Nyerere National Park
Locals still know it as Selous Game Reserve. But the official name is Nyerere National Park. Whatever you call it, this Tanzania safari park is one of the largest in Africa, spanning almost 31,000 km²/12,000 square miles. This makes it similar in size to Belgium.
The national park’s landscapes are magnificent, offering a beautiful mix of the snaking Rufiji River, palm-fringed lakes, woodlands, and deep gorges.
Nyerere National Park is home to the world’s largest populations of lions, buffalo, hippos, and African wild dogs. The park also offers refuge to many giraffes, crocodiles, elephants, and aquatic birds. It is the only Tanzanian safari park where game drives are combined with walking safaris, boat tours, and overnight fly-camping excursions.
Nyerere National Park also has a refreshingly wild feel about it. And it is nicely removed from the crowds that you often get in Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit parks. This is one of the few places in East Africa where you can enjoy the area’s famous safari trails in relative peace, and where each wildlife encounter still feels like a real discovery.
Why is it called Nyerere National Park?
Formerly called Selous, the park was renamed in honor of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the founder of the nation. In 2019, the now-deceased former president of Tanzania, John Magufuli, announced that the vast Selous Game Reserve would be split into two. The northern, southern, and western parts were designated as Nyerere National Park, but the eastern area remained the Selous Game Reserve.
This massive conservation area protects a wonderful mix of Acacia savannahs, grasslands, miombo woodlands, marshes, and riverine forests, characteristics that formerly warranted the Selous Game Reserve’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the east, the park continues as the much-reduced Selous Game Reserve, which nevertheless encompasses some 20,155km2 (around 2 million hectares) – nearly twice the size of Masai Mara in Kenya
Nyerere is also adjoining Mikumi National Park in the northwestern corner, which, together with adjacent Udzungwa National Park, helps to connect the greater Selous ecosystem to the Ruaha ecosystem in the west.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nyerere National Park.
How does a Nyerere safari compare to the Serengeti?
The ideal scenario is a holiday that combines a safari in Nyerere National Park and the Serengeti National Park safari. That way, you could compare these two magnificent African wildlife safari parks for yourself. At the highest level, both national parks have incredible wildlife, and you’ll get to see the animals against a backdrop of gorgeous surroundings.
Looking a little closer, Nyerere National Park has much more water and subtropical vegetation, as well as denser woodlands. These landscape differences are also reflected in the subtle differences in the wildlife you can see here.
While there are several wildlife species that are common to both, such as big cats, elephants, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles, and hippos, Nyerere has fewer plains species and is a crossover zone where you can see bird species from both East and southern Africa.
What can I expect from a Nyerere Park Safari?
Usually, this means a before-dawn wake-up call, a hot drink, then a game drive looking for birds and animals. Unless you are moving on to a different location for the next night, you will return to camp mid- to late morning for breakfast and/or lunch.
This is often a time to relax, before afternoon tea and another game drive immediately afterwards. While out on the trail, just before sunset, you will most likely stop somewhere scenic for a sundowner where you can enjoy the drink of your choice at a simply gorgeous time of day. In Nyerere National Park, there is fine variation on the safari experiences. u may decide to go on an aboat tour on Lake Rufiji instead of multiple game drives, from where you will get a whole new perspective on the national park.
How much will a Nyerere National Park safari cost?
Prices vary widely when it comes to Nyerere safari packages, starting from around US$150 per person per day for the cheapest safari, up to over US$1,000 per person per day for luxury.
At the cheaper end of the price range, you will most likely be sleeping in simple rooms or bungalows, possibly with shared bathrooms, or in camp tents. If you are on a camping safari, you might be expected to contribute to group chores, such as setting up camp and cooking. For mid-range wildlife safaris, you can expect rooms, meals, and vehicles of a higher standard.
If your accommodation is in safari tents, you’ll have en suite bathrooms and a few other furnishings, with space to walk around in. At the luxury end of the scale, accommodation is superb and spacious, with high levels of personal service, excellent meals, and less-crowded safari vehicles.
What animals are in Nyerere National Park?
Nyerere National Park has the advantage of having stunning scenery and wildlife habitat on both land and the Rufiji River. On a safari boat cruise out on the river, you will see hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife, and you never know which land mammals might come down to drink by the river’s edge.
On wildlife game drives, you are almost guaranteed to see both lions and elephants: the Nyerere National Park has some of the largest populations of both species in Tanzania. Other big cats are always a possibility, as are African wild dogs, and the national park has large populations of zebra, giraffe, buffalo, and wildebeest.
There are many animal species and about 440 bird species recorded in Nyerere National Park
- Lions
- Leopards
- Elephants
- Buffalos
- Rhinos
- African wild dogs
- Spotted hyenas
- Cheetahs
- Hippos
- Crocodiles
- Zebras
- Giraffes
- Wildebeest
- Roan antelope
- The Puku antelope
- Common eland
- Coke’s hartebees
