Southern National Parks

★★★ Ruaha — Tanzania's Wild Secret Tip

The Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's largest national park at 20,226 km² (larger than Saxony!) and one of the most significant wildlife reserves in East Africa. Yet, Ruaha receives only a fraction of the visitors that the Serengeti does — which is part of its charm. Here, you experience safari in its purest, most original form: no vehicle convoys, no waiting times, just you, your guide, and the wilderness.

The eponymous Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the park. In the dry season (June–November), it shrinks to waterholes where animals gather in spectacular density. Ruaha is home to:

• The largest elephant population in East Africa: About 12,000 elephants. Herds of 50–200 animals are not uncommon.
• Lions: Large prides, often 15–20 animals. Ruaha has one of the highest lion densities in Tanzania.
• African wild dogs: The rare Painted Dog lives in Ruaha in one of Africa's largest populations. The chances of sighting them are better here than almost anywhere else.
• Leopards, cheetahs, hyenas: All major predators are represented.
• Greater kudu and roan antelope: These impressive antelopes do not occur in the Northern Circuit — in Ruaha, they are common.
• Over 570 bird species: A paradise for birders.

Ruaha is located in a transition zone between the South African and East African ecosystems — here, the flora and fauna of both regions overlap, explaining the unique biodiversity.

Arrival: Flight from Dar es Salaam (1.5–2h, approx. 250–400 USD one way) or from Arusha (with a stopover). Road from Iringa (approx. 130 km, 3h, partly dirt road).

★★★ Nyerere — Africa's Largest Wildlife Reserve

The Nyerere Reserve (known until 2019 as "Selous Game Reserve," renamed in honor of founding father Julius Nyerere) is one of Africa's largest wildlife reserves at over 30,000 km² and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only the northern part (about 5% of the area) is accessible to tourists — the rest is a vast, almost untouched wilderness area.

What sets Nyerere apart from most other parks: Here, boat safaris and walking safaris are allowed and are the main attraction. A trip on the Rufiji River — Tanzania's largest river — is one of the most intense safari experiences ever:

• Hippos: Huge groups of 20–40 animals, up close from the boat.
• Crocodiles: Massive Nile crocodiles (up to 5 m!) bask on the banks.
• Elephants at the river: Herds come to drink and bathe.
• Birdlife: Fish eagles, kingfishers, yellow-billed storks, pelicans — a birdwatcher's dream.

In addition to boat safaris, Nyerere offers classic game drives and guided walking safaris, where you walk through the bush with an armed ranger. A completely different, much more intimate way to experience Africa.

Arrival: Flight from Dar es Salaam (45 min., approx. 150–300 USD). Road: 6–8 hours from Dar (only in the dry season).

★★★ Katavi National Park — Tanzania's Best-Kept Secret

Katavi is Tanzania's most remote and least visited national park — and precisely for this reason, one of the most extraordinary. Only a few hundred visitors per year make their way to this 4,471 km² park in the west of the country. Those who make it here experience safari as it was 100 years ago: no other vehicles, no crowds, just the wilderness in its raw form.

In the dry season (July–October), Katavi becomes the scene of one of Africa's most dramatic wildlife spectacles: Thousands of hippos crowd into the shrinking pools of the Katuma River, buffalo herds of up to 3,000 animals roam the plains, and lions benefit from the concentrated prey. The battles of the hippo bulls for the last waterholes are both brutal and fascinating.

Arrival: Fly-in from Arusha or Dar es Salaam (with a stopover, approx. 500–800 USD). Only 2 camps/lodges in the park. Book well in advance!

★★★ Mahale Mountains National Park — The Chimpanzees

The Mahale Mountains National Park on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika is one of Africa's most magical places — and one of the few in the world where you can observe wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

About 1,000 chimpanzees live in the densely forested mountains by the lake. Of these, a group of about 60 animals (the "M-Group") is habituated to humans. An encounter with them is one of the most moving nature experiences ever:

• You hike (1–6 hours, depending on the group's location) with a ranger through the rainforest
• Suddenly, you hear the loud calls (pant-hooting) of the chimpanzees
• Then you see them: grooming sessions, playing babies, impressive silverbacks, tool use
• You are allowed to spend a maximum of 1 hour with the chimpanzees (minimum distance 10 m)

The Lake Tanganyika itself is spectacular: the second deepest lake in the world (1,470 m!), crystal-clear freshwater, surrounded by steep mountains. After chimpanzee tracking, you swim in the lake, snorkel with cichlids, or kayak along the coast.

Arrival: Only by fly-in (from Arusha/Dar with a stopover) or by boat from Kigoma (6h). Only 2 camps — one of them (Greystoke Mahale) is one of Africa's most exclusive lodges. Price: 800–1,500 USD/night, including tracking. Book early!