What the southern circuit means
The southern circuit is the group of parks in the south of Tanzania that safari operators link into one trip: Ruaha, Nyerere and Mikumi. Each is its own national park. Nyerere and Mikumi are separate national parks, and neither is part of Ruaha. Fees and trips are covered on the Nyerere park fees and Mikumi park fees pages.
This site covers Ruaha in depth. Nyerere and Mikumi get a short mention here, so use this page to understand how a southern trip is built and what to ask, and use an operator's plan for the details of the other parks. A southern tanzania safari is rarely a single drive. It is usually a flight between parks or a chain of long road days.
Our picks: southern Tanzania combinations
Mikumi and Ruaha by train and road in four days, the same plus Nyerere and a flight to Mafia Island in eight, or Mikumi, Ruaha and the Udzungwa Mountains by 4x4. Each trip visits the parks it names, and fees are worth checking on the four-day one.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
8-day southern Tanzania safari with Mafia Island
- Ruaha, Mikumi and Nyerere
- Flight to Mafia Island
- Full board on safari
Two nights in Ruaha with an extra half-day drive, then Mikumi and Nyerere, ending with a domestic flight to Mafia Island. Park entries are covered as per the itinerary.
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8-day safari: Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa
- 4x4 Land Cruiser
- Driver-guide
- Park fees and meals
Mikumi, Ruaha and the Udzungwa Mountains over eight days. Ask whether lodging is included before you book.
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4-day Mikumi and Ruaha safari from Dar es Salaam
- Mikumi and Ruaha
- Train tickets included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
One night in Mikumi and two in Ruaha, with a train ride from Dar es Salaam towards Morogoro. Ask whether park fees are included before you book.
Check availability →Southern Tanzania safaris and tours
Ruaha, Nyerere and Mikumi itineraries, fly-in and road safaris, with live prices and availability.
Southern circuit in Tanzania: how a route is built
Three questions shape the plan.
How do you move between parks?
The clearest link is the scheduled flight between Ruaha and Selous. It leaves at 11:45 and lands at 13:05, which is 1 hour 20 minutes, and it runs daily with a minimum of two seats. Ask which landing strip is used and how it connects to your camp in Nyerere National Park, and have it written into your plan.
How long does the road take?
There is no single fixed driving time between Ruaha and Mikumi or between Ruaha and Nyerere. It depends on the gates and camps at each end. Ask the operator for the transfer time between the exact points in writing, and be wary of a plan that squeezes a long road day between two game drives.
Where do you start?
Flights from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha run via Selous, and flights from Zanzibar run via Dar es Salaam and Selous. So the southern circuit is easy to start from the coast. The getting there page has the schedules.
Park fees on the southern circuit
Adult fees for non-East African visitors per the 2023/24 tariff. Check the current amount before booking.
| Park | 2023/24 adult fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ruaha | $30 per day | Or $70, depending on the rate TANAPA applies; see the park fees page |
| Nyerere | $70 main season, $60 low season | Separate park with its own fees |
| Mikumi | Same entry category as Ruaha in that tariff | Separate park with its own fees |
Do not add these figures up as the cost of a whole trip. They are single entry rates from one tariff year, and a safari price also includes vehicle fees, camps, flights and guides. For most travellers, the simplest approach is to ask an operator for a plan that shows the park fee for each park as a separate line, with the date of the tariff. Details for Ruaha are on the park fees page.
Adding Iringa
The town sits on the road in.
If you travel by road, Iringa is the natural stop. The drive on to the park through Tungamalenga takes roughly 2 to 3.5 hours depending on the track, and a 4x4 is recommended, especially in rain. Around Iringa, the stone age site at Isimila and the museum at Kalenga make a cultural break before the safari. The Iringa guide covers both.
If you want the Ruaha part of the trip in more detail, read the Ruaha safari guide and the page on the fly-in and road tours. For the northern parks, which are a different trip, see the Serengeti safari guide.
Season and entry rules
Two things that shape a southern trip.
The busiest months for Ruaha are June to October, and early booking of accommodation is advised for them. The rains run from late November to May, when tracks can turn muddy and rivers can rise. That matters more on a southern circuit than on a single park stay, because a long road day is the first thing to be hit. The weather page sets out the season.
Most visitors apply for an eVisa before travel; check the rules for your nationality. Since October 2026 the state-required travel insurance also applies on the mainland and costs $44 for stays up to 92 days. One suitable policy covers a trip that includes both the mainland and Zanzibar, but exemptions differ by passport and residence status, so check yours.
Southern Tanzania safari: frequently asked questions
What is the southern circuit?
It is the group of parks in the south that operators link into one trip, mainly Ruaha, Nyerere and Mikumi. Each is a separate national park with its own fees.
How do I get from Ruaha to Nyerere?
A scheduled flight links Ruaha and Selous in about 1 hour 20 minutes, running daily. Ask which landing strip is used and how it connects to your camp in Nyerere National Park.
How long is the drive between the southern parks?
There is no single answer, because it depends on the gates and camps at each end. Get the transfer time between your exact points from the operator before you commit to a route.
Is the southern circuit cheaper than the north?
That cannot be said in general. Compare quotes line by line, including park fees, vehicle, flights and camps, rather than comparing a single headline price.
Is this the official guide to southern Tanzania?
No. This is an independent guide, not run by Tanzania National Parks or by any operator, airline or lodge.