9 Days Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar Trip : An awesome 9 Days Selous, and Mikumi national parks safari and Zanzibar holidays grants you a rich experience of the southern circuit, and a beach experience of the most beautiful island. The two national parks will offer you a wildlife encounter of species that reside in the parks while Zanzibar will offer you a relaxed experience by the beach of the Indian Ocean and a lot to learn about the coast.
Safari highlights of the 9 Days Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar trip
Day 2: Morning game drive – transfer to Nyerere National Park
Day 3: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 4: Walking safari – transfer back to Dar es Salaam – Cross to Zanzibar
Day 5: Zanzibar city tour – Prison Island and spice tour and Stone town
Day 6: Safari Blue Experience and Zanzibar beach experience
Day 7: Free day relaxing at the lodge
Day 8: Another free day relaxing – Cross back to Dar Es Salaam
Day 9: Departure at 7:30 am at Dar Es Salaam airport
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Dar Es Salaam – Mikumi national park
Upon arrival in Dar Es Salaam airport at 3 am, you will meet your drive to transfer to your booked hotel for check-in. Night stay and breakfast at Sea Scope Hotel
After breakfast, drive to Mikumi National park, which is about 5-6 hours’ drive with lunch served in en-route to Morogoro. Mikumi is nestled between Uluguru Mountain to the northeast, Udzungwa Mountains and the Rift Valley escarpment to the south-west as part of Selous ecosystem, it benefits from the highest game density of the entire conservation area. On arrival to the park, enjoy afternoon game drives till sunset for animals like the lions, elands, hartebeest, buffalos, wildebeest, giraffe, zebras, elephants, wild dogs and many species of birds. Dinner and overnight at Camp Bastian lodge
Day 2: Morning game drive – transfer to Nyerere National Park
After breakfast and enjoy yet another game drive in the morning. Viewing animals at Mikumi national park will offer you an opportunity to see multiple species of animals and birds, and due to its Savannah plain animals in Mikumi are easily accessed and it takes about 3-4 hours to finish a game.
Thereafter, transfer to Nyerere National park and it will take 6 hours’ drive with en-route picnic lunch on the way and the journey will take us through the most unexplored and untouched areas to amaze you. Upon arrival, check-in at your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Kinga Lodge
Day 3: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After breakfast, connect for a morning game drive in the park. Nyerere National Park is the largest game park in Africa – 4 times the size of the Serengeti. It possesses a diverse landscape from hot volcanic springs, sporadic lakes, channels from the Great Ruaha and Rufiji rivers. Nyerere National Park is Africa’s greatest park that covers a wide variety of wildlife habitats including Lakes, open grassland, Acacia, Miombo woodland and riverine forests. The topography of the park varies from rolling savannah woodland, grassland plains and rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries. The Kilombero and Luwegu, which together cover the greatest catchment area in East Africa, which flows from north to south provides the life-blood of Nyerere National Park. Encounter animals like the elephants, commonly seen are lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, bushbuck, impalas, elands, baboons, zebras and greater kudus.
Thereafter, proceed with the afternoon boat Safari in the Rufiji River with your panic lunch. Boat Safari in the afternoon is another way of game viewing on the Rufiji River; it offers a unique experience as the Nyerere is the only park in Tanzania where this option is available. Rufiji River is one of the most dramatic rivers in Tanzania’s National Parks, which is navigable all year round.
Sailing down the Rufiji River is a superb way of seeing game in the park taking about 2 to 3 hours in the Rufiji River. The safari guide will point out rarest species of animals Wild Dogs, which are hardly seen in the Parks, Sable antelopes, black rhinoceros, Nile crocodile, hippopotamus along the banks of the Rufiji River, Cape buffalo, hartebeest and Eland. Boat Safaris are also the best excursions for bird enthusiasts. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight to the gentle grunting of the Camp.
Day 4: Walking safari – transfer back to Dar es Salaam – Cross to Zanzibar
Early Morning breakfast at the camp and start a sunrise bush walking. Walking safaris are a fantastic way to get close to nature and learn more about the smaller species and the bush itself. It’s an unforgettable experience to walk and tramp within such a vast and untamed area of natural. The walks take about 2-3 hours long. Usually walks leave camp at 6:00AM-6:30 AM after having a cup of tea.
After walking safari, start the drive back to Dar es Salaam, which is about 4 hours’ drive. Upon arrival in Dar, have en-route lunch before you take a boat to Zanzibar. Depart with the 4 pm boat taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Upon arrival in Zanzibar, the driver you take you to your booked hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight stay at Golden Tulip Zanzibar Resort
Day 5: Zanzibar city tour – Prison Island and spice tour and Stone town
You will have breakfast at your hotel and after this, you will start your day’s activities. You will take a private boat from Stone town to Changuu Island or Prison Island where you will enjoy seeing the Giant tortoises and during your tour of the Island you will also enjoy snorkeling. You will take a boat back from Changuu Island back to Stone town. On this day, you will also engage in a spice tour as you explore the plantations where you will see different exotic spices and also get to know the uses of the spices like cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg among others. After the spice tour, you will return to your hotel, relax and spend the night at hotel as above
Day 6: Safari Blue Experience and Zanzibar beach experience
You will enjoy the best boat tour on the island is which is a truly amazing experience sailing in the beautiful traditional Dhows. You will enjoy a boat ride, enjoy delicious buffet and drinks, fresh tropical fruits and snacks. You will have a day to relax at the white sand beaches of Zanzibar Island and enjoy views of the Indian Ocean. Dinner and overnight stay as above
Day 7: Free day relaxing at the lodge
Day 8: Another free day relaxing – Cross back to Dar Es Salaam
Spend yet another morning enjoying the ocean. Later afternoon, connect for your boat transfer back to Dar Es Salaam at 12 pm or 4 pm depending. Dinner and overnight stay at Sea Scope Hotel
Day 9: Departure at 7:30 am at Dar Es Salaam airport
You will have breakfast at your hotel as you prepare for your transfer to the airport, which will bring you to the end of your Holiday to an end.
In summary, the above article entails all you need to know about our 9 Days Southern Tanzania and Zanzibar trip package
