Nyerere National Park

Nyerere — the northern part of what was the Selous Game Reserve — is the largest national park in Africa and the heart of the southern circuit. Elephant, buffalo, lion and one of the continent's best populations of African wild dog, along a river system that lets you swap the vehicle for a boat.

Boat safaris on the Rufiji

The thing the northern parks cannot do. Drifting past hippo pods and crocodile on the sandbanks, with elephants coming down to drink, is a different way of seeing the same animals.

Walking safaris

Nyerere permits guided walking, which is how the south is best understood — tracks, dung, birds and small things you drive past in the north.

Wild dogs

One of the last strongholds. Sightings are never guaranteed anywhere, but your odds here are as good as they get.