Nyerere National Park

Why visit Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park is southern Tanzania's great wilderness. Created in 2019 from the northern part of the former Selous Game Reserve, it covers around 30,000 square kilometres, making it Tanzania's largest national park and one of the largest protected areas in Africa. At its heart is the Rufiji River, whose channels, oxbow lakes, sandbanks and palm-fringed lagoons create a landscape quite unlike the open plains of the north.

The river changes the way you explore. As well as game drives, most camps offer boat safaris past hippos, crocodiles and riverside birds, and many offer guided walks with an armed ranger. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and large herds of impala are common, and the park is one of Africa's best places to see the endangered African wild dog. With few camps spread over a huge area, game drives feel quiet and private.

When to go and how to get there

The best time is the dry season, from June to October, when wildlife gathers near permanent water and the tracks are easier to drive. Many camps close during the long rains, usually in April and May.

Nyerere is usually reached by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Arusha. It pairs well with Ruaha for a longer southern safari, or with Zanzibar for a short bush-and-beach trip. Ask us to plan a southern Tanzania safari.