Olaitoriani Expeditions

  • Njiro Hill, Arusha Tanzania
  • +255612137284
Tiktok Facebook Instagram
GET INSTANT QUOTE
GET INSTANT QUOTE

Nyerere National Park

Welcome to Nyerere (Selous) National Park

 

Nyerere National Park was established in November 2019, when the legendary Selous Game Reserve was subdivided. As the largest National Park in Africa, Nyerere National Park covers an immense area of over 30,000 square kilometers, roughly 230 kilometers by road from Dar es Salaam. 

The surrounding game reserve is still called Selous, named after the renowned hunter, explorer, writer and soldier Frederick Courtney Selous, who was killed during the First World War inside the reserve and was buried near to the spot where he fell (marked by a grave to this day).

The Nyerere National Park is the biggest national park in Africa, covering a total area of 30,893 km2 (almost 12,000 sq. miles), 3.2% of Tanzania’s land surface. A large area of the reserve is drained by the Rufiji River.

There are over 2,000 species of plants, over 430 species of birds, and 60 species of mammals.
In 1982 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed nature. It’s a unique environment rich in water, channels and lakes. Abundant with wildlife and little visited by tourist, compared to northern parks. You can enjoy a variety of activities thanks to the lakes and the Rufiji River.

The Nyerere National Park togethere with the Selous Game reserve is also the biggest stronghold for wild dogs in Africa and surely one of the places where you would have more chances to spot them!

Relatively undisturbed by humans, the park’s diverse vegetation includes patches of savannah, riverine forest, and swamp that impose on the predominant miombo woodland. In turn, this diverse habitat accommodates a wide range of fauna and flora. Off-roading is permitted, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the areas residents. 

A popular pastime at Nyerere is extended treks through the bush with overnight options at fly-camps available along the way. Visitors will wake in the morning to decipher the animal tracks near their tents and speculate about who wandered nearby during the night. Other more permanent accommodation options are available throughout the park, offering game drives and water safaris along the Rufiji River. Nyerere National Park is the perfect add-on to a Zanzibar trip with flights departing from the island and Dar es Salaam and landing in the park.

 

Park History

In November 2019 almost two third of the Selous Game Reserve has been turned into a National Park and renamed Nyerere in honour of the “father of the Nation”, Julius Mwalimu Nyerere, the first president the country had after independence and a great conservationist.
Here a quote from Nyerere which we wish more presidents all over the world would adopt as their own:

“The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa. These wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabit are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration, but are an integral part of our natural resources and our future livelihood and well being. In accepting the trusteeship of our wildlife, we solemnly declare that we will do everything in our power to make sure that our children’s grand-children will be able to enjoy this rich and precious inheritance.”

This new status means that hunting will not be permitted in the area that falls under the the park. For the photographic area where we are located not much changes as no hunting was permitted under Selous Game Reserve anyway.

Nyerere National Park Highlights

  • Africa’s largest national park with over 30,000 square kilometers
  • The largest faunal reserve in the world
  • Far less crowded than its northern counterparts
  • Pristine and untouched landscapes – one of Africa’s last remaining wildernesses
  • Overnight trek options are available, offering an authentic safari experience
  • Easily reached from Zanzibar & Dar es Salaam and a budget-friendly addition to a Tanzanian itinerary

Wildlife in Nyerere

Wildlife connoisseurs adore Nyerere, and for us, for that reason, it’s familiar territory. It’s a huge area way down in southern Tanzania. The Rufiji River is its life-force: swirling, tawny waters – full of hippopotamus and crocodile – cleave the eleven million acres of bush, woodland, hills and grasslands. In this huge, fascinatingly diverse ecosystem, we revel in the anticipation of discovery as it unfolds before us.

It’s hard to explain, but it’s as if we’ve squeezed through a creaking, old gate to gain the freedom of Nature’s secret garden. To be in Nyerere is to suddenly walk onto a hidden riverbank, and see the flash of a leopard leaping the rocks on the opposite bank, is to watch from a treetop hide as a herd of elephant silently crosses a waterhole, is to come upon a pack of African hunting dogs alone on their kill as you round a curve in the river.

Navigating Nyerere

In a place as vast and untamed as Nyerere, any visit should make the most of the opportunity to explore in every possible way. Indeed, game drives are an essential aspect of the experience. Yet one day spent in a vehicle could be followed by a morning’s boat safari and breakfast on a sandbar – surrounded by hippos and without another human being in sight.

