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MIKUMI→UDZUNGWA→RUAHA NATIONAL PARK 7DAYS/6NIGHTS

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
The largest national park of Tanzania covering a total area of 20,300km2. The park got its name from the greater Ruaha River which flows along the eastern border of the park for about 160 km Ruaha corrupts from “Luvaha” which means GREAT in Hehe language. It is 128km west of Iringa, 695km from Dar and 430 km from Morogoro. It was established in 1964 and the park is known to host the largest populations of greater kudu than any other east African protected area, greater kudu is the parks emblem. Ruaha is rich in floral and faunal species as the park has several rivers crisscrossing and where there’s water there is wildlife; giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, crocs, zebras, warthogs, elephants, topi and hyenas to name a few. Ruaha national park is among the most sought-after gems of south Tanzania as they are wilder, less visited parks giving out a natural experience. It is home to more than 10% of the African lions remaining in the wild, also host the world’s third-largest population of the endangered Africa painted dogs making this place on of the best. Large herds/parades of elephants in Ruaha make it to be the leading east Africa Park to have large population of these mega fauna. Everything in this magnificent park is eye- catching, alluring, breathtaking and convincing.
MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
The nearest national park to the Tanzania largest and commercial city Dar Es Salaam. The country inside the park varies greatly from forested hills to floodplains, from riverine thickets to open savannas. This park is named after the settlement of Mikumi which lies just outside the park’s southwestern boundary. The village in takes its name from the spindle-shaped BORASSUS PALM TREES (Borassus flabellifer) which grow in profusion there and are so typical of the area. The park was gazette in 1964, with a total area of 3,230km2. It is found in Morogoro region, in the southern tourist circuit of Tanzania, near Dar es Salaam. It’s about 288km west of the city and takes 4hours by car to get there and 330km from Ruaha national park. The park lies between the villages of MIKUMI and DOMA on the main DAR ES SALAAM-MOROGORO-IRINGA main road. It is nearest in shape to being a square than any other geometric figure. The main road which bisects the park from north east to southern tends to divide the park ecologically as well as physically. To the east the fan slopes of Uluguru Mountains are covered in MIOMBO WOODLAND composed mainly of brachystegia species while to the west the park is open floodplain or tree-dotted savanna as far as the Mkata River. The park principal features are the Mkata river flood plains, swamps, grasslands, miombo woodlands and dense thickets. Mikumi will never disappoint you in anyways as it’s a commonly visited area being the flood plain, the riverine area, Chamgore, the hill drive and the Chamgore road all these are rich in diversity of both flora and fauna less crowded hence provides the best.
KITULO NATIONAL PARK
A park attained its status in 2002, covering a total area of 442km2, it was established for the purpose of preserving high flora diversity and bird species. This is the first tropical national park for preserving flora and one of the very important water shed for Ruaha River and located southern Tanzania Iringa-Mbeya region. Kitulo is referred locally as Bustani ya Mungu, The Garden of God or the Serengeti of Flowers. Largely for its floral significance with the common species being orchids, pokers, proteas, giant lobelias, lilies, geraniums and daisies of which over 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania. Kitulo is a paradise to botanist, hikers and insect lovers, insects which get attracted to the beautiful and colorful blossoms of flowers, these do attract birds as well. It is known to be the breeding ground of the rare DENHARM’S BUSTARD and the blue swallow may be encountered adding the biological wealth of this park. It is a unique national park as it is stands alone, boasting of being the only tourist attractive site in Africa offering floristic visits than the traditional wildlife photographic holidays which most tourists to Tanzania are used to experience. Wild animals including the reedbucks do roam freely in the open grassland. Wild flowers do blossom between December and April and the summer months from September to November are best to visit the park though less rewarding to botanists. June to august the entire park is cold and foggy with no to very little visibility during the daytime and it’s hardly possible to view its beauties. Visiting this park will take you into close contact and fantastic views of Lake Nyasa, the 2nd deepest lake in Africa and its beautiful beaches. Matema beach, a beachside town in Mbeya region located on the beautiful shores of Lake Nyasa. Join us and discover all of the Tanzania’s unearthed treasures. Its 78km east of Mbeya (Chimala) along the surfaced main road to Dar es Salaam, 100 km from Mbeya town to Matamba the parks temporary headquarters. Different activities done here include open walking across the grassland to watch birds and wild flowers, hill climbing on the neighboring ranges, swimming and many more.
UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
This park is 65km from Mikumi national park and it takes 20-30min drive from Mikumi national, 350km from Dar es salaam (5hours drive). It was gazette in 1992 with a total area of 1,990 km2, covering two district KILOMBERO DISTRICT (Mwanihana forest reserve) in MOROGORO REGION and IRINGA DISRTRICT (west Kilombero scrap forest reserve) in IRINGA REGION. The park has an altitude ranging from 300-2800 m.a.s.l The park is home to eleven types of primate. Five of these are unique to Udzungwa including the endangered Red Colobus Monkey and the Sanje Crested Mangabey which are to be found nowhere else in the world. The plateau also supports populations of elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. Visitors should be found in the less accessible area of the park. The major attraction of the park is its biodiversity and unique rainforest where many rare plants not found anywhere else in the world, have been identified. These range from a tiny African violet to 32m tall trees. Another eye catching and a must visit is the Sanje waterfall which plunges 170m into the forested valley below. Birders are attracted to this very park for its richest diversity of avian species of which over 400 species have been recorded ranging from the Udzungwa forest partridge fist discovered in 1991 and more closely related to an Asian genus than any other African fowl, green-headed orioles just to name a few. All what we can conclude is that this park worth a visit as it is unique as it is. Different activities can be done in this park includes hiking, camping safaris, hiking the Mwanihana peak and many more.
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK [SELOUS]
This game reserve was established in 1922, with an area of about 50,000km2 making it to be the largest protected wet wilderness area in Africa almost 6% of Tanzania land surface is covered by Selous game reserve. The altitude of game reserve is about 1250m.a.s.l and lies on the coastal plain stretching to the Indian Ocean where the multiple deltas of the Rufiji River empty into the sea opposite Mafia Island. In 1962, the area was opened up to safari hunting and divided into 47 hunting blocks, currently 43 of them are operated by the hunting companies and the remaining 4 hunting blocks in the northern sector are reserved for photographic tourism. Selous is Africa’s oldest and largest protected wet area, proclaimed in 1896 and it’s bigger than Switzerland. This game reserves hosts the largest number of elephants found in a single park or reserve anywhere in the world. Being rich in both flora and fauna it is also rich in history dating back from 1857. This is when European explorers such as BURTON and SPEKE earliest written records were documented in 1879, JOHNSON and THOMPSON also crossed the area in 1905 when the Maji Maji uprising began and many more. Selous is a UNESCO world heritage site (United Nations educational scientific and cultural organization) Linked with the Rufiji River is Lake Tagalala where mega fauna gathers at the water’s edge to quench thirsty and wallow. In the long grassland you may even get a chance to see rare sable antelope, lion and greater kudu. This reserve is rich in bird life over 400 species recorded include the globally threatened wattled -crane and corn crake. The reserve gets its name from the legendary hunter-explore Frederick Courtney Selous, whose books were best sellers in Victoria England. Water, walking and wilderness are the most obvious attractions of Selous game reserve, on the waterborne boat safaris, big game is usually seen including Nile crocodiles and pods of hippopotamuses lying lazily, basking in the sun on the Rufiji river temporary sand banks. Selous game reserve deserves your visit and awaits you.

