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3 Days – Ruaha National Park Safari from Zanzibar
3 Days / 2 Nights Days
Zanzibar, Tanzania (08:00 flight to Ruaha) → Zanzibar, Tanzania (flight from Ruaha on Day 3)
Wildlife
Easy
Why Choose This Safari?
Ruaha is one of Tanzania’s wildest national parks, and this short fly-in safari takes you there from Zanzibar with no long road transfers. The park covers about 20,226 sq km, since the Usangu wetlands were added in 2008, and the Great Ruaha River, which gives the park its name, is the focus of game viewing. It’s an area considered a Lion Conservation Unit, and it’s also home to both greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope and the African wild dog, with more than 571 bird species recorded. You fly out early, lunch at Mdonya Old River Camp and head straight out on an afternoon game drive in an open 4x4. Day 2 is a full day of game viewing along the river, and on Day 3 you have a final morning game drive before the flight back to Zanzibar. Accommodation, flights, an expert guide, meals and transport are all included, and the safari can also start and end in Dar es Salaam.
Safari Highlights
- Mid-Range Accommodation Safari
- US$ 1,815 Per person sharing
- Minimum 2 Pax
Destinations to Travel
Zanzibar · Ruaha National Park (Great Ruaha River, Mdonya Old River Camp)
Itinerary
Day 1 — Zanzibar to Ruaha National Park
You depart by flight from Zanzibar at 08:00 for Ruaha National Park. On arrival your driver meets you and takes you, in an open 4x4 vehicle, to Mdonya Old River Camp for lunch. Later you set out on an afternoon game drive, enjoying the sunset out in the park, before returning for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2 — Full Day in Ruaha National Park
After breakfast you head out for a full day of game drives, with a bush lunch, looking for wild game. You spend the whole day searching for animals along the Great Ruaha River and through the park, which is the focus of game viewing and gives the park its name. Look out for elephants, lions, kudu, sable and roan antelope and the African wild dog, and for hornbills and other birdlife. Dinner and overnight at your camp.
Day 3 — Ruaha National Park to Zanzibar
After breakfast you head out for a final morning game drive inside the park. Later you’re transferred to the airstrip to catch your 11:45 flight back to Zanzibar, with an expected arrival at 14:20.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Return flight Zanzibar to Ruaha NP to Zanzibar
- Safari base vehicle + English speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation
- Park fees & Concession fees & game drives
Rate Excludes
- Accommodation Before and After in Zanzibar
- International Flight
- Airport Transfer
- Beverages (Alcohol and Non-Alcoholic)
- Medical and luggage insurance
- Tips
- Other personal expenses
- Emergency evacuation insurance
Best Time to Go
No travel window was given for this itinerary, so the advice below comes from the route and general seasonality. The dry months, roughly June to October, are usually the best time for game viewing in Ruaha National Park, because animals concentrate along the Great Ruaha River and other water sources, and wildlife is easier to see as the vegetation thins out. The wetter months, roughly November to May, bring lush scenery, fewer visitors and excellent birding, although game is more dispersed and some roads can be harder to travel. For the best overall balance of game viewing and travel comfort, aim for June to October. You can find more on the Tanzania National Parks Authority site.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it take?
It starts in Zanzibar with an 08:00 flight to Ruaha National Park and ends with a flight from Ruaha back to Zanzibar on Day 3, with an expected arrival at 14:20. It runs for 3 days and 2 nights, so it fits easily into a beach holiday.
Can the safari start or end in Dar es Salaam instead?
Yes. The same safari can be arranged to start and end in Dar es Salaam, to start in Zanzibar and end in Dar es Salaam, or to start in Dar es Salaam and end in Zanzibar. Tell our team where you want to begin and end and we’ll plan it around your dates.
What is included in the price?
The package includes accommodation, flights, an expert guide, meals and transport. Our team will confirm the details, including park fees, when your booking is confirmed.
What wildlife can we expect in Ruaha?
Ruaha is a Lion Conservation Unit and is home to elephants, lions, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope and the African wild dog, with more than 571 bird species recorded. Sightings can’t be guaranteed on any given day. You can read more on the Ruaha National Park page.
What are the game drives like?
You travel in an open 4x4 vehicle, with an afternoon game drive on Day 1 to enjoy the sunset, a full day of game viewing along the Great Ruaha River on Day 2 with a bush lunch, and a final morning game drive on Day 3.
What time is the return flight?
The flight back to Zanzibar leaves the airstrip at 11:45, with an expected arrival at 14:20, so you spend the morning of Day 3 on a game drive before the transfer to the airstrip. Our team will confirm exact flight times when your booking is confirmed.