Many safari operators overlook the southern parks of Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park in favor of the northern parks. However, the southern parks of Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park are worth serious consideration and are the preferred destination for most safari enthusiasts.
The advantages of visiting the Serengeti’s southern parks include that, while the Serengeti’s northern parks provide more wildlife and some isolation, the southern parks are still very much “border” areas and hence visibly less crowded (they also feature the same spread of species as the north, but more like a thousand, rather than 2 million).
The second aspect to consider is that, whereas the average lodge in the north costs over $700 per person per night, lodges in the south, which provide a similar experience, cost around $2-300 less.
When Visit Southern Tanzania
Due to the riverine terrain of the area, the southern safari parks are considerably more seasonal than the vast grassland plains to the north of Tanzania, therefore this is perhaps the most critical issue to address when considering a journey to the southern parks for safari.
The greatest months for typical game viewing are from June to November when the parks are at their driest and the game is condensed around the river banks. However, for a few specialty activities like bird viewing and strolling, the window between January and March can be really rewarding, albeit a little sticky and hot!
How to get there
Unlike the northern parks, the southern parks of Nyerere National Park and Ruaha National Park are easily accessible by small plane, with Nyerere being roughly a 30-minute flight from Dar es Salaam and Ruaha being another hour and a half.
How long to go for a Southern Tanzania Safari
With simple access in and out of the parks and the ability to link from the Selous to Zanzibar in about an hour, visiting Nyerere National Park for as little as two nights is definitely conceivable. We usually recommend staying between 3 and 5 nights in each park. Please see the links below for more information on each of these attractions.
