Signature
Fly-In Signature Safari
Ngorongoro · Serengeti · Ruaha
From $4,200 per person
View the Fly-In Signature SafariOverview
Fly-in transfers put you in Ruaha and Selous/Nyerere without burning days on the road — Africa's largest protected wilderness, with vehicle limits and remote camps that mean you rarely see another vehicle at a sighting.
Three nights in Ruaha, four in Selous/Nyerere, connected only by light aircraft — this is where we send guests who already know what a crowded sighting feels like, and don't want to feel that again.
◆ THE ROUTE
| Day | Where | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dar es Salaam → Ruaha (Fly-In) | Ruaha River Camp |
| 2 | Ruaha National Park — Full Day | Ruaha River Camp |
| 3 | Ruaha — Walking Safari | Ruaha River Camp |
| 4 | Ruaha → Selous/Nyerere (Fly-In) | Rufiji Riverside Camp |
| 5 | Selous/Nyerere — Boat Safari | Rufiji Riverside Camp |
| 6 | Selous/Nyerere — Full Immersion | Rufiji Riverside Camp |
| 7 | Selous/Nyerere — Second Full Day | Rufiji Riverside Camp |
| 8 | Selous/Nyerere → Dar es Salaam (Fly-In) | Dar es Salaam City Lodge |
| 9 | Dar es Salaam — Departure | Departure |
Day by day
Day 1
Land in Dar es Salaam and connect directly onto a light aircraft into Ruaha National Park — Tanzania's largest national park, and one of its least visited. Your guide meets you at the airstrip for a welcome briefing, then heads straight into an evening game drive while the light is at its best.
What you'll see: Ruaha National Park on arrival, Evening game drive, Best light of the day
Where you stay
Ruaha River Camp
Riverside camp overlooking the Great Ruaha River, deep in Tanzania's largest and least-visited national park.
Day 2
Ruaha holds some of the largest lion prides recorded anywhere in Africa, drawn by the Great Ruaha River that anchors the park's ecosystem even in the dry season. Baobabs dominate the landscape here more than almost anywhere else in Tanzania. Morning and evening game drives take advantage of the cooler hours, when wildlife is most active — and with so few other vehicles in the park, sightings are yours alone.
What you'll see: Ancient baobab trees, Great Ruaha River, Some of Africa's largest lion prides
Where you stay
Ruaha River Camp
Riverside camp overlooking the Great Ruaha River, deep in Tanzania's largest and least-visited national park.
Day 3
For those who want it, a guided walking safari offers a different register entirely — tracking, reading signs, and moving through the bush at the pace the land sets, with an armed ranger and your guide. The afternoon returns you to the vehicle for a game drive along the Great Ruaha River, where wildlife concentrates as the day cools.
What you'll see: Walking safari with an armed ranger, Great Ruaha River wildlife, Afternoon game drive
Optional: Guided Walking Safari (price confirmed per camp)
Where you stay
Ruaha River Camp
Riverside camp overlooking the Great Ruaha River, deep in Tanzania's largest and least-visited national park.
Day 4
A light-aircraft transfer takes you from Ruaha to Selous/Nyerere — at over 50,000 square kilometres, the largest protected wilderness area in Africa, and one that most travelers never set foot in. After landing, an afternoon orientation drive introduces you to a completely different landscape: river channels, floodplains, and miombo woodland in place of Ruaha's dry hills.
What you'll see: River channels & floodplains, Miombo woodland, Africa's largest protected wilderness
Where you stay
Rufiji Riverside Camp
Camp on the banks of the Rufiji River, the gateway to boat safaris and walking trails through Nyerere National Park (Selous).
Day 5
The Rufiji River is the defining feature of this ecosystem, and a boat safari is the only way to properly see it. Hippo pods, basking crocodile, and an exceptional range of birdlife line the banks — fish eagles, herons, and kingfishers among them. It's a different pace and a different sightline from a game drive, and one of the signature experiences of this region.
What you'll see: Hippo pods on the Rufiji, Basking crocodile, Fish eagles & kingfishers
Where you stay
Rufiji Riverside Camp
Camp on the banks of the Rufiji River, the gateway to boat safaris and walking trails through Nyerere National Park (Selous).
Day 6
Selous/Nyerere is one of the last strongholds of the African wild dog, and this region's low visitor numbers give them room to roam undisturbed. Today blends all three ways of experiencing the wilderness — on foot, by vehicle, and by boat — matched to where the wildlife is and what the day offers.
What you'll see: African wild dog territory, Walking safari, Boat safari on the Rufiji
Where you stay
Rufiji Riverside Camp
Camp on the banks of the Rufiji River, the gateway to boat safaris and walking trails through Nyerere National Park (Selous).
Day 7
With two full days in Selous/Nyerere, there's room to go further into the reserve than a single-day visit allows. For those who want it, a night of fly-camping — a small, private mobile camp set up specifically for you — offers a still deeper level of remoteness, arranged in advance with your camp.