OVERVIEW
Combining both Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha National Parks gives you a feel of being in the wild, popular and less crowded destinations giving you an ample time in communing with the environment, its wildlife both flora and fauna, its varied habitats as well as rivers, lakes and terrains.

ITINERARY DETAILS

DAY 1

Upon your arrival at JULIUS KAMBARAGE NYERERE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JKIA) DAR ES SALAAM or from the hotel at Dar es Salaam you will be met at 07:00am by a member of DASSIE SAFARIS team who will transfer you by road to STANLEY’S KOPJE in Mikumi National Park, with lunch at picnic site. Enjoy meals and overnight stay at the camp. What we love about STANLEY’S KOPJE is its being located in the park, set near a water hole which encourages game close to the camp, great game viewing around Mwanamboga, warm staff and reliable services.

DAY 2

After a hearty breakfast at the camp at around 08:00 am, start a full day game drive within the Mikumi national park and enjoy what it has to offer from the open horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata flood plain to the grassy plains, to log-shaped termite mounds, mega herbivores are seen moving across the park. Enjoy lunch at picnic site, after lunch do a short game drive, then embark to STANLEYS’S KOPJES CAMP for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 3

After a warm breakfast at the camp at around 08:00am, start a drive to UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK a 65km distance from Mikumi and 350km from Dar es salaam, enjoy the best of Udzungwa a magnetic park for hikers with its excellent network of forest trails includes the popular half-day ramble to SANJE WATERFALLS plunging at 170m through a misty spray into the forested valley below. Birders are also attracted to this beautiful park as over 400 species of birds and other species of mammals have been recorded. Enjoy lunch at picnic site, after lunch do a short game hike and drive to UDZUNGWA FALLS LODGE for dinner and overnight stay.
What we love about the lodge is because of its climatic condition as it is set close to UDZUNGWA FOREST, its services among others.

DAY 4

After a hearty breakfast at UDZUNGWA FALLS LODGE at around 08:00 am, start a drive to RUAHA RIVER LODGE in RUAHA NATIONAL PARK, enjoy the game while heading to the lodge with lunch at picnic site. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
What we love about the lodge is its location, set along the river bank has veranda on each chalet, writing desk, large bathroom, twin or double beds, staff with bubbling personality.

DAY 5

After a warm breakfast at RUAHA RIVER LODGE at around 08:00am start a full day game drive within this magnificent unique east African national park, this park hosts different species of wildlife. Greater Kudu are in large numbers, the park emblem, crocodiles, large number of predators prowling, hippopotami sloshing in waters, the varied habitats, terrain, among other attracting features adding taste into a wow factor. Enjoy lunch at picnic site, after lunch do a short game drive, then embark to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 6

After a hearty breakfast at the lodge at around 08:00am, start a game drive within RUAHA NATIONAL PARK with lunch at picnic site, after lunch do a short game drive, then embark to the lodge at around 04:00pm for a relaxation moment. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

DAY 7

After a warm breakfast at lodge, transfer to DAR ES SALAAM for departure with lunch at vehicle.
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