Signature
Luxury Safari
Premium lodges and tented camps, a private vehicle and guide, and a journey planned around you alone.
Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Conservation Area · Ruaha National Park
Southern Tanzania
Nyerere National Park
Vast southern wilderness and the mighty Rufiji River.
Overview
About Nyerere National Park
Formerly part of the Selous, Nyerere is one of Africa's largest protected areas — remote, dramatic, and river-fed.
Nyerere National Park was gazetted in 2019 from the northern sector of the vast Selous Game Reserve. At over 30,000 square kilometres it is one of the largest national parks in Africa and the largest in Tanzania — a wilderness on a scale that is genuinely hard to grasp until you are inside it.
The park is defined by the Rufiji River and its network of lakes, sandbanks and palm-lined channels. This is the only Northern-quality safari destination in Tanzania where boat safaris are a headline activity — drifting past hippo pods, crocodiles and elephants coming down to drink is unforgettable.
Nyerere is also one of the last remaining strongholds of the endangered African wild dog, with several habituated packs regularly seen. Walking safaris, fly-camping and low visitor numbers make it a natural pairing for anyone who has already done the Northern Circuit.
Size
30,000+ km²
Established
2019 (from Selous)
Signature activity
Boat safaris
Key species
African wild dog
Why Visit
- Boat safaris on the Rufiji
- Vast, uncrowded wilderness
- Walking safaris and fly-camping
- African wild dog stronghold
Main Experiences
Boat safarisWalking safarisFly-campingGame drives
Wildlife You May See
ElephantAfrican wild dogHippoCrocodileLionGiraffeBuffalo
Best Time to Visit
June to October, when wildlife concentrates along the river system.
Getting There
Reached by scheduled flight from Dar es Salaam (approx. 45 minutes).
Itinerary Ideas
- 4 nights Nyerere + 3 nights Ruaha (Southern Circuit)
- Boat + walking + drive combination
- Add a Zanzibar beach extension
Gallery
Nyerere National Park in pictures
Recommended Experiences
Experiences featuring Nyerere National Park
Every itinerary is tailor-made — choose an experience and we build it around you.
Specialist
Bird Watching Safari
Wetlands, escarpments, forest and savanna — a journey shaped for birders and their checklists.
Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro Conservation Area · Tarangire National Park
Specialist
Walking Safari
Guided walks with an armed ranger, reading tracks, plants and small detail you miss from a vehicle.
Nyerere National Park · Ruaha National Park · Ngorongoro highlands
