Nyerere National Park | Ultimate Guide to Nyerere Park Safaris

Nyerere National Park, Africa’s largest national park, stands as a beacon of untamed wilderness in southern Tanzania. Spanning over 30,000 square kilometers (approximately 11,583 square miles), the park was carved from the historic Selous Game Reserve in 2019 and renamed in honor of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts exceptional biodiversity, with vast landscapes ranging from grassy plains and miombo woodlands to riverine forests, swamps, lakes, and the mighty Rufiji River system—the heart of the park’s ecological richness.

Unlike the crowded northern parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Nyerere offers a remote, crowd-free safari experience, making it ideal for adventurers seeking authenticity and solitude. Whether you’re spotting the Big Five, enjoying a night game drive or gliding along the Rufiji on a boat safari, this park delivers unparalleled wildlife encounters in one of East Africa’s most pristine environments.

History of Nyerere National Park

The origins of Nyerere National Park trace back to 1896, when the area was established as a series of protected reserves under German colonial rule. It evolved into the Selous Game Reserve in 1922, named after British explorer and conservationist Frederick Courteney Selous, who was killed there during World War I.

Initially a hunting reserve by 1905, it shifted toward conservation, becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 for its outstanding biodiversity and undisturbed habitats. The Selous Game Reserve, the largest in the world at that time, was divided to a conservation area for photographic safaris, and hunting blocks for hunting safaris under special lincenses.

In 2019, during the tenure of the late John Joseph Pombe Magufuli, the 5th President of the Republic of Tanzania, two-thirds of Selous (about 30,893 square kilometers) was upgraded to national park status and renamed Nyerere National Park to honor Julius Nyerere’s legacy in protecting Tanzania’s natural heritage.

The remaining southern portion retains the Selous name for hunting concessions, while the northern section focuses exclusively on photographic safaris and conservation.

Location and Size of Nyerere National Park

Located in southeastern Tanzania, Nyerere National Park spans regions including Morogoro, Lindi, Mtwara, Pwani, and Ruvuma, about 230 kilometers southwest of Dar es Salaam.

Nyerere National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania and Africa, covering over 30,000 square kilometers—twice the size of Serengeti or Kruger National Park.

The park’s terrain includes open grasslands dotted with baobabs, miombo woodlands, mountains, forests, and a complex network of swamps, channels, and lakes formed by the Rufiji River, East Africa’s largest river basin.

This diverse geography supports one of the continent’s most outstanding ecological systems.

Wildlife in Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park is famous for its large groups of animals and the natural balance between hunters and their prey. This makes it one of Africa’s most important wild areas that still feels untouched.

The park has four of the Big Five animals: lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. (Black rhinos are not here; they live mainly in northern parts of Tanzania.) You can see big herds of elephants (about 8,300 in the park) and buffaloes (around 35,000) moving across the open plains.

Lion groups are strong, with more than 1,000 in the wider Selous-Nyerere area. Along the Rufiji River, there are thick groups of hippos (over 21,000), creating lively scenes in the water.

The park also has one of Africa’s biggest groups of African wild dogs (recent studies found more than 200).

Other animals include cheetahs, spotted hyenas, giraffes (about 1,300), wildebeest (around 4,700), zebras (about 5,500), impalas (over 5,600), greater kudus, waterbucks, bushbucks, Lichtenstein’s hartebeests, elands, sable antelopes, pukus, Nile crocodiles, and many more. These animals help keep the park’s wild world full of life and variety.

Nyerere National Park is also a birders haven! Birdlife exceeds 440 species, including pink-backed pelicans, African skimmers, giant kingfishers, carmine and white-fronted bee-eaters, fish eagles, palm-nut vultures, ibises, yellow-billed storks, white-crowned and spur-winged plovers, pied and malachite kingfishers, trumpeter hornbills, purple-crested turacos, yellow-bellied bulbuls, mangrove kingfishers, black cuckoo-shrikes, red-throated twinspots, red-winged warblers, spotted flanked barbets, and grey-hooded kingfishers. The park allows short and long walks making the park one of the best spots for birding safaris in Tanzania.

