Southern Circuit • Tanzania

Nyerere National Park

Afrika's largest national park — named in honour of Tanzania's founding father, home to the continent's greatest wild dog stronghold and unforgettable boat safaris on the mighty Rufiji River.

What to See & Do Plan This Safari

30,893 km²

Park Area

Big Five

Wildlife

Rufiji

River Safaris

Jul – Oct

Peak Season

← Southern Circuit

Nyerere National Park

Afrika's Greatest Wilderness

Formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park adopted its current name in 2019 in honour of the nation's founder, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Spanning 30,893 square kilometres, it is the largest national park in Afrika — and one of the world's largest concentrations of wildlife.

Nyerere preserves undisturbed ecological and biological processes on a continental scale. The thriving wildlife demonstrates complex predator-prey dynamics rarely witnessed elsewhere. The mighty Rufiji River, renowned for its hippos and crocodiles, winds its way to the Indian Ocean through a vast network of oxbow lakes and channels, and is designated as a prime photographic zone.

The sheer abundance of wildlife here is exceptional. Large populations of elephants, buffalo, and lions roam the park freely. The remaining areas of the former Selous reserve provide one of Afrika's last strongholds for the endangered Afrikan wild dog — the park hosts the continent's largest known population.

Beyond the wild dogs, Nyerere is home to the Big Five and several rare antelope species including the Roan Antelope, Brindled Gnu, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, sable antelope, and kudu.

What to See

Wildlife & Highlights

Activities

Safari Experiences

When to Visit

Best Time to Go

The best time to visit Nyerere is during the dry season, between July and October. Wildlife concentrations are at their highest as animals gather around the Rufiji River and permanent water sources, making boat safaris and game drives exceptionally productive.

How to Get There

Getting to the Park

By Road: Approximately 6 hours' drive from Dar es Salaam.

By Air: Domestic flight from Arusha Approximately 1-hour domestic flight from Dar es Salaam (DAR) to Nyerere airstrip — the most convenient option.

Through the Lens