What you'll see: Deeper reserve exploration, Optional private fly-camp night, Remote wilderness
Optional: Private Fly-Camping Night (price confirmed per camp)
Where you stay
Rufiji Riverside Camp
Camp on the banks of the Rufiji River, the gateway to boat safaris and walking trails through Nyerere National Park (Selous).
Day 8
A final morning activity — game drive, walk, or boat safari, whichever suits how the previous days have gone — before transferring to the airstrip for your flight back to Dar es Salaam.
What you'll see: Final morning game drive, walk, or boat safari, Rufiji River region, Light-aircraft transfer
Where you stay
Dar es Salaam City Lodge
A comfortable stopover lodge in Dar es Salaam, bridging your flights between the wilderness and onward travel.
Day 9
Your transfer delivers you to the airport in Dar es Salaam in time for your onward flight — or extend south to Zanzibar, or north to combine with a Northern Circuit safari.
What you'll see: Free time before departure, Private airport transfer, Onward journey options
Where you stay
Departure
Included
Your investment
From $5,025 per person
Depends on number of people.
Pricing on this journey starts from $5,025 per person and varies based on three factors.
Custom pricing is based on group size — smaller private groups carry a higher per-person rate for guiding and fly-in transfers, while larger groups reduce the per-person cost.
Camp rates vary by season, with peak dry-season months carrying premium pricing and the green season offering savings — confirmed per camp at booking.
This is our Signature tier. Bespoke tier — fully private camps and extended fly-camping — is also available on this same route.
Every camp on this journey employs professional kitchen teams experienced in preparing a full range of dietary needs — without compromising on quality or variety. Simply let us know your dietary preferences when booking, and we'll confirm with each property in advance.
Valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, with two blank visa pages.
Most nationalities can apply for a Tanzania e-Visa online prior to arrival, or on arrival at the airport.
Required only if arriving from, or having transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
We recommend comprehensive cover including medical evacuation for all safari travel.
Options
This journey
From $5,025 pp
Camps: Ruaha River Camp, Rufiji Riverside Camp and Dar es Salaam City Lodge
Tier
Add on days before you fly home — each extension is built into your itinerary, not a separate booking.
What our clients say
Tripadvisor
“We'd done the northern parks on a previous trip and wanted something different — this delivered. Three days in Ruaha and we saw maybe two other vehicles total. The lion pride sightings alone were worth the flights.”
“The boat safari on the Rufiji was the highlight neither of us expected going in. Hippos, crocodiles, fish eagles overhead — a completely different pace from a game drive. Every transfer between parks was smooth and on time.”
Tripadvisor
“Genuinely remote in a way we did not expect from a booked safari. Our guide arranged a fly-camping night in Selous that ended up being the best night of the whole trip.”
Why travel with Yera
Every route on this itinerary is shaped by two decades guiding across Tanzania, including its most remote southern parks.
Change camps or pacing up to 60 days before departure at no charge.
Your quote is your price — fly-in transfers are included from the start, never added later.
FAQ
Ruaha and Selous/Nyerere are too far apart, and too remote, for road transfers to make sense within a 9-day trip. Light-aircraft transfers keep every day focused on the wilderness itself rather than travel time.
No — it's optional, offered on Day 3 in Ruaha, and again as a private fly-camping option on Day 7 in Selous/Nyerere. Availability and exact format are confirmed per camp at booking.
No wildlife sighting can be guaranteed. Selous/Nyerere is one of the last strongholds of the African wild dog, and Day 6 is built around the areas where they're most consistently seen, but this remains a wild, unscripted place.
This itinerary is tier-flexible: Signature and Bespoke camp options are both available and selected with you during planning. Pricing shown (from $5,025 pp) reflects the Signature tier.
3 nights Ruaha, 4 nights Selous/Nyerere, with fly-in/fly-out transfers through Dar es Salaam on either end.
Yes — private guide throughout, and remote camp locations mean you rarely share a sighting with another vehicle.
Yes — Katavi or Mahale Mountains chimpanzee trekking, a Zanzibar coastal finish, private fly-camping upgrades, or combining with a Northern Circuit safari for a full south-to-north journey.
Most nationalities require a visa, available on arrival or in advance online (e-visa). We recommend confirming requirements for your specific passport before travel.
Yes, though walking safaris and fly-camping typically have minimum age policies. Let us know ages when enquiring so we can tailor accordingly.
Planning
01
Tell us your dates, your group and what you most want to see. We reply within 24 hours with a first itinerary and price.
02
We adjust the camps, pace and budget until it fits you. A deposit then secures your dates and rooms.
03
You receive your final itinerary, packing list and travel documents. Your guide is waiting when you land.
Plan your safari
Tell us your dates and group size. We reply within 24 hours with a full quote and the camps you choose. No payment is needed to ask.
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Tell us your dates and interests — we'll shape a private itinerary suited to you, from the first game drive to the last sundowner.
Request a Quote