The terrain unequivocally lends itself to exploration on foot, in the company of an expert guide to expose and translate the natural marvels of the park. And for those looking for absolute immersion in nature, some lodges offer fly camping, with tents set up in the middle of the wilderness, with just a thin layer of canvas between their occupants and the creatures of the Nyerere night.

When to visit Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park experiences two seasons and these are the dry and wet season. The seasons highly determine the activities that you can engage in and in return the activities determine the best time for you to visit the Selous. The dry season (June to October) is the best time for a walking safari and game drives whereas the wet season (November to April) is the best time for all those that would love to go birding.

Before you pack your bags for a trip to Selous, make sure that you do extensive research on the tour company that you are going to use so that you are not conned and ask ahead about what you should bring and what to avoid before travelling to the southern part of Tanzania.

udzungwa National Park
Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park
udzungwa National Park

Things to do in Nyerere National Park 

Nyerere National Park formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve is found in the southern circuit Tanzania and a good safari destination for tourists that do not like crowds.

There are quite a number of activities that one can engage in while in Nyerere and these are game drives, birding, a cultural tour, fishing and walking safaris. All activities within Nyerere are carried out with the help of a tour guide and below these have been listed below in detail so that you get to know what you are going to put on your list first.

Birding safari

A birding safari to Nyerere National Park is one interesting activity that you should engage in while in Tanzania. Nyerere has over 400 bird species which can be found in their different natural habitats which are lagoons, the Rive Rufiji, swamps and the vegetation that are found in the Park. An experienced tour guide who can identify the bird species will be assigned to you throughout the birding safari and some of the bird species that you should look out for include palm-nut vultures, African fish skimmers, pink backed pelican, yellow-billed stork, African fish eagle, white crowned spur winged plovers, the hornbills and the white fronted bee-eater among others. The best time for a birding safari in Nyerere is during the wet season which is experienced between November and April.

Nyerere Game Drives

This is one of the most anticipated activities for every tourist who visits the Nyerere National Park. Nyerere is the largest reserve in the country and even though it is not as popular as its counterparts in the Northern circuit, it has a large number of animals that can be seen during the game drive. You will be provided with an open roof van for easy viewing of the animals and an experienced tour guide to take you around the Park. Some of the animals that are found in Nyerere include wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, black rhinos, hippos, buffalos, kudus, hyenas, impalas and waterbucks among others. The best time for game drives is during the dry season (June to October) and the drives are best done in the morning before 11 and in the afternoon hours around 3pm when the heat is still bearable. The National Park experiences two seasons : the wet season and the dry season. These seasons are what determine the activities that you can carry out while in Nyerere because each season has activities that are carried out, that is some of the activities that are carried out during the wet season cannot be carried out during the dry season and the reverse is true

Nyerere Boat Ride

Nyerere is one of the few National parks within the country that can be explored with both a boat and a van. The River Rufiji is one of the main courses that you will take while boat riding although there are other smaller channels that you can use. A boat ride along the River Rufiji will take you around the Nyerere Park with a clear view of the animals and birds. Make sure that you have life jackets on and follow all the guidelines put up by the tour guide.

Fishing

A fishing safari in Nyerere is a perfect way to relax while on a safari in Selous. Fishing is mostly carried out at the Rufiji River although you can also go to the smaller channels and swamps within the National Park for the activity. Spot fishing is what is normally carried out in Nyerere, that is all the fish captured is supposed to be put back into the water and with the help of a tour guide your trip will be worth it. You will be provided with fishing equipment at a small fee and with your fishing rod, bait and life jacket, you will be ready to start your fishing expedition in the Nyerere National Park.

Walking safari

A walking safari through Nyerere is organized in the offbeat tracks where most of the animals that are considered to be dangerous are not found. It is normally organized during the morning hours and late afternoon during the dry season and this is because the morning and late afternoon the heat is a little bit bearable. You will be given some guidelines by the tour guide that you should follow so that you keep safe. An armed ranger will be with you for protection purposes and some of the animals that you will get to see include the elephants, hippos and zebras.

Hot air balloon rides

Engage in a hot air balloon ride while in Nyerere and get to see animals from a different point of view. There are only two National parks that offer the hot air balloon ride and the first one is the Serengeti National Park which is found in the Northern Circuit and the Nyerere National Park in the southern circuit. The hot air balloon ride is carried out very early in the morning in Nyerere and you get to see the animals, birds, landscape and the sunrise from above.

Photo safaris

Photo safaris in Nyerere are normally done in the Northern part of the National park. You will need a few things in order for you to enjoy a photo safari here and with your cameras ready, you take photos of animals, the landscape and the birds that are found in the National Park.