7-Day Southern Tanzania Safari

While most visitors flock to the Serengeti, Tanzania's southern parks remain gloriously uncrowded. This is where safari connoisseurs come to escape the tourist trail and experience Africa as it was meant to be. Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is Africa's largest protected area. Here, you'll experience boat safaris on the Rufiji River - crocodiles sliding into the water as you drift past, hippos yawning at your intrusion, and fish eagles calling from riverside trees. Walking safaris put you on foot with armed guides, an intimate and exhilarating way to experience the bush. Ruaha is Tanzania's largest national park and has the country's highest concentration of elephants. Lion prides here are enormous, and the Great Ruaha River draws predators from miles around during the dry season. The landscapes are dramatic - baobab-studded plains, palm-fringed rivers, and rocky kopjes. This safari is for those who value exclusivity over convenience. Reaching the south requires flights from Dar es Salaam, and accommodation options are limited to small, high-quality camps. The reward is authentic wilderness with very few other visitors.