14-Day East Africa Perennial Safari
$11,500 / personPrivate
View itinerary
Tanzania
14-Day Mikumi, Ruaha & Zanzibar Safari
A train journey on the Safari Express into Mikumi, then Ruaha's river country, and finally six nights on a private stretch of the Zanzibar Channel.
Trip overview
A private circuit that opens with a scheduled departure on the Safari Express, a rail journey into Mikumi National Park, before flying on to Ruaha and finally to a private island off Zanzibar for six nights.
CountryTanzaniaTanzania
Duration14 days13 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsArushaEnds Dar es Salaam
Best timeJun – Oct
From$13,200per person, estimated
How this price works. Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote. Payment and cancellation terms
Map route
Route overview
1
Arusha
Day 1 · 1 night
2
Mikumi
Days 2 to 5 · 3 nights
3
Ruaha
Days 5 to 8 · 3 nights
4
Zanzibar Channel
Days 8 to 14 · 6 nights
Wildlife you are likely to see
Elephant
Lion
Kudu
Wild dog
Solid tone means often seen on this route. Outline means possible, and worth the patience. Sightings vary with season and luck, and nothing wild is guaranteed.
Best months to travel
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best
Quieter
Green season
Itinerary
Day by day itinerary
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Lodges are as proposed for your dates and are confirmed by name in your written confirmation.
Main transfers on this trip
- Day 5: Mikumi to Ruaha
- Scheduled flight, as set out in the day below
- Day 8: Ruaha to Zanzibar Channel
- Scheduled flight, as set out in the day below
Road times are estimates without game drives or stops. Traffic, weather, road works and border queues can add time, and your guide plans comfort breaks along the way. Flight times depend on the airline schedule for your date.
Arusha
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
The flight lands at Kilimanjaro International, and a private transfer makes the drive into Arusha, the old safari town sitting beneath the green shoulder of Mount Meru. The hotel is reached in time to rest, and the evening is free.
Private arrival transferEvening at leisure
Accommodation
One night
8 photos
The Arusha Hotel
Clock Tower, central Arusha Hotel · 8 photos
View lodge & photosClose
The Arusha Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in East Africa, welcoming guests since 1894 and standing at the Clock Tower in the centre of Arusha, the gateway town for northern Tanzania safaris. The town grew up around it, and the hotel still has a traditional, old world style, with Mount Meru rising behind […]
One night in Arusha, at a property such as The Arusha Hotel. The exact hotel is confirmed with the final itinerary.
Arusha to Mikumi
Day 2: Transfer to Mikumi National Park
This safari begins by rail. The Safari Express, a scheduled service that runs three days a week, carries the journey to Mikumi National Park, with Tanzania passing at an easy pace outside the window: villages, farmland, baobabs and distant hills, and the occasional wave from children beside the track.
Lunch is taken on arrival, and the first game drive follows in the afternoon in an open 4×4, with nothing between the passengers and the sounds and smells of the bush.
Safari Express trainAfternoon game drive
Accommodation
Night 1 of 3
4 photos
Vuma Hills Tented Camp
South-west Mikumi National Park Tented camp · 4 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Vuma Hills Tented Camp is perched on a hillside in the south-west of Mikumi National Park in southern Tanzania, giving it wide views over the park’s game-rich plains. Mikumi is one of the most accessible southern parks, reachable by road from Dar es Salaam, and its open grasslands are good for spotting elephant, giraffe, buffalo, […]
Night 1 of 3 in Mikumi, at a property such as Vuma Hills Tented Camp. The exact camp is confirmed with the final itinerary.
Mikumi
Day 3: Full Day in Mikumi
Mikumi is often called a smaller echo of the Serengeti, and the first full day shows why. The open grassland of the Mkata floodplain carries herds of zebra, wildebeest and buffalo, with giraffe browsing the scattered trees, elephant moving between the woodland patches, and lion watching over it all.
Drives run in the morning and afternoon, with the Uluguru Mountains on the skyline and the heat of the day spent back at camp.
Morning and afternoon drives
Accommodation
Night 2 of 3Same lodge as Day 2: Vuma Hills Tented Camp. See photos and details on Day 2.
A second night at the same property in Mikumi.
Mikumi
Day 4: Second Full Day in Mikumi
The second full day explores more of the park, from the hippo pools, where dozens of hippos wallow and grunt, to the woodland edges where the elephant herds shelter from the sun. Mikumi sees far fewer visitors than the northern parks, and sightings are rarely shared.
The evening at camp is the last in Mikumi, with the sounds of the floodplain carrying on the night air.
