12 Days – Southern Highlands, Great Rift & Primate Wilderness

Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport, you will be welcomed by your safari representative and transferred to your luxury hotel in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s vibrant coastal city offers a mix of Swahili culture, modern architecture, and Indian Ocean charm. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel or enjoy the city atmosphere before your evening safari briefing where your guide will introduce the upcoming wildlife, mountain, and primate adventure across southern and western Tanzania.

Main Destination: Dar es Salaam

Accommodation: Sea Cliff Hotel

Accommodation: Sea Cliff Hotel

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest national park and one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets. Upon arrival at the airstrip, your guide will welcome you for an introductory game drive through the park’s rugged landscapes dominated by ancient baobab trees, rocky escarpments, and the Great Ruaha River. Ruaha is home to large elephant herds, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, and numerous antelope species. Enjoy your first wildlife encounters before heading to your luxury lodge for dinner and overnight in the heart of the African wilderness.

Main Destination: Ruaha National Park

Accommodation: Asanja Ruaha

Accommodation: Asanja Ruaha

Today is dedicated to exploring the extraordinary wilderness of Ruaha National Park. Early morning and afternoon game drives provide excellent opportunities to spot predators including lions, leopards, hyenas, and the rare African wild dogs that occasionally roam the park. The Great Ruaha River attracts large concentrations of wildlife, especially during the dry season when elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and antelope gather along the riverbanks. The park’s remote location offers a true off-the-beaten-path safari experience with fewer vehicles and untouched natural beauty. Return to the lodge for dinner under the African stars.

Main Destination: Ruaha National Park

Accommodation: Asanja Ruaha

Accommodation: Asanja Ruaha

Begin the day with a professionally guided walking safari, allowing you to experience the African bush from a completely different perspective. Accompanied by armed rangers and experienced guides, you will learn about animal tracks, plants, insects, and the smaller details often missed during game drives. After lunch and relaxation at the lodge, continue with an afternoon safari searching for wildlife across Ruaha’s vast landscapes. As the day ends, enjoy a scenic sundowner while watching the golden African sunset over the wilderness before returning to camp for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Ruaha National Park

Accommodation: Asanja Ruaha

Accommodation: Asanja Ruaha

After breakfast, depart Ruaha and begin your journey toward the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Depending on logistics and flight schedules, the transfer may combine both driving and domestic flight connections toward Mbeya before continuing to Kitulo National Park. Known as the “Garden of God,” Kitulo is famous for its rolling plateaus, colorful wildflowers, orchids, and breathtaking mountain scenery. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge and enjoy the peaceful highland atmosphere surrounded by green landscapes and fresh mountain air.

Main Destination: Kitulo National Park

Accommodation: Highland Breeze Hotel

Today you will explore the spectacular landscapes of Kitulo National Park, one of Tanzania’s most scenic highland destinations. The park is internationally recognized for its rich botanical diversity and seasonal wildflower blooms, especially orchids and alpine flowers that transform the grasslands into colorful natural gardens. Guided hikes through rolling hills and valleys provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching, photography, and enjoying panoramic mountain views. You may also visit nearby waterfalls and hidden forest trails while experiencing the peaceful beauty of Tanzania’s Southern Highlands.

Main Destination: Kitulo National Park

Accommodation: Utengule Coffee Lodge

After breakfast, depart the beautiful highlands of Kitulo and drive back toward Mbeya for your scheduled domestic flight to Kigoma in western Tanzania. The journey offers scenic views of rolling mountains, local villages, and agricultural landscapes before connecting to your flight across the country. Upon arrival in Kigoma, you will immediately notice the relaxed atmosphere of this lakeside town located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the world’s longest freshwater lake. Depending on arrival time, relax at your hotel, enjoy lakeside views, or prepare for the upcoming chimpanzee trekking adventure in Mahale Mountains National Park.

Main Destination: Kigoma

Accommodation: Lake Tanganyika Hotel

This morning, board a traditional wooden boat or speedboat for an unforgettable journey along the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika toward Mahale Mountains National Park. The boat cruise passes isolated beaches, fishing villages, and forest-covered mountains accessible only by water. Upon arrival in Mahale, you will immediately experience the park’s unique beauty where lush rainforest meets the shoreline of the lake. After check-in at your luxury lodge, spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, swimming in the calm waters, or enjoying the peaceful surroundings before dinner beneath the stars.

Main Destination: Mahale Mountains National Park

Accommodation: Lake Tanganyika Hotel

Today is dedicated to one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife experiences — chimpanzee trekking in the forests of Mahale Mountains National Park. Accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, you will hike through tropical rainforest trails searching for habituated chimpanzee families. Once located, observe the chimpanzees interacting naturally as they groom, feed, communicate, and move through the forest canopy. The surrounding rainforest is also home to colorful birds, butterflies, and smaller primates, making the trek both exciting and scenic. After returning to camp, enjoy lunch and spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing by Lake Tanganyika.

Main Destination: Mahale Mountains National Park

Accommodation: Mbalimbali Mahale Lodge

Enjoy another full day in the extraordinary wilderness of Mahale Mountains National Park. Guests may choose an additional chimpanzee trekking excursion or spend the day enjoying the crystal-clear waters and peaceful beaches of Lake Tanganyika. Optional activities include kayaking, swimming, fishing, or guided nature walks through the surrounding forest. Mahale’s combination of mountains, rainforest, and lakeside scenery creates one of Tanzania’s most unique safari environments. In the evening, enjoy a beautiful sunset over the lake while relaxing at the lodge or during an optional dhow cruise.

Main Destination: Mahale Mountains National Park

Accommodation: Mbalimbali Mahale Lodge

After breakfast, depart Mahale by boat and return to Kigoma while enjoying your final views of Lake Tanganyika and the surrounding rainforest-covered mountains. Upon arrival, transfer to the airport for your scheduled domestic flight back to Dar es Salaam. The flight offers one final opportunity to appreciate Tanzania’s vast and diverse landscapes from above. Once in Dar es Salaam, transfer to your luxury hotel for relaxation and a comfortable overnight stay before your international departure the following day.

Main Destination: Dar es Salaam

Accommodation: Lake Tanganyika Hotel

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel depending on your flight schedule before transferring to Julius Nyerere International Airport for your international departure. Your safari concludes with unforgettable memories of Tanzania’s remote wilderness, spectacular landscapes, chimpanzee trekking experiences, Southern Highlands scenery, and the extraordinary beauty of Lake Tanganyika.

Main Destination: Julius Nyerere International Airport