Photo Safari Report: Nyerere and Ruaha Fly-in – June
Southern Tanzania offers a very different safari atmosphere compared to the well-known northern circuit. It is wilder, more remote, and often far quieter — the kind of place where you can drive for long stretches without seeing another vehicle, and where wildlife encounters feel genuinely private and unhurried.
This fly-in photographic safari was designed for guests who wanted maximum time in the bush with minimal road transfers. We started with a flight from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park, spending three nights in this vast and diverse ecosystem shaped by the Rufiji River. From there, we continued by internal flight to Ruaha National Park for another three nights, entering one of Tanzania’s most iconic predator landscapes and one of my personal favourites for raw, untamed safari photography.
What made this itinerary special was the contrast: water, river channels and lush floodplains in Nyerere, followed by rugged terrain, baobabs and dramatic light in Ruaha. A perfect combination for guests seeking both variety and a deeper connection with nature — far away from the crowds.
Trip Summary
- Route
Dar es Salaam → Nyerere National Park → Ruaha National Park -
Duration:6 nights / 7 days
-
Nyerere : 3 nights
-
Ruaha : 3 nights
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Style
Private fly-in photographic safari (minimal driving transfers) -
Best for
Wildlife lovers & photographers seeking remote, crowd-free parks -
Photography focus
Elephants, predators, river scenes, dramatic landscapes, golden light
Nyerere National Park (3 Nights) – Rivers, Elephants and a True Sense of Space
Arriving in Nyerere National Park by air immediately sets the tone: the landscape opens up beneath you, vast and alive, with rivers, palm-lined channels, and a sense of scale that is difficult to describe until you experience it.
Over our three nights, we explored different habitats, and the diversity of photographic opportunities was impressive. Nyerere is not only about big game — it is about atmosphere: reflections on the water, early morning mist, soft light filtering through riverine vegetation, and wildlife appearing in quiet, unexpected moments.
Highlights in Nyerere:
- Excellent encounters with elephants, often in relaxed family groups
- Beautiful riverine scenery and open floodplains for wide compositions
- Rich birdlife and constant opportunities for behaviour photography
- Calm, low-traffic drives with time to observe and shoot without pressure
- A strong sense of wilderness and silence — the kind that defines Southern Tanzania
Nyerere felt like a safari in its purest form: expansive, peaceful, and wonderfully unhurried. For photography, it offered an ideal combination of soft light, layered landscapes, and wildlife moments that unfolded naturally.
Ruaha National Park (3 Nights) – Wild Predators, Baobabs and Dramatic Light
From Nyerere we flew to Ruaha National Park, and the shift in scenery was immediate. Ruaha feels rugged, powerful and truly wild — a park of rocky outcrops, dry riverbeds, open plains and iconic baobabs that give the landscape a distinctive character.
Our three nights in Ruaha delivered a completely different photographic mood: stronger contrast, warmer tones, and a sense of raw wilderness that is hard to match. Ruaha is renowned for predators, and the game viewing here often feels intense — yet the park remains refreshingly remote, with sightings that can be enjoyed without crowd pressure.
Highlights in Ruaha
- Dramatic landscapes with baobabs, rocky terrain and big skies
- Excellent predator habitat and strong chances for lion and big cat encounters
- Photographic scenes with clean backgrounds and powerful compositions
- Warm, dry-season tones and cinematic light at sunrise and sunset
- A feeling of being deep in true wilderness — one of Tanzania’s most authentic parks
For photographers, Ruaha is one of those places where the environment becomes part of every image. Even simple sightings gain depth because the park’s landscapes are so distinctive and visually strong.
Final Reflections – The Best of Southern Tanzania by Air
This 6-night fly-in safari from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere and Ruaha was the perfect southern Tanzania combination: two world-class parks with very different ecosystems, connected efficiently by air so that nearly every day was spent where it matters most — in the wild.
Nyerere offered calm, water-based atmosphere and space, while Ruaha delivered rugged wilderness and powerful predator landscapes. Together, they created a safari experience that felt complete, balanced and deeply immersive.
Most importantly, this itinerary gave the guests what they were looking for: privacy, authenticity, and time. Time to enjoy sightings without rushing, time to work the light, and time to simply be present in nature. It is exactly the kind of safari I love to design — tailor-made, photography-focused, and far from the crowds.
If you are interested in experiencing Southern Tanzania in a similar way — with a fly-in itinerary that maximizes comfort, time in the field, and photographic opportunities — feel free to contact me. I will be happy to propose the ideal route based on your travel dates, interests and expectations.