Nyerere National Park (Selous)
The great southern wilderness
From - $2,300
per person, sharing
Destination Overview
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern core of the vast Selous Game Reserve. Named after Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's founding president, it covers over 30,000 square kilometres and is by area one of the largest protected areas in Africa, and among the largest national parks in the world. The Rufiji River, one of Africa's greatest, flows through the park and creates a complex network of channels, lakes and floodplains that give Nyerere its distinctive character.
The Rufiji is what sets Nyerere apart from every other Tanzanian park. Boat safaris are the signature experience here, drifting past hippo pods and crocodiles hauled onto sandbars, watching elephant families cross channels between islands, and cutting the engine to fish eagle calls above. Few destinations in Africa offer this combination of a large river system inside a Big Five park, and no northern parks offer boat safaris at all.
The park protects one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa, dense buffalo herds, and a strong wild dog population with several denning packs. Lion prides are common along the sand rivers, and leopard are frequently seen along the Rufiji forests. Sable and greater kudu are present in the miombo woodlands, and the birdlife along the river is spectacular, with African skimmer, pel's fishing owl, palm-nut vulture and giant kingfisher all reliable.
Nyerere is also a walking-safari destination of the first order. Guided walking is available across the park with armed rangers, and traditional fly-camping under mosquito nets in a mobile bush camp is one of the great southern circuit experiences. Combined with Ruaha, it forms a complete southern Tanzania itinerary of seven to ten nights.
Related Tours
Tours that visit Nyerere National Park (Selous)
6 days
6-Day Ruaha & Nyerere Southern Circuit
The classic southern circuit combining three nights at Ruaha for game drives and walking with two nights at Nyerere for the Rufiji River boat safaris and Big Five viewing.
From $2,300
5 days
5-Day Nyerere Boat & Game Safari
Four nights at Nyerere National Park (the former northern Selous) with boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking with armed rangers, and Big Five game drives.
From $2,700
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