7-Days Southern Tanzania Mid-Range Wildlife & Cultural Tour 2026-2027

7 Days Southern Tanzania Mid-Range Wildlife & Cultural Tour Highlights:

• Day 1: Arrival Dar es Salaam – Short city & culture tour
• Day 2: Drive to Selous – Boat safari on the Rufiji River
• Day 3: Full-day game drive in Selous Game Reserve
• Day 4: Transfer to Mikumi – Evening village visit
• Day 5: Safari in Mikumi & Maasai cultural experience
• Day 6: Drive to Ruaha – Afternoon safari
• Day 7: Morning game drive – Return to Dar es Salaam

Overview

This 7-day midrange safari and cultural tour is the perfect way to experience the wild beauty of Southern Tanzania while also learning about its people. You will visit Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere National Park), one of Africa’s largest and most untouched reserves, where you can enjoy both boat and vehicle safaris. From there, you will explore Mikumi National Park, known for its wide plains full of wildlife that are easy to spot. Here, you will also meet the Maasai and experience their culture, dances, and lifestyle. The journey continues to Ruaha National Park, famous for its elephants, lions, and stunning baobab landscapes. Each day gives you knew sights, new experiences, and comfortable midrange lodges or tented camps to relax in at night. This tour is perfect if you want adventure, wildlife, and real connections with the local culture.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Dar es Salaam – City & Cultural Tour

When you arrive in Dar es Salaam, your driver-guide will welcome you and take you on a short city and cultural tour. You will visit the lively fish market, local craft shops, and explore the colorful streets of this busy city. This is a great way to get your first taste of Tanzania before your safari begins. In the evening, you will check in at your midrange city hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Midrange hotel in Dar es Salaam

Day 2: Drive to Selous Game Reserve – Boat Safari on Rufiji River

After breakfast, you will drive to Selous Game Reserve. The journey takes around 5–6 hours but you will enjoy seeing small villages, markets, and the beautiful landscapes along the way. You will arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go on a boat safari on the Rufiji River, where you can see hippos, crocodiles, elephants drinking at the riverbank, and many bird species. This relaxing river trip is the perfect start to your adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Midrange lodge in Selous

Day 3: Full-Day Safari in Selous Game Reserve

Today you will spend the whole day exploring Selous Game Reserve on a game drive. The park is home to elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, and the rare African wild dogs. Your driver will take you to the best spots for wildlife viewing, and you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the middle of the wilderness. You will feel completely surrounded by nature as you drive through open savannah, thick forests, and along rivers. After a full day of adventure, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Midrange lodge in Selous

Day 4: Selous – Drive to Mikumi National Park – Evening Village Visit

After breakfast, you will leave Selous and drive to Mikumi National Park. On the way, you will see rural villages and rolling landscapes that show you another side of Tanzania. When you arrive at Mikumi, you will check in at your lodge and relax. In the evening, you will visit a nearby village, where you will meet local people, learn about their daily life, and enjoy some cultural stories and traditions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Midrange lodge in Mikumi

Day 5: Full-Day Safari in Mikumi & Maasai Cultural Experience

Today is a full safari day in Mikumi National Park. You will wake up early for a game drive when animals are most active. The park is home to elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, and many antelopes. Because the plains are open, it is easy to spot wildlife and take great photos. In the afternoon, you will visit a Maasai boma, where you will see their traditional dances, learn about their culture, and understand how they live in harmony with nature. This mix of wildlife and culture makes Mikumi a very special place.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Midrange lodge in Mikumi

Day 6: Drive to Ruaha National Park – Afternoon Safari

After breakfast, you will drive to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest national park. The drive is long but beautiful, passing through changing landscapes. When you arrive, you will check into your tented camp or lodge. In the afternoon, you will head out for your first game drive in Ruaha, where you can see elephants, buffaloes, lions, and sometimes leopards. Ruaha is known for its wild and untouched beauty, with baobab trees scattered across the plains.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Midrange tented camp/lodge in Ruaha

Day 7: Morning Safari in Ruaha – Return to Dar es Salaam

This is your last day, but the adventure is not over yet. You will go on an early morning safari in Ruaha, when predators are often active and the light is perfect for photos. After the game drive, you will have breakfast and then start your journey back to Dar es Salaam, where your tour ends.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Includes

• Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• 6 nights’ accommodation in lodges/camps
• All meals as per itinerary (B, L, D)
• Game drives in Selous, Mikumi & Ruaha
• Boat safari in Selous
• Cultural visits (local village & Maasai boma)
• Park entrance fees
• Bottled drinking water on game drives

Excludes

• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Tanzania visa fees
• Tips for guides and hotel staff
• Drinks, laundry, and personal expenses