Nyerere National Park

The Nyerere National Park, previously known as Selous Game Reserve, is Africa’s largest stand-alone national park, spanning over 30,000 square kilometers in southern Tanzania. The park attracts far fewer visitors than its northern counterparts. This – accompanied by its pristine and untouched landscapes – has earned Nyerere a reputation as one of Africa’s last remaining wildernesses.

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.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Nyerere National Park is during the dry season from June until October. This coincides with the main safari season in East Africa. During November and December Nyerere usually enjoys its first rains after a long dry season.

Wildlife

Its wildlife is spectacular, with some of the largest populations of mammals and reptiles in Africa, including buffaloes, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles which can be seen here. Nyerere National Park, together with the remaining part of Selous Game Reserve, is considered to be the last stronghold of the African wild dog. Other common wildlife includes the wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, eland, the greater kudu, sable antelopes, black rhino, waterbuck, impala, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, cheetah, baboon, vervet and blue monkey, and the black and white colobus monkey which can be viewed in riverine forests.