The wild South East
This roadtrip begins and ends in Dar es Salaam and takes you to the less visited national parks of south east Tanzania. Ideal for those that want to get off the tourist trail at friendly prices. Go on world class safaris in Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve, experience local village life in traditional Tanzanian highland villages, and go birding and chimp trekking in the Udzungwa Mountains.
Scroll down to see the day-to-day route itinerary for this trip, with tips on places to stay so you can book your own accommodation. These are the lodges we like to stay in when we are roadtripping ourselves; small-scale, good price-quality ratio and owner-managed when possible.
Check the day to day itinerary
What to expect on this self-drive safari adventure in Tanzania
Travel time and road conditions in south east Tanzania
13 days / 11 car rental days is the minimum to follow this route.
The Tanzam Highway - the inland road from Dar es Salaam to Iringa - is asphalted and in good condition. The park entrance of Ruaha lies 100 km west of Iringa along a dirt road that takes about 2.5 hours to drive and requires a 4x4 vehicle. As for Selous Game Reserve, you will enter the park from the west coming from Morogoro. It's 140 km on a dirt road. Exploring Selous Game Reserve requires a Landcruiser due to river flooding and deep sandy tracks.
Limited budget? Go with a RAV4 and skip Selous.
Best time to visit the south east of Tanzania?
Selous Game Reserve is a highly seasonal safari destination and it tends to be hotter than any other park in Tanzania due to its low altitude. The optimum time to visit Selous is during dry season (June to September). Game viewing is as good through October and early November, but it becomes extremely hot. Wildlife spotting is a bit less reliable from November to February, but the scenery is lovely and green, and birdwatching is at its finest. Roads become very challenging and many camps close during April and May.
Ruaha is best visited between July and November.
Prices
Rest of year
Price per vehicle, in Euros.
Price includes 11 days Landcruiser rental, airport pick up, Selous Game Reserve quote, delivery & drop off in Dar es Salaam.
Want to explore the South East with a RAV4? Then we exclude Selous Game Reserve. The trip includes 9 day RAV4 rental and delivery & drop off in Dar es Salaam.
Want to explore the South East with the company of a driver-guide? Add €385 to your total trip amount, or €315 for the shortened version when travelling with a RAV4.
Landcruiser | RAV4 | |
Per car | € 2050 | € 1140 |
Low season | March - May
Price per vehicle, in euro's.
Price includes 11 day Landcruiser rental, airport pick up, Selous quote, delivery & drop off in Dar es Salaam.
Do you want to explore the South East with a RAV4? Then we exclude Selous. The trip includes 9 day RAV4 rental and delivery & drop off fee Dar es Salaam
Do you want to explore the south east with the company of a driver-guide? Add € 385, or € 315 for the shortened version when going with a RAV4.
Landcruiser | RAV4 | |
Per car | € 1670 | € 1025 |
Create & Book
Make this road trip yours! Hire a 4x4 rental car in Tanzania and Drive Your Own Adventure.
Book your roadtrip
Included
- Mobile phone with local SIM
- Roadmap and Bradt Travel Guide
- Comprehensive car insurance
- Car delivery to your hotel or airport
Optional
- Electrical fridge
- Driver-Guide