Remote Tanzania Safari Adventure

Escape the crowds and explore Tanzania’s wild and remote safari destinations: Katavi National Park, Ruaha National Park, and Selous Game Reserve. Explore vast expanses of wilderness with no one else in sight on this authentic safari adventure!

This Remote Tanzania Safari Adventure was designed for a mother and daughter from Lexington, Kentucky. They had previously done a Great Migration safari in the Serengeti and Masai Mara, and now they wanted to see a different, less touristed side of Tanzania.

Their Remote Tanzania Safari Adventure began in Katavi National Park in the west of the country. They spent 4 nights at the small and intimate Chada Katavi camp, watching wildlife roam past from their private deck. Their game drives were incredible, with practically no one else in sight, and they also had a chance to explore the area on foot with an expert safari guide.

Next, they traveled to Ruaha National Park, where elephant herds 100 strong are a common sight. They loved their stay at Kigelia Ruaha. Here, they felt completely immersed in the bush, with animals roaming around the camp freely, yet they were able to retreat to a spacious and comfortable tent. Each day, they were able to choose their own schedule, so they decided to do full-day game drives with scrumptious picnic lunches in the park.

Continuing their Remote Tanzania Safari Adventure, they flew to Selous Game Reserve—the largest game reserve in Africa! This vast expanse of wilderness receives few tourists, so they felt the thrill of discovering seemingly uncharted territory like explorers of old. Sand Rivers Selous camp offered unique safari activities, like a sunset cruise on the river and bush walks to track game on foot. They also opted for a night of fly camping in the remote African bush. It was certainly a memorable highlight with which to end their trip!

After almost 2 weeks exploring Tanzania’s remote hidden gems, it was time to begin their journey home. They returned with countless stories of their adventures in Africa!

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to Tanzania! Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and enjoy a road transfer to the gorgeous Arusha Coffee Lodge. This evening is for relaxation before you begin your safari adventure. Soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the coffee plantation, take a dip in the pool, and perhaps indulge in a massage or spa treatment.
Arusha Coffee Lodge

Day 2
Rise early this morning for a flight to the other side of Tanzania and the remote Katavi National Park. Far away from the crowds in the Serengeti, this hidden gem offers a truly wild and authentic safari experience. Your home for the next 4 nights is Chada Katavi. This remote and stylish bush camp features 6 en-suite tents resting beneath shady trees with wide-open fronts to let in the breeze and panoramic views.

After a scrumptious lunch, relax and while away the heat of the afternoon in the library or spotting game from your private deck. Enjoy afternoon tea, then head off to explore Tanzania’s third largest park, where hartebeest, giraffes, Defassa waterbuck, hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and wild dogs can be easily spotted. As the sun sets, return to camp, where a 3-course dinner and delicious wine await you.
Chada Katavi

Day 3 – 5
Spend the next 3 days on safari in Katavi National Park. Wake with the dawn and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee in the bush overlooking a hippo-inhabited waterhole, then head out onto the open plains and explore the park as the sun rises. Following a mid-morning breakfast back at camp, the afternoons are wide open for relaxation. However, if you’re feeling a bit restless, you can return to the park’s open plains on foot, discovering the smaller creatures with your expert guide. As the afternoon heat fades and cool temperatures roll in, it’s time for another game drive, followed by cocktails and dinner.
Chada Katavi

Day 6
After breakfast, board a morning flight southeast to the great Ruaha National Park and enjoy a road transfer to Kigelia Ruaha, where you’ll spend the next 3 nights. This simple, yet comfortable bushcamp offers an authentic safari experience—you might even see elephants and other wildlife roaming around the camp! (Don’t worry, expert guides can escort you to and from your tent; safety is of the utmost importance.) Arrive at camp in time for a tasty lunch under the sausage trees, then relax in the afternoon before heading out on an evening game drive.
Kigelia Ruaha

Day 7 – 8
Spend the next 2 days on safari in this incredible wildlife viewing area. The Ruaha National Park lies between 2 large rivers and boasts an almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making your safari experience very unique. The park is rich in wildlife, including big cats, rare greater and lesser kudu, large herds of elephants, and a profusion of bird species.

Your schedule at Kigelia Ruaha is up to you. For the best game viewing, rise early and watch the sunrise, and watch the wildlife begin to stir in the cool morning air. Since the park is quite large, you may want to take your breakfast and lunch out in the bush so you can enjoy a full day of game drives; alternatively, you can head back to camp for your meals. In the evenings, enjoy scenic sundowners and storytelling around the campfire.
Kigelia Ruaha Camp

Day 9
Today, your safari adventure continues in another of Tanzania’s hidden gems, Selous Game Reserve. Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa, and in this huge expanse of pristine wilderness, you’ll find far fewer crowds than you would in the Serengeti. Your home for the next 3 nights is Sands River Selous, a fabulous remote lodge offering panoramic river views from each open-fronted cottage. This evening, board a small boat for a relaxed meander up the river, where you can see hippos and crocodiles—a wonderful contrast to the game drives you’ve experienced so far. As the sun sets, drift back to camp in time for sundowners before dinner.
Sand Rivers Selous

Day 10 – 11
Spend the next 2 days on safari in Selous Game Reserve. You might start by following the Rufiji River or heading out onto more open plains… spotting some fresh tracks will lead to a foray on foot to explore further. Your unique location brings the opportunity for unique adventures. During your stay here, you’ll take a trip to some nearby hot springs and enjoy an early morning river cruise with a picnic breakfast on a secluded sandbar.

For the adventurers-at-heart, we recommend a night of fly camping (additional cost). Arrive at a stunning lakeside campsite and enjoy a gourmet dinner before you sleep in a tented camp under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the bush. This is a truly special experience that you simply have to try for yourself!
Sand Rivers Selous

Day 12
Your Tanzania adventure comes to an end today. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast by the pool and perhaps take a swim before your transfer to the airstrip, where you’ll begin the journey back home.

About this vacation
Cost Per Person

Based on
12 day stay
2 travelers

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