Remote and exclusive parks including Nyerere (Selous) and Ruaha.
National Parks & Conservation Areas
Discover 4 incredible wildlife destinations in the Southern Circuit
Nyerere National Park
Africa largest national park and former Selous Game Reserve offers unspoiled wilderness covering 50,000 square kilometers including miombo woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. The Rufiji River creates dramatic landscapes with seasonal flooding supporting exceptional hippo, crocodile, and elephant concentrations. Unique boat safaris provide intimate wildlife encounters. Walking safaris led by armed rangers offer thrilling bush experiences. Remote location ensures exclusive game viewing. Wild dog populations thrive alongside lions, leopards, and buffalo. UNESCO World Heritage status recognizes exceptional ecological importance making Nyerere essential Tanzania wilderness.
Nyerere National Park (Selous)
Africa largest national park and former Selous Game Reserve offers unspoiled wilderness covering 50,000 square kilometers including miombo woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. The Rufiji River creates dramatic landscapes with seasonal flooding supporting exceptional hippo, crocodile, and elephant concentrations. Unique boat safaris provide intimate wildlife encounters. Walking safaris led by armed rangers offer thrilling bush experiences. Remote location ensures exclusive game viewing. Wild dog populations thrive alongside lions, leopards, and buffalo. UNESCO World Heritage status recognizes exceptional ecological importance making Nyerere essential Tanzania wilderness.
Ruaha National Park
Tanzania largest national park spans 20,226 square kilometers of dramatic baobab-studded landscapes earning reputation as the country best-kept wildlife secret and predator capital. The Great Ruaha River creates lifeline supporting exceptional concentrations of elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and rare wild dogs during dry season. Ancient baobab trees create iconic African scenery. The park protects over 570 bird species including rare endemics. Remote location ensures authentic wilderness experiences with minimal tourist traffic. Diverse ecosystems from rivers to rocky escarpments support unique species including greater and lesser kudu, roan and sable antelopes. Exceptional predator viewing makes Ruaha unmissable for serious safari enthusiasts seeking raw African wilderness.
Mikumi National Park
Tanzania's fourth-largest national park straddles the Dar es Salaam-Iringa highway, offering convenient wildlife viewing with Serengeti-like grasslands hosting abundant animals. The Mkata Floodplain supports large populations of buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, and wild dogs. Mikumi's accessibility makes it popular for weekend safaris from Dar es Salaam, just 4 hours away. The park features diverse habitats from savannah to miombo woodlands, supporting 400 bird species. The scenic Uluguru Mountains backdrop adds drama to wildlife photography opportunities throughout this underrated southern circuit gem.
Other Destinations
Additional destinations and areas to explore in the Southern Circuit
Kilombero Valley
One of Africa's largest and most important wetland systems, the Kilombero Valley supports exceptional wildlife including endangered puku antelopes and rare birds. This floodplain ecosystem transitions between wetland and woodland, creating diverse habitats supporting elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo. The valley's agricultural importance coexists with wildlife conservation efforts. Seasonal flooding transforms the landscape, attracting waterbirds and supporting fish populations crucial to local communities. Adventure travelers discover this authentic wilderness area increasingly recognized for eco-tourism potential combining wildlife, culture, and scenic beauty.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
This pristine montane forest park is a biodiversity hotspot harboring unique primates found nowhere else on Earth, including the Iringa red colobus and Sanje mangabey. Udzungwa's ancient forests survived ice ages, creating evolution laboratories producing endemic species. Hikers traverse lush forests to spectacular waterfalls including 170-meter Sanje Falls. The park protects exceptional bird diversity with several endemic species. Unlike typical savannah parks, Udzungwa offers hiking-based exploration through mystical rainforests rich with rare plants, insects, and amphibians alongside charismatic primates.