Morning and afternoon drives
Accommodation
Night 3 of 3Same lodge as Day 2: Vuma Hills Tented Camp. See photos and details on Day 2.
A third night at the same property in Mikumi.
Mikumi to Ruaha
Day 5: Transfer to Ruaha National Park
One more game drive at first light, and then breakfast before a light aircraft flight west to Ruaha National Park, one of Tanzania's largest and least visited parks. From the air, the land turns to rolling hills, baobabs and the wide, sandy channel of the Great Ruaha River.
The lodge sits close to the river, where elephant, hippo and crocodile gather through the dry months, and the first sights of Ruaha come almost as soon as the bags are down.
Morning game driveLight aircraft flight
Accommodation
Night 1 of 3
4 photos
Ruaha River Lodge
Ruaha National Park, on the Great Ruaha River Lodge · 4 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Ruaha River Lodge, run by the Fox family’s Foxes Safari Camps, sits right on the banks of the Great Ruaha River inside Ruaha National Park, one of Tanzania’s largest and wildest reserves. The river is a lifeline for wildlife, particularly in the dry season, so elephants, buffalo and plains game regularly come down to drink […]
Night 1 of 3 in Ruaha, at a property such as Ruaha River Lodge. The exact lodge is confirmed with the final itinerary.
Ruaha
Day 6: Full Day in Ruaha
Ruaha stands where East and Southern Africa meet, and its wildlife reflects both. The first full day goes looking for its big lion prides and its elephants, and for antelope found in few other East African parks: greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan.
The river country and the baobab studded hills make every drive, morning and afternoon, feel wonderfully remote.
Morning and afternoon drives
Accommodation
Night 2 of 3Same lodge as Day 5: Ruaha River Lodge. See photos and details on Day 5.
A second night at the same property in Ruaha.
Ruaha
Day 7: Second Full Day in Ruaha
Hardly another vehicle is met on the second full day in Ruaha, a park that sees a fraction of the visitors of the northern circuit. Leopard resting in the riverine trees, wild dogs on the move, and elephants digging for water in the dry river bed can all be part of the day.
The evening is the last in the bush before the coast.
Morning and afternoon drives
Accommodation
Night 3 of 3Same lodge as Day 5: Ruaha River Lodge. See photos and details on Day 5.
A third night at the same property in Ruaha.
Ruaha to Zanzibar Channel
Day 8: Transfer to Zanzibar
A flight from Ruaha reaches the coast, and a boat carries the last stretch to a secluded island in the Zanzibar Channel, with close to nine kilometres of almost deserted beach. The dust of the bush gives way to white sand and turquoise water within a single morning.
The afternoon is left free, to swim, rest and settle into island time.
FlightAfternoon at leisure
Day 82 photos
The beaches of Zanzibar
The island from aboveAccommodation
Night 1 of 6
3 photos
Lazy Lagoon
Lagoon peninsula off Bagamoyo, mainland Tanzania coast Hotel · 3 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Lazy Lagoon is a barefoot beach lodge on a quiet peninsula across the lagoon from the historic town of Bagamoyo, on Tanzania’s mainland coast facing the Zanzibar Channel. It is reached by a short motor launch ride and lies roughly two hours north of Dar es Salaam, which makes it an easy and peaceful addition […]
Night 1 of 6 on the Zanzibar Channel, at a property such as Lazy Lagoon. The exact property is confirmed with the final itinerary.
Day 9: Zanzibar Channel
Five days with nothing fixed in them begin here. The beach stretches away in both directions with barely a footprint on it, and the channel's warm water is calm and clear.
The only decisions are when to swim, when to eat, and which stretch of sand to walk as the sun goes down.
Full day at leisure
Accommodation
Night 2 of 6Same lodge as Day 8: Lazy Lagoon. See photos and details on Day 8.
A second night at the same property on the Zanzibar Channel.
Day 10: Zanzibar Channel
The reef and the tide set the pace on the second day on the island. Snorkelling over the coral, a long swim along the shore or simply lying in the shade are all equally good ways to spend it.
The evenings bring cool air off the water and a sky full of stars.
Full day at leisure
Accommodation
Night 3 of 6Same lodge as Day 8: Lazy Lagoon. See photos and details on Day 8.
A third night at the same property on the Zanzibar Channel.
Day 11: Zanzibar Channel
Optional excursions around Zanzibar are available for anyone ready for a change of scene: Stone Town's lanes and markets, a spice plantation, or a boat trip in search of dolphins.
