Safari experts & storytellers. Since 1991
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
Combine two of Tanzania’s most extraordinary and contrasting destinations.
Begin in Ruaha National Park, a remote wilderness known for its craggy baobabs, large elephant herds, and high predator concentrations. Stay in a bygone-era lodge and enjoy game drives and walking safaris in search of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and striped hyena.
Then fly to Mafia Island, where your treehouse accommodation and pristine marine reserves await you. Create memories and wash away the dust at this barefoot luxury island retreat.
From the wild savannas of Ruaha to the tropical reefs of Mafia, this journey offers both adventure and tranquillity in one seamless escape.
Explore rugged wilderness & then escape to a Robinson Crusoe fantasy island
Everything you need to know about this safari idea
Highlights
Explore Ruaha National Park, one of Tanzania’s best-kept safari secrets, with thrilling game drives tracking lions, leopards, cheetahs, and vast elephant herds.
Walking safaris with expert guides, offering a close-up view of Ruaha's untamed beauty.
Mwagusi Safari Camp - an authentic, charming lodge from a bygone era.
Retreat to Mafia Island, an unspoiled paradise where treehouse living meets barefoot luxury for a Robinson Crusoe fantasy.
Dive or snorkel among pristine coral reefs, home to turtles, reef fish, and swim with whale sharks.
Discover Mafia's rich culture and history on village tours, explore mangroves and hidden lagoons by kayak or dhow, and witness turtle hatchings. For a slower pace, enjoy Swahili cooking and craft lessons, soothing massages, or simply relax in the treetop hideaway.
Locations
Ruaha National Park is an ancient landscape of giant knarled baobabs, sandy riverbeds and rocky hills. In addition to hosting about 10% of Africa's lions, this wilderness also supports significant populations of leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs, as well as huge herds of buffalo and Tanzania's largest population of elephants. Ruaha is one of the few places where greater and lesser kudu occur together. Visitors may even encounter the elusive striped hyena.
Mafia Island offers palm-fringed white-sand beaches and ancient dhows on a calm turquoise sea; an exquisite tonic to wash away the safari dust and achieve sand-in-the-toes ecstasy. It is quieter and less developed than most of the Spice Islands, and has an authentic “off-the-beaten-path” vibe. It feels more like a remote fishing community than a tourist hotspot.
Lodges
3 nights at Mwagusi Safari Camp: An authentic tented lodge on the bank of the Mwagusi Sand River in Ruaha, offering game drives, walking safaris, and a laid-back, bygone era bushveld immersion.
4 nights at Chole Mjini: Unique treehouse-style accommodation on Chole Island, part of the Mafia Archipelago. This jungle island retreat offers simple luxuries that reawaken the senses and conjure up a castaway fantasy. Easy access to marine park activities.
Timing
The Ruaha National Park dry season runs from June to October, and it is during this period that the rivers become crucial to the wildlife of Ruaha. Large herds of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, kudus, and other antelope are drawn to the water, trailing predators in their wake.
There are two rainy seasons in Ruaha, similar to most of East Africa, with ‘short rains’ falling during November and December and the much heavier downpours of the ‘long rains’ occurring in March and April.
For the Spice Islands (Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia), June through October falls squarely within the dry, prime weather season for coastal areas, offering low rainfall and excellent conditions for relaxing and water activities.
Price per person sharing
| 7 nights (8 days) | ||
| High season | Jun to Aug 2026 |
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| Whale shark season | Sept 2026 to Mar 2027 |
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| Per solo traveller | ||
| High season | Jun to Aug 2026 |
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| Whale shark season | Sept 2026 to Mar 2027 |
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Includes: All flights Dar Es Salaam-Ruaha-Dar Es Salaam-Mafia Island-Dar Es Salaam; accommodation throughout, all meals and local drinks, guided activities and park fees at Mwagusi, breakfast and dinner at Chole Mjini, 24/7 logistical support.
Excludes: International flights and airport taxes; Marine Park fees, drinks at Chole Mjini, equipment rental payable directly at Mafia; visas; mandatory travel, cancellation and medical insurance; gratuities; personal expenses; optional activities not specified.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
"Hidden gems"
Ross Exler, AG Tanzania safari expert: "I love how this trip blends Mafia’s pristine reefs with Ruaha’s wild, untamed beauty - both hidden gems that rival their more famous northern counterparts, yet offer a far more intimate and off-the-beaten-path adventure."
"A primordial landscape"
Our CEO, Simon Espley, says, "There is a primordial feel about Ruaha - those huge ancient baobabs, scarred by centuries of weather and elephants and the huge herds of buffaloes kicking up the dust as they battle prides of lions - eternal enemies. My kind of place."
"Swim with whalesharks"
Our destinations expert, Nadia Lautenbach, says, “Time your visit to Mafia Island between October and February, when the gentle whale sharks gather — snorkelling (responsibly) alongside these giants is one of the ocean’s most unforgettable experiences.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Whale sharks visit Mafia Island seasonally between October and March, offering rare encounters with the world's largest fish. Peak sightings are typically October to February, when juvenile sharks gather in Chole Bay in concentrations found at very few other places in the world.
The dry season runs June–October in Ruaha, offering prime wildlife viewing as animals gather at the rivers. For Mafia Island, June–October also brings dry, stable beach weather. Both seasons align, making this the ideal window for the full bush-and-beach experience.
Scuba diving on pristine coral reefs, snorkelling, kayaking through mangroves, dhow excursions, village tours, and turtle hatching experiences. For a slower pace, guests can enjoy Swahili cooking and craft lessons, soothing massages, or simply relax in the treetop hideaway at Chole Mjini.
Start planning your dream safari
Our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why book your safari with us?
Deep Experience & Knowledge
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
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Make A Difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!