This long safari is great value and concentrates of the great reserves of Southern Tanzania – Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park – taking a detailed look at them through three different camps – Lake Manze, Impala and Mdonya Old River; these give a great chance to explore the parks in depth, and to really get to know the different wildlife in each.

Day 1

Starting in the evening at London Heathrow, you take a scheduled overnight flight with British Airways directly to Dar es Salaam. (See our page on Tanzania flights for more information on the options for your flights.)

Days 2-5 Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

After arriving early in Dar es Salaam you will be met and driven to the domestic terminal for a 45-minute flight to the Selous. Landing at Siwandu Airstrip, you'll head off with your safari guide in an open 4WD, and the wildlife starts here! It's about an hour's game drive back to the lakeshore around Lake Manze where you'll spend 4 nights at a very natural, authentic camp –

Lake Manze Tented Camp (full board & activities)

From the camp, you can explore the area and its wildlife with enthusiastic guides on walking safaris, 4WD game drives and boat trips.

Days 6-8 Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

After an activity and a leisurely breakfast/brunch, your transfer between camps is a game drive lasting a few hours, south-east across the park, passing through open floodplains and much drier country. Selous is a varied game reserve, and you'll also be able to explore on your choice of walking safaris, game drives and boat trips from the stylish camp where you'll be staying for your next 3 nights –

Selous Impala Camp (full board & activities)

Days 9-12 Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

It's a 90-minute flight from Selous to the dramatic scenery of Ruaha National Park, an interesting park which was recently enlarged. In many ways its environments are a transition between southern African and East Africa; they contain species from both regions. Here their ranges overlap and you know you're in the wilds. It's at least 30 minutes' drive before you arrive in the uncomplicated camp where you'll stay for your next 4 nights –

Mdonya Old River Camp (full board & activities)

As well as 4WD game drives and walking safaris, there is often lots of game passing through the camp – and always some wildlife to watch.

Day 13

After your last morning safari, fly to Dar es Salaam. There you can either continue onto an add-on trip, perhaps a beach holiday in Zanzibar, or maybe take a short stop to overnight in Dar es Salaam before connecting to an early-morning British Airways flight to London.

Cost of this trip
From	To	Cost
1-Jan-2012	31-Mar-2012	£3,574
1-Jun-2012	5-Jul-2012	£3,753
6-Jul-2012	11-Jul-2012	£4,165
12-Jul-2012	8-Aug-2012	£4,285
9-Aug-2012	31-Oct-2012	£4,165
1-Nov-2012	14-Dec-2012	£3,753
Notes: These camps are closed during April and May. The prices indicated are per person sharing; call us for single person supplements. For something a little different, and even more adventurous, consider one or two nights of fly-camping. Ideas for add-on trips: Adding a few days of beach relaxation to this safari is easy; we have lots of ideas! The obvious addition would probably be a beach on Zanzibar, although for a quieter island, with excellent snorkelling and diving, consider a trip to Mafia. You could continue your trip by visiting one of the stunning private islands in northern Mozambique. Be warned though, you will need a flexible budget for a beach holiday to Quirimbas Archipelago – as the experience here is very good, but also costly. At the other end of the scale, consider finishing your holiday with two or three days relaxing by the coast. Ras Kutani is only an hour's drive south of Dar, and perfect!

This itinerary includes:

• Economy international flights, as above, plus UK departure taxes.
  
• All transfers and flights within Africa.
  
• The current park fees for your time in the national parks. These are U$75 per person per night for Selous and U$50pppn for Ruaha.
  
• Guided safari activities, including 4WD safaris in open-topped vehicles in Ruaha.
  
• Guided safari activities, including 4WD safaris in open-topped vehicles, boat trips and walks in Selous.
  
• At both camps filtered water/tea/coffee drinks are included.
  
• A comprehensive pack of information, including a copy of the Bradt Travel Guide to Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia which includes Selous and Ruaha.
  
  This itinerary excludes:
  
  • Increases in park fees above the rates included above.
    
  • All alcoholic and soft drinks, apart from filtered water/tea/coffee.
    
  • Tips and gratuities, which are optional.
    
    
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