Nyerere National Park
Welcome to Nyerere National Park
The insider's travel guide to Nyerere National ParkNyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) has a rich variety of wildlife with the Rufiji River running through to join the Indian Ocean.
The reserve is populated with many of the key bucket list safari animals such as herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippopotamus, lions as well as the endangered wild dogs.
The Nyerere National Park atlas
7 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere-
Tanzania’s largest national park, Nyerere (formerly Selous Game Reserve) extends across almost 12,000 square miles – making it bigger than Belgium. Its most notable geographic feature is the Rufiji River, which flows throughout the year and is a major wildlife magnet in the dry season. Despite this, the drier climate means that animal densities away from the river are far lower than they are in the Serengeti, and the thick bush can make wildlife spotting more challenging. Nyerere supports large numbers of lion, elephant, giraffe, hippo and buffalo. It is also a key area for the endangered African wild dog, which is more frequently seen here than anywhere else in Tanzania. In recent years, commercial poaching has led to a massive decline in the park’s elephant population, but this still stands at more than 15,000 individuals. Nyerere feels more remote than most of the northern parks, but because its camps are concentrated in one small area north of the Rufiji (which is also visited by plenty of day safaris from Zanzibar), it can feel busier than might be expected. What really sets the park apart is the range of activities on offer. Boat safaris on the Rufiji and an associated network of lakes are a real highlight. Other special activities include walking safaris and fly-camping.
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Tanzania’s main wildlife destinations can all be explored in a 4x4. These days, many also allow guided walking safaris. But Nyerere National Park stands out as the only major Tanzanian reserve where you can do a boat safari. This is a true hidden gem. The palm-lined Rufiji is Tanzania's largest river, and it supports prodigious hippos, some monstrously proportioned crocodiles, and a dazzling array of birds ranging from the majestic African fish eagle to the colourful white-fronted bee-eater. Boat safaris in Nyerere also come with a good chance of spotting elephants crossing between the banks, giraffes coming down to drink and lions snoozing below riverside trees.
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Best safari lodge for: Quiet & remote safari in Nyerere Probably my favourite lodge in Nyerere National Park, Sand Rivers overlooks a wide, sandy bend in the Rufiji, Tanzania's largest river. The open-fronted stone-and-thatch suites here are simply stunning, and there's also a tempting freeform swimming pool set under a massive baobab tree. Whether you explore by boat, in a 4x4, or on foot, there's plenty of wildlife to be seen in the area, and the guides are exceptional. Aside from the exceptional river view, an appealing aspect of Sand River is that it stands some distance from any other camp and too deep into the park to be reached on day safaris from outside.
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Best safari camp for: Waterside wildlife immersion Nyerere is Tanzania's largest national park, extending across 30,000-plus square kilometres, and it offers a more exclusive safari experience than the better-known Serengeti. A great base for exploring it is Roho ya Selous, which means ‘Heart of Selous’ in reference to the park’s former name Selous Game Reserve. Set on the shore of Lake Nzerakera, Roho ya Selous consists of eight luxury standing tents spaced along a tract of evergreen waterside forest. The lodge stands in the heart of a rewarding wildlife-viewing circuit where you are sure to see plenty of elephant, buffalo and giraffe, and might well get lucky with lion and African wild dog. A highlight is boat trips on the lake, which is home to large numbers of hippo and plentiful waterbirds.
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Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is one of the largest protected areas in Africa at 19,000 square miles – bigger than Switzerland. With only a few camps, it feels far more remote than the northern parks. As well as lions, leopards, elephants, black rhinos, hippos and buffalos, Nyerere is a key area for endangered wild dogs. Poaching has led to a massive decline in species such as elephants – so although there are many animals to see, they’re not as densely populated as in the Serengeti, for example. What really sets Nyerere apart is the sheer range of activities you can do here: walking, boating and photo safaris, fly-camping, the list goes on. It costs a pretty penny, especially compared to the more touristy northern circuit, but if you're looking for something truly different, this may be for you.
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Delve into Africa’s spectacular ecosystems and come face to face with hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, gazelles and maybe even lions. You’ll get an old-world safari experience far from the crowds and deep in the wilderness with nature’s most magnificent creatures in Selous Game Reserve before moving on to Ruaha National Park, where you’ll enjoy a luxurious stay in a secluded camp with exclusive game viewing. Every experience in the wilderness is unique.
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Journey through Tanzania’s culture, wilderness, and secluded tropical oases in this unforgettable two-week adventure. This trip offers the ideal mix of relaxation and exploration, taking you on a journey from glistening waters and white-sand beaches to the rich Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park. After an invigorating adventure, you will visit the secluded islands of the Songosongo Archipelago to complete a truly treasured experience.
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Best for African wild dogs & canoe safaris
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Rufiji River boat safari
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Sand Rivers
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Roho ya Selous
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Off the beaten track in Nyerere
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Wild southern Tanzania
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Unexplored Tanzania
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