Nyerere
One of the largest parks in Africa, cut through by the Rufiji River. You see it from a boat and on foot as well as from the vehicle.
What makes it different
Nyerere covers more than 30,000 km², and its few camps sit along the Rufiji River and its lakes in the north. The river is the point: boat safaris among hippo and crocodile, past riverbank birdlife, are as much a part of the day here as game drives. Walking with an armed ranger is allowed too.
It sees a small fraction of the visitors the northern circuit does. You can spend a morning without passing another vehicle.
What lives here
- Hippo and crocodile in and along the river and lakes.
- Elephant, buffalo, giraffe and lion in the woodland and on the floodplain.
- African wild dog: the south is one of their strongholds, though sightings are never certain.
- A long list of water and woodland birds.
When to come
June to October is the dry season and the best time: animals stay near the water and the grass is short. November to March is green, hot and humid, with fewer visitors. Many camps close for the long rains, roughly April and May.
How long to stay
Three or four nights. With fewer than three, the flights take too large a share of the time. Nyerere pairs well with Ruaha for a southern-only trip, or with a few nights on the coast or Zanzibar afterwards.
Questions travellers actually ask
By light aircraft from Arusha, a few hours with stops at other airstrips on the way, landing at an airstrip near your camp. From Dar es Salaam the flight is much shorter. You can drive from Dar, but it is a long, rough day and we rarely suggest it.
Nyerere was created in 2019 from the northern part of what was the Selous Game Reserve, which is where almost all the camps were. Older guidebooks and maps call it the Selous.
Yes, by air. A few nights in the north and a few in the south show you two very different Tanzanias. It adds flights and cost, so it suits journeys of ten days or more.
We arrange the south on request, around your dates and the camps that are open. Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with a proper plan and one all-in price.
Ask us about the south
Send us a few details and a person on the team will reply personally, not a template.
The rest of the south, and the north for comparison.
