"Off the beaten path” is a travel cliche…but every once in a while, a trip comes along that warrants that description. This is that safari. “Serengeti” may be a household word, but Selous is decidedly not. Neither is Ruaha or Katavi. Many of Tanzania’s most amazing wildlife sanctuaries are names you’ve never heard of. In these remote parks and reserves in southern Tanzania, vast rivers, woodlands and floodplains attract animals in staggering numbers. The Selous Game Reserve, four times larger than the Serengeti, is home to some 13,000 elephants. In Ruaha National Park, packs of wild dog roam the plains while lion and cheetah pursue huge herds of game. And in Katavi, hippos by the thousands crowd mud holes and river channels, creating a raucous display. For adventurers seeking an immersion in Africa at its most untamed, southern Tanzania stands alone.
Want to do Africa your way? Natural Habitat Adventures has been crafting private custom safaris for more than three decades. Let our expert staff of Adventure Specialists work directly with you to design a personalized safari based on your wishes and interests. They know Africa like none other, with years of on-the-ground experience, a vast network of connections to tap, and a commitment to personalized service that sets the industry standard. With our professional assistance, you and your chosen traveling companions can select your own dates, your safari activities and your accommodations from our carefully vetted collection of intimate camps and boutique lodges.
A Rare & Distinctive Safari into Tanzania Less Traveled
While the Serengeti is a household word, and many travelers have heard about the legendary safari experiences available in Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, few are aware that Tanzania's largest and equally impressive wildlife sanctuaries are found far off these well-trodden routes, in the remote south and west of the country. Come with us to discover "Hidden Tanzania" on the Southern Circuit, for an unusual safari experience you won't find anywhere else!
A Secluded Adventure Far from Standard Safari Routes
There’s no question that Tanzania draws a lot of safari-goers. The abundant wildlife in Tanzania’s famous national parks and reserves makes it a popular destination. If you’ve already experienced the endless plains of northern Tanzania and are looking for a contrasting but equally stunning experience of East Africa, search no more—you’ll find what you’re looking for on Tanzania's Southern Circuit. Or, if this is your first safari and you seek a truly distinctive adventure, this trip will fill the bill! Few travelers branch away from the well-trodden northern sector to experience the diverse and less-known habitats of Southern Tanzania.An Itinerary Focused on Peak-Season Wildlife Viewing
We build your itinerary around areas where wildlife viewing is superb at the time of year you are visiting. While many companies operate the same standard itineraries throughout the year, we can tailor your custom trip around prime wildlife-viewing times that determine the best wildlife presence and numbers.Visit Three Contrasting Parks & Reserves
Our itinerary ventures into the most remote and little-known corners of Tanzania to explore three different parks, each a haven for prolific wildlife. The Selous Game Reserve, four times bigger than the Serengeti, is home to 13,000 elephants, tens of thousands of Cape buffalo, Tanzania's largest black rhino population, and one-third of Africa's wild dogs. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's largest, is bisected by the Ruaha River, a year-round lifeline that sustains predators like cheetah, leopard and 10 percent of the world's lions, drawn to abundant game including rare antelope like kudu, roan and sable. Katavi National Park harbors Tanzania's densest populations of crocodile and hippo—thousands thrive here, and sometimes 200 noisy hippos will congregate in a single mud hole!Exclusive Safari Activities Not Available Elsewhere
The vast Selous Game Reserve is known for a diverse array of safari activities centered around the Sand River. Boating trips and guided walks offer safari experiences that visitors are not able to experience in other parts of the country. Likewise, at Kwihala Camp in Ruaha National Park, you're able to walk and go on night drives, too, neither of which is allowed in the more heavily visited parks in northern Tanzania.Fewer People Mean Better Wildlife Encounters
One of the benefits of traveling to Southern Tanzania is that not only will you be in the intimate company of your own small group, but these regions are so vast, with far fewer visitors overall than the Northern Circuit, that you'll have the opportunity to experience the abundant wildlife in these parks and reserves in exceptional seclusion.Enjoy More Comfort on a Flying Circuit
One of the benefits of traveling in Southern Tanzania is the remoteness of these rarely explored locales. Given the vast distances within and between these reserves, we fly you to each new location—no long, dusty vehicle transits required!Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Safari Experience
Natural Habitat Adventures offers an exclusive guarantee, which clearly states that we will meet the lofty expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.