The Rufiji River supports aquatic life like hippos and crocodiles, with sunbathing crocs on sandy islands and thriving waterbirds.

Activities available at Nyerere National Park

Nyerere offers the widest diversity of safari activities in Tanzania, leveraging its riverine landscape for unique experiences. Key options include:

• Game Drives: Morning (before 11:00 AM) and afternoon (around 3:00 PM) is the best time for safari game drives to spot animals at waterholes, especially rewarding in the dry season. Full day game drives with picnic lunch are also available, in order to explore deeper.
• Boat Safaris: Nyerere National Park is one of the best places for boat safaris in Tanzania. Glide along the Rufiji River for close views of hippos, crocodiles, birds, and elephants drinking—quiet and non-intrusive.
• Walking Safaris: Nyerere is one of the parks in Tanzania that allows for range guided walking safaris. Guided walks (for ages 12+ at some camps) to observe birds, insects, plants, and big game on foot, accompanied by armed rangers, who are also professionally trained naturalists.
• Fly-Camping: Overnight bush trips in temporary setups for immersive wilderness stays, with campfire dinners and armed scouts (adults only).
• Birding and Photo Safaris: Year-round opportunities for over 440 bird species and scenic photography, best in wet season for migrants.
• Cultural Tours: Engage with local communities like the Mwaseni and in the Mtemere village for insights into traditional life.
• Night Drives: Accompanied by an armed ranger and a professional spotter, Spot nocturnal animals like civets, porcupines, or leopards.

Exclusive luxury camps like Beho Beho, Sand Rivers, and Siwandu offer these but we can also arrange the night game drives if you are staying in mid range lodges and camps located outside the park. Visitors must follow safety guidelines: stay in vehicles, no loud noises, no feeding animals, no littering. Listen to your guide and rangers instructions at all times.

Best Time to Visit Nyerere National Park

The dry season (June-October) is ideal for wildlife viewing, with animals concentrating around water sources, clear skies, and mild weather (up to 33°C days, cooler mornings). July-August offers fantastic sightings of lions, wild dogs, and herds, though it’s peak and pricey. The drier months also ensure the game driving tracks are passable because some can be impassable during the wet seasons.

September-October is hot but excellent for high densities.

The green season (November-May) brings lush landscapes, newborn animals, birding (migrants November-April), and lower rates, but rains (heavy April-May) can disperse wildlife and make roads impassable—many camps close.

Shoulder months (January-February, November) provide good value with variable weather. Avoid April-May for rains if you can.

Accessibility | Getting There

Access to Nyerere is primarily by light aircraft: 45 minutes from Dar es Salaam, 90 minutes from Ruaha, or 30 minutes from Zanzibar.

Road access from Dar es Salaam varies: The newly maintained Kisarawe route is shorter (184 km) and takes around 4 hours, making it the preferred option nowadays. The traditional Kibiti route is longer (235 km) and takes 5-7 hours, depending on road conditions.

Nyerere National Park’s Gates

Nyerere National Park features two primary entry gates, strategically located for convenient access from Dar es Salaam and surrounding areas. These gates are open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with all fees payable electronically via Visa, MasterCard, or TANAPA accounts at the entrance. Visitors must adhere to park rules, including a 50 km/h speed limit (25 km/h in sensitive zones) and no littering.

• Mtemere Gate: The main and most preferred entry on the eastern border, accessible via the Kibiti road (230 km from Dar es Salaam, 5-7 hours). It’s closest to prime lodges like Serena Mivumo River Lodge and Rufiji River Camp, ideal for central park exploration.

• Matambwe Gate: The key northwestern entry near Kisaki Township, accessed via the Kisarawe route through Morogoro (235-300 km from Dar es Salaam, 6-7 hours drive). Serves camps like Beho Beho and Sable Mountain Lodge; great for Mikumi combos. Alternatively, take the TAZARA train from Dar es Salaam to Kisaki or Fuga station (4-5 hours, ~$10-20), then a 20-30 km vehicle transfer for a scenic, budget-friendly approach.

