unlike the grassy savannahs of northern Tanzania, and offer a marshy terrain with palm trees, lakes, rivers and seasonal wetlands. Wildlife is abundant close to the camp due to its proximity to water, especially during the dry season months. Bird watchers enthusiasts can spot over 400 recorded species, including the frequently seen Pel’s fishing owl.

Enjoy a comfortable home-like experience just a short distance from a palm-fringed tributary of Tanzania’s Rufiji River, where boating and walking adventures add additional layers of excitement to this classic safari experience.

Stay at:
Roho ya Selous or similar

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