Nyerere National Park is Tanzania’s largest national park, created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve. It is a land of rivers, lakes and palm-fringed channels, and it offers something no northern park can: safaris by boat. It is also quiet, close to Dar es Salaam and easy to combine with Zanzibar.
Nyerere at a glance
| Size | about 30,000 km² |
| Created | 2019, from the northern Selous Game Reserve |
| Best known for | Boat safaris, wild dogs, the Rufiji River |
| Best time | June to October |
| Getting there | Under an hour by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam |
| Recommended stay | 3 nights |
Nyerere and the Selous
The Selous Game Reserve was one of the largest protected areas in Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2019, its northern section, where almost all the safari camps are, became Nyerere National Park, named after Tanzania’s first president. You will still hear both names used.
The Rufiji River and its lakes
The Rufiji is the largest river in Tanzania. In Nyerere it spreads into a network of channels, lagoons and lakes such as Lake Tagalala and Lake Manze. These waterways are the heart of the safari experience.
Safari activities
| Activity | What you see |
|---|---|
| Boat safari | Hippos, crocodiles, elephants drinking, kingfishers, fish eagles |
| Game drive | Lions, wild dogs, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes |
| Walking safari | Tracks, smaller wildlife, plants, with an armed ranger |
| Fly camping | A night in a simple camp in the bush, at some lodges |
Few parks in Africa let you combine boats, walks and drives so easily in a single stay.
Wildlife
- African wild dogs: the park is one of their strongholds.
- Lions and leopards.
- Elephants, buffalo and giraffes.
- Hippos and Nile crocodiles in large numbers.
- Birds: several hundred species, from carmine bee-eaters to African skimmers.
There are no black rhinos to reliably see, and it is not a migration park. Its strengths are variety of activity and a sense of space.
Best time to visit
June to October is the dry season, with the best game viewing near water. It gets hot towards October. The short rains in November and December bring green scenery. Many camps close during the heaviest rains, roughly from March to May.
Getting there
- By air: scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, usually under an hour.
- By rail: the TAZARA railway passes through the area, for adventurous travellers.
- By road: possible from Dar es Salaam, but long.
Nyerere, Ruaha and the coast
Nyerere pairs well with Ruaha, which adds more predators and dry-country wildlife. Our Nyerere & Ruaha safari flies between the two. Because Nyerere is close to Zanzibar, it also works as a short safari before or after the beach. For seasons across the country, read the best time for a safari in Tanzania.
Frequently asked questions
Nyerere was created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve. The rest of the Selous remains a game reserve.
Its rivers and lakes. Boat safaris on the Rufiji River let you see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birds from the water.
Most visitors fly from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, which takes under an hour. There is also a train and a road route.
