5 days Udzungwa Primates & Waterfalls
Five days on foot in a park with no roads through it — the Sanje falls, the Mwanihana trail, and a peak at 2,150 m above the forest.
Hiking
Nyerere, Mikumi & Udzungwa
Three southern parks without the long haul west to Ruaha — river, floodplain and rainforest in six days, with a whole day for the Sanje falls.
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At a glance
- Destinations
- Nyerere National Park · Mikumi National Park · Udzungwa Mountains
- Best for
- Wildlife safari, Hiking
- Travel style
- Mid-range · Drive, Ferry/boat
- Activity level
- Moderate — walking days on forest and mountain paths
- Best time to travel
- June to October generally offers a good balance for Nyerere and Mikumi game viewing and the Udzungwa waterfall walk. Rain can affect the longer transfers and river activities, while forest paths remain damp even in the dry months.
- Start and end
- Starts and ends in Dar es Salaam
Why this journey
- A full day for the Sanje waterfall hike
- Boat safari on the Rufiji
- A full game-driving day in each of the two savannah parks
- No day spent driving to Ruaha and back
- Mid-range lodges throughout
Day by day
Southern Tanzania without the longest drive. Nyerere for the Rufiji, Mikumi for the open plain, and a full day walking up to the Sanje falls in Udzungwa, rather than the half-day most routes allow.
Day 1 — Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park
Morning travel from Dar es Salaam and settling into the accommodation. The evening features a scenic boat safari on the Great Rufiji River observing hippos, crocodiles and bird species, followed by a gourmet dinner under starlit skies.
Stay Nyerere Tented Camp Meals Lunch & Dinner
Day 2 — Full day game drive at Nyerere National Park
An early start for full-day game driving with expert guides offering wildlife insights and stories. Packed lunch in the wilderness with birdwatching throughout.
Stay Nyerere Tented Camp Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 — Nyerere to Mikumi National Park
After breakfast, depart for Mikumi. Check in, have lunch, then a cultural tour at a nearby Maasai village featuring traditional cooking and customs.
Stay Camp Bastian Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 — Full day game drive at Mikumi National Park
A full-day game drive observing varied wildlife and landscapes with expert guide assistance on species identification and behaviour. Late afternoon travel to an eco-friendly lodge in the Udzungwa Mountains.
Stay Udzungwa Forest Lodge Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 — Full day hiking to Sanje Waterfall
After breakfast, hike to the Sanje Waterfall with trail views, exploring the diverse flora and fauna with a picnic lunch amidst nature, then an evening return for gourmet dining and relaxation.
Stay Udzungwa Forest Lodge Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 — Udzungwa Mountains to Dar es Salaam
Depart after breakfast for Dar es Salaam. En route, engage in wildlife research or conservation initiatives.
Meals Breakfast & Lunch
Stay and travel
Comfortable mid-range lodges and tented camps, inside the parks wherever the route allows.
A 4×4 with a roof hatch and a window seat for everyone, driven by your guide throughout.
Camps fill, and roads change with the rains. Where something has to change we substitute at the same level and tell you before you travel, not after.
Included and excluded
What is included
- Every activity named in the day-by-day
- Accommodation as listed, or a similar alternative if a camp is full
- Meals as noted against each day
- Transfers between the agreed pick-up and drop-off points
- Park, reserve and conservation area fees
- An English-speaking Tanzanian driver-guide
- A 4×4 with a roof hatch, or the vehicle the route calls for
- Drinking water through the day
- Government taxes
- Boat safari and transfers
- TANAPA armed ranger where the park requires one
Not included
- International flights, airport taxes and visa fees
- Travel, medical and baggage insurance
- Personal spending — drinks, laundry, telephone
- Tips for your guide and crew
- Anything not listed as included
Practical information
- Activity level
- Walking days on forest and mountain paths, some of them steep and often wet underfoot. Ordinary walking fitness is enough.
- Visas, insurance and tipping
- A visa is arranged before travel or on arrival. Travel and medical insurance is a condition of booking. Tipping is customary and we will suggest a range rather than set one.
Related journeys
5 days 7 days Mikumi, Ruaha & Udzungwa
Move from open savannah and predator-rich plains into the rainforest trails and waterfalls of the Udzungwa Mountains — three landscapes, one road.
Wildlife & Hiking
3 days Serengeti & Crater — Three Days
Two parks in three days with a full day inside the crater at the end. The shortest trip that still gets you into the Serengeti.
Wildlife
Every route here can be changed
Tell us what you would keep, what you would drop and how long you have. We will send back a version that is yours.