Overview
Nyerere National Park, formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve, is a vast and largely untouched wilderness covering approximately 30,000 square kilometers in southern Tanzania. Renamed in 2019 in honor of Julius Nyerere, the founding father of Tanzania, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the largest protected areas in Africa and offers a raw, authentic safari experience far from the crowds of the northern circuit. The park is defined by the Rufiji River, the largest river in East Africa, which flows through the heart of the reserve creating a network of channels, lakes, and swamps that teem with wildlife. Boat safaris on the Rufiji are a highlight, offering close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and elephants bathing along the riverbanks. The combination of boat safaris, walking safaris, and traditional game drives makes Nyerere one of the most versatile safari destinations in Tanzania. Nyerere supports one of the largest populations of elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and wild dogs remaining in Africa. The endangered African wild dog thrives here, with the park hosting one of the continent's most significant populations. The diversity of habitats, from miombo woodland to open grasslands and riverine forests, supports an extraordinary range of species across a landscape that feels genuinely wild and remote. Accommodation in Nyerere ranges from comfortable tented camps to luxury lodges set along the river, all designed to blend with the natural environment. The southern location means the park can be combined with other southern circuit destinations like Ruaha and Mikumi, offering an alternative Tanzania safari experience away from the more visited northern parks.