For everyone else, the beach is still there, and just as quiet as it was the day before.
Full day at leisure
Accommodation
Night 4 of 6Same lodge as Day 8: Lazy Lagoon. See photos and details on Day 8.
A fourth night at the same property on the Zanzibar Channel.
Day 12: Zanzibar Channel
By the fourth day the pace is set entirely by the water. Mornings are for swimming before the heat, afternoons for a book in the shade, and evenings for watching the dhows cross the channel in the last of the light.
Full day at leisure
Accommodation
Night 5 of 6Same lodge as Day 8: Lazy Lagoon. See photos and details on Day 8.
A fifth night at the same property on the Zanzibar Channel.
Day 13: Zanzibar Channel
The last full day on the island is spent exactly as little or as much as wanted: one more swim, one more long lunch, one more walk along that empty beach.
The evening is the last of the trip, with the sea just beyond the door.
Final full day at leisure
Accommodation
Night 6 of 6Same lodge as Day 8: Lazy Lagoon. See photos and details on Day 8.
A sixth night at the same property on the Zanzibar Channel.
Zanzibar Channel to Dar es Salaam
Day 14: Departure
The morning is free for a final swim, and then a transfer back to Dar es Salaam connects with the onward international flight.
Transfer to Dar es SalaamOnward connection
Accommodation
No overnightNo overnight. Departure timed to the onward connection.
Price
Price and what is included
Written plainly so there are no surprises at the airport. Anything optional can be added to the quote before you pay.
Included
Already in the price you see.
- Domestic flights and transfers
- Accommodation as specified
- All meals as mentioned
- Game drives and park fees
- Train journey on the Safari Express
- Light aircraft transfers
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, including tips
- Drinks and meals not mentioned
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies during office hours, Monday to Saturday.
Does the Safari Express run every day?
The train operates on a fixed weekly schedule (Sunday, Tuesday and Friday at the time of writing), so this itinerary is built around those departure days rather than a flexible start date.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This safari is private: your own vehicle and guide for the whole trip, and we never merge your party with another to cut costs.
How do we book, and how much is the deposit?
Press Book this safari. You can hold your dates for three days without paying while a specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks, or pay a deposit of 30, 40 or 50 percent, or the full amount, by credit or debit card through Pesapal. You can also pay by bank transfer, or in person at our Nairobi office by card. The standard schedule is a 30 percent deposit to confirm and the balance 60 days before arrival; bookings made within 60 days of departure, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits, are paid in full at booking. Card details go to Pesapal, never to Volcan.
Do we need a visa?
Tanzania: visas are issued online through the official immigration portal, visa.immigration.go.tz, and on arrival at some entry points. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so check them before you book flights, and always apply through the official government portal, never a third-party agent. We tell you what applies to your route when we confirm your trip.
Which vaccinations and health precautions do we need?
See a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. Malaria is present in most safari areas of East Africa, so ask about antimalarials, insect repellent and cover-up clothing for the evenings. A yellow fever certificate can be required depending on your route and where you arrive from.
What vehicle will we travel in?
A pop up roof 4x4 safari vehicle, usually a Toyota Land Cruiser, provided through the licensed Kenyan transport partners we contract and work with regularly, with the same driver guide from the first day to the last. It is yours alone for the whole safari, and every vehicle carries reusable water bottles.
Can children come on this safari?
Yes, and a private vehicle makes it easy to set the pace around them. Child rates depend on the lodges, and some camps and activities set minimum ages, so tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we confirm what applies before you pay anything.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Tell us in writing as early as possible. The cancellation charges for your trip are set out in your written booking confirmation. Gorilla permits, internal flights and non-refundable lodge deposits already paid on your behalf cannot be recovered, so they are charged in full. Refunds go back to the card or account the payment came from. The detail is in our Booking & Payment Terms.
Enquire
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies during Nairobi office hours, Monday to Saturday, with an itemised price.
- Free, and no obligation
- Ask about changing the dates, lodges or pace
- Answered by the team in Nairobi who plan the trip
Availability
14-Day Mikumi, Ruaha & Zanzibar Safari
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
From
$13,200
Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
Enquire first for questions and a written quote, with no commitment. Book this safari asks us to hold your dates for 72 hours without payment. Your booking is confirmed only when we confirm it in writing and your deposit is received under our booking terms.
More ideas
Similar safaris
12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Grand Safari
$13,800 / personPrivate
View itinerary
13-Day Arusha, Manyara, Ngorongoro & Selous Safari
$15,800 / personPrivate
View itinerary
All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