Airstrips at Nyerere National Park

Nyerere’s remoteness is bridged by a network of gravel airstrips serving scheduled and charter flights from Dar es Salaam (45 min), Zanzibar (30 min), or Arusha/Ruaha (90 min). These all-weather strips minimize transfers to camps, with daily services by airlines like Coastal Aviation, Safari Airlink (By Foxes Camps) and Auric Air.

Key airstrips include:

• Mtemere Airstrip (Coordinates: 07°45’01″S 038°12’47″E): The busiest, serving central camps like Rufiji River Camp; daily flights, 1-min drive to Mtemere Gate.
• Matambwe Airstrip (IATA: SE3): Western access near Matambwe Gate, for camps like Beho Beho; flights from Dar/Zanzibar, ~10-min transfer.
• Kiba Airstrip (IATA: SE2): Southeastern, serving Sand Rivers and Kiba Point; daily flights, short transfers to Rufiji River lodges.
• Sumbazi Airstrip: Northern reserve edge, for Siwandu and Roho ya Selous; connects from Arusha/Ruaha.
• Beho Beho Airstrip (Coordinates: S 07°40’25.9″ E 037°55’14.1″): Private for Beho Beho Camp, with charter access.
• Siwandu Airstrip: Lakeside near Lake Nzerakera, for Roho ya Selous and Impala Camp.

Where to Stay at Nyerere National Park

Nyerere offers intimate, eco-focused stays blending luxury and wilderness. Below are top picks for 2025-2026, from high-end retreats to midrange camps, all with prime wildlife access and sustainable practices.

• Roho ya Selous (Luxury Tented Camp): On Lake Nzerakera’s west side, this Asilia-owned camp features 8 tents with plunge pools and river views. Eco-luxury with boat safaris; ideal for wild dog sightings.
• Beho Beho Camp (Luxury Lodge): Hilltop retreat with 10 stone cottages overlooking the Rufiji; exclusive with private balconies and fly-camping. Top for Big Five; family-friendly.

• Sand Rivers Selous (Luxury Tented Camp): Riverside camp with 8 tents near Kiba Airstrip; intimate with open-plan dining and walking safaris. Historic (oldest in Nyerere); great for birding.
• Siwandu Camp (Luxury Tented Camp): Lakeside on Lake Nzerakera with 12 elegant tents; top-tier with plunge pools, fine dining, and boat safaris. Romantic and family-friendly; among Nyerere’s priciest.
• Mivumo River Lodge (Luxury Riverside Lodge): Serena-owned with 30 AC rooms overlooking Rufiji; plunge pools and fine dining. Comfort-focused; near Mtemere Gate.

Conservation

Established to protect undisturbed ecological processes, Nyerere supports diverse wildlife and plays a critical role in conserving endangered species like black rhinos and wild dogs.

As a UNESCO site since 1982, it focuses on biodiversity preservation and anti-poaching, though elephant numbers have declined due to past poaching.

The northern section is dedicated to photographic safaris and conservation, while the south allows low-volume hunting. Managed by TANAPA, it emphasizes sustainable tourism benefiting local economies.

Unique Features

Nyerere’s vast size and low visitor density make it Africa’s largest wilderness, with the Rufiji River creating idyllic sunbathing spots for crocs and dramatic sunsets amid palms and baobabs.

Hot springs, deeply incised gorges, palm-fringed lakes, and the last stronghold for African wild dogs set it apart.

It’s quieter than northern parks, offering exclusive experiences like fly-camping in a UNESCO-protected haven.

Category	Citizens (TZS)	Residents/Expatriates (USD)	Non-Residents (USD)
Adults (16+)	10,000	35-60	50-70
Children (5-15)	5,000	15-30	20-30
Children (under 5)	Free	Free	Free

High season (July-October): $70 adult (non-residents). Low season (November-June): $50-60. Additional conservation levy: $25-35. Vehicle fees: ~$10-20 USD. All fees subject to 18% VAT, payable at gates or via TANAPA accounts.