Nyerere National Park Tanzania – was formerly called “Selous Game Reserve,” and in 2019 it gained national park status. It is the largest national park in Africa. Covering an area of 30000 square kilometers, it is the size of some small European countries. This park’s history and sense of mystique add to its attractions. It was named after Fredrick Courtney Selous, a well-renowned explorer and British Army Officer in the Royal Fusiliers. Selous was killed in combat along the Rufiji River which flows through the Park. Today, it takes its name from Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania widely viewed as the father of the modern nation-state.

The new Nyerere National Park could easily be described as the “Serengeti of Southern Tanzania.’’

Nyerere National Park, together with Selous Game Reserve, boasts one of the world’s largest populations of elephants.

But there are also wildebeests, giraffes, hartebeests, sable antelopes, greater kudus, elands, lions, and leopards to be seen.

Size of Nyerere National Park

Carved out from the larger and more famous Selous Game Reserve, the park covers around 31,000 square kilometers.

Location of Nyerere National Park

Nyerere national park is located in the southern part of Tanzania along the southern Tanzania safari circuit and offers the best escape from the large tourist crowds in the northern safari destinations like Serengeti while offering you a remarkable wildlife experience. It is considered to be among the hidden gems in the county and offers a wide range of Selous Game Reserve Camps for accommodation. The reserve is located about 219 kilometers from the busy city of Dar es salaam and may take about 4 hours’ drive.

How to get to Nyerere National Park

The park is located between 230km and 300km from Tanzania’s commercial city of Dar es Salaam and is a five-six hour drive.

It takes about five to six hours drive to reach there. Visitors can easily enter the park through Matemere gate, through Morogoro using the Matembwe Gate, which is close to Kisaki, a small town with various amenities.

Things to do in Nyerere National Park

More interesting for real safari fanatics is the presence of the biggest population of wild dogs, one of the most endangered predators in the world.

More than 460 species of birds add to this sanctuary’s many attractions.

One of the attractive points about Nyerere National Park is the variety of different ways in which you can go about your game-viewing. Game drives in open 4wd vehicles are the most traditional way to explore the reserve, but chances to meet other vehicles are small.

-To approach animals on foot is a different experience than you can enjoy here. Walks, depending upon the visitor’s preference, can be short or last several days between “fly camps” (temporary bush camps). But don’t expect to see a great variety of large games; you’ll enjoy more the detail of the flora and the fauna.

-A boat safari, on small shallow draft boats, will give another point of view to discover animals and landscapes. It will probably be more exciting than you might first think, especially while coming closer and closer to huge hippos.

-Game fishing is another possible activity in some lodges. As the Rufiji River is virtually untouched by commercial or sport fishing, the waters are full of fish. Tigerfish, Piranha’s relatives as well as catfish are commonly hooked.

When to Visit Nyerere National Park Tanzania

The best time to visit Selous Game Reserve is from June to October which also ranks as the peak tourist season in Tanzania. When we talk about the Selous Tanzania Weather, we are basically going to analyze the seasonal weather patterns experienced in the Selous and how they affect this game reserve.

Being a classic dry park, the Selous has remarkable game viewing opportunities that gradually get even better in the latter times of the dry season. The biggest crowds of animals are usually experienced in the best time of the year which is July to October; however, this does not mean that game viewing cannot be done during the rest of the year.

Where to stay in Nyerere National Park

There are a number of types of accommodation offered with the Selous varying from the budget, mid-range, and then the luxury facilities. Below we have highlighted some of the best Accommodations you can stay at.

Siwandu Camp

Formerly known as the Selous Safari Camp, this was the very first safari camp in the Selous to offer luxury accommodations in this part of the reserve. It offers accommodation in 13 rooms and its great location offers its guests an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape to the fullest. This beautiful facility offers value for money and will surely satisfy every desire of a traveler will to spend some extra dollars on their accommodation.

Lake Manze Camp

Comprised of 12 well-furnished beautiful tenets, the mid-range Lake Manze Camp is situated within the prime areas for wildlife viewing the Selous Game reserves along the shores of Lake Manze after which it was named. It will offer you comfort and exclusive service.

Beho Beho

Located within the cooler Selous highland in the northern part of the Game reserve, this facility was the very first luxury facility to be established in this part of the Selous. It offers accommodation in 8 permanent Bandas constructed using stone and each cottage has a thatched roof to offer it’s guest a true African ambiance.

Sand River Selous

The Luxury Sand River Camp is located on the banks of River Rufiji the lifeline of Selous Reserve. Guests here will enjoy an idyllic ambiance from where they can base to explore this vast wilderness. All its rooms are built with stone and have a thatched roof. It offers a variety of accommodation options including 5 standard cottages, 2 suites, and a honeymoon cottage (the Rhino House).

Sable Mountain Lodge

This budget lodge is found just outside Matambwe Gate in the northern region of the Selous Game Reserve, it is a good base for safaris continuing to Mikumi as well as Morogoro as well as those arriving in the park by train. This intimate camp offers good hospitality and it offers 8 stone cottages, 3 tented Bandas that are raised in high wooden platforms offering sweeping views of the neighboring area.