THE SOUTHERN CIRCUIT NATIONAL PARKS.

MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK.

Situated some 300 km. South West of Dar-es-Salaam at an altitude of 550 m. covers an area of 3,230 sq. km. This park offers a variety of wildlife - baboons, buffalo, colobus monkey, African hunting dog, eland, elephant, giraffe, hartebeest, hippo, impala, sable antelope, warthog, water buck, wildebeest, zebra, greater kudu and the predator leopard and lion can be seen in all seasons.

Over 300 species of birds have been observed in the park some of which are Eurasian migrants that are present from October to April.

UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.

Udzungwa Mountain National Park is a newly established Conservation  area of about 1,000 sq. km. Covering the Mwanihana Forest Reserve in the Morogoro Region and the West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve in the Iringa Region.

The Udzungwa Forest which forms part of the Park, many rare plants have been identified, not found anywhere else in the world. The Park support a Large number of game including Elephants Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Sable antelope and Primates. The Park is about 10 Km. from Mikumi National Park.

SELOUS GAME RESERVE.

The Selous, occupying an enormous land area of 30,500 sq. km. is the second largest  Reserve in the world. The Reserve was named after Captain Fredrick Courtney Selous a former hunter and ivory trader in South Africa and first world war British 25th Royal Fusilier commander who defended the territory until he was shot by a sniper bullet on January 4th 1917. When the war was finally won by the British he was described as a Prince among Men and he was honored by having the Shamba la Bibi renamed for him.  

The reserve is one of the Africa’s greatest wilderness where the forest and bush are untamed and the animals unmolested by man. It contains some of the largest Elephant in Africa, Crocodiles as well as vast numbers of wildlife. Safari Camps including Rufiji River Camp, Beho Beho Camp, Stigler's  Gorge Camp and Mbuyu Safari Camp, provide comfortable accommodation and cuisine. It’s only in the Selous that one can have game drive, Boat and walking safaris together. The reserve is inaccessible during the rainy season - March to May due to floods. The best time to visit the reserve is from June to October.

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK.

Covering 13,000 sq. km. this relatively new and undisturbed park is Tanzania's third largest park and also largest elephant  sanctuary. It lies 130 km. West of Iringa. It’s name derives from the great Ruaha River which flows along its entire eastern border creating spectacular gorges and scenery. Hippo, Crocodile, turtle and fish inhabit the river. 

The Park is also known for its concentration of lesser and greater Kudu, Roan and sable antelope. The bird life is also very interesting and varied over 370 species some of which are not found in the Northern circuit. The best months for game viewing are July and November.