Tanzania Safari: Ruaha & Nyerere National Parks

AFAR

We went on a once-in-a-lifetime African safari in Tanzania. And guess what? It wasn’t in the Serengeti. Instead, we explored two lesser-visited areas of Tanzania, Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park, and practically had the entire area to ourselves. See what it's like, what to expect, and tips on where to say.  Safari lodges mentioned in this video: Roho ya Selous (Nyerere) - https://www.asiliaafrica.com/camps-lodges/roho-ya-selous Usangu Expedition Camp (Ruaha National Park) - https://www.asiliaafrica.com/camps-lodges/usangu-expedition-camp/  Read the full article: https://rebrand.ly/7ewn3pg ---- CONNECT WITH AFAR Afar.com is a digital and print magazine that publishes travel tips, guides, news, and stories: https://www.afar.com  Get updates on the latest articles, travel news, and more from AFAR by signing up for the AFAR newsletter: https://afar.com/newsletters  Follow AFAR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia Follow AFAR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/afarmedia

Transcript

00:00 Hi, I'm Jen Flowers and I'm the Senior Deputy Editor at Afarimedia.

00:04 I'm here to tell you about one of my favorite places to go on safari in Tanzania.

00:08 And guess what?

00:09 It's not in the Serengeti.

00:10 Let's go.

00:11 Tanzania is located in East Africa.

00:18 I'm traveling with Asilia Africa and I'm going to a new conservation-focused camp in

00:23 Ruaha National Park.

00:25 I'll get there by taking a tiny bush plane, which is always a thrill.

00:29 Then I'll go to another camp in the same park that's famous for its lion and elephant sightings.

00:34 After that, I head to Nyerere National Park, which is Africa's largest game reserve.

00:40 Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's second largest park, but it gets way fewer safari

00:45 goers compared to the famous Serengeti.

00:48 Here you have everything from savannas to wetlands and you practically have it all to

00:53 yourself.

00:54 I'm staying at Asilia Africa's new Usangu Expedition Camp.

00:58 It has just four rooms and it's perfect for people like me who want more hands-on experience

01:03 with the conservation work happening in this area.

01:07 We're putting up camera traps with a staff to monitor what wildlife lives here.

01:11 We're observing animals at night with special thermal monocular cameras at the camp.

01:16 We're driving through the wetlands and going on bushwalks to feel closer to the landscape.

01:21 Another cool thing, our safari car is run on ethanol created by cane waste from a nearby

01:26 sugar factory, which makes our on-the-ground explorations that much more sustainable.

01:31 Dinner is by the fire every night under the stars.

01:35 My next stop is the luxurious Jabali Ridge, another Asilia camp that's located in Ruaha

01:40 National Park.

01:41 There are more camps and visitors here than at Usangu, but it's still such a secluded

01:46 feeling place.

01:48 I'm staying at the camp's sprawling villa and as you can see, it's a sanctuary in the

01:52 middle of the bush.

01:53 I'm seeing some of the most incredible wildlife here.

01:57 Lions gathering near an animal carcass, elephants seeking water along the river, buffalo gathering

02:02 in huge numbers to drink.

02:04 And never, ever forget to look up.

02:07 You might spot a leopard in a tree if you're lucky.

02:10 It's hard for me to leave the magic of Jabali Ridge, but I also can't wait to see Nyerere

02:14 National Park, which I'm reaching via bush plane.

02:17 And Africa's largest game reserve is quite a sight from the sky.

02:22 My camp, Roho Yasalu, is set along the shores of a lake teeming with wildlife.

02:27 I'm going out to visit the crocodile and hippo filled waters, and we're heading out for a

02:31 cool spot in the middle of it all for a sundowner cocktail.

02:35 That is, if the resident wildlife doesn't mind.

02:38 The camp's eight rooms are surrounded by wildlife, and you don't have to venture far for unforgettable

02:43 sightings, including this massive congregation of giraffes.

02:47 Call the tower if they're standing still, and a journey if they're on the move.

02:50 I've been on lots of safaris, and this is the largest journey of giraffes I've ever

02:54 seen.

02:55 I love how unscripted, close to nature my safari feels in Nyerere.

03:00 We're having epic meals out in the bush, and we're getting out of the vehicle often to

03:03 interpret animal tracks as we go.

03:07 Southern Tanzania is like nowhere else on earth.

03:09 Be sure to put it on your bucket list, and when you go, safari and jemma like they say

03:12 in Swahili.

03:13 Thanks for watching this video by afar, and be sure to hit like on your way out.

03:17 And be sure to subscribe to our channel for tips and inspiration.

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