Safari Tours to Nyerere National Park: Formerly Selous Game Reserve
In remote southeast Tanzania lies the Nyerere National Park, Africa’s largest national park with staggering size of 30,893
The unexplored and partly unspoiled Nyerere national park is in a class of its own. With one of East Africa’s most water-rich river, Rufiji, running through the northern part of the park, it houses many hippos and huge crocodiles, among others. Roaming elephant populations, the reserve’s famous wild dogs and some of the remaining Black rhinos share in its rivers, hills, and plains. The scenery is simply enchanting, and a wonderful Tanzania wildlife safari destination.
Best time to visit Nyerere National Park
The best time to visit Nyerere National Park is during the dry season, from late June – October. During this period, the vegetation is thinner; temperatures are less searing and game cluster around the few waterholes making wildlife easier to spot. Thirsty ungulate herds gather around the available water sources, trailed by predatory wild dogs, hyenas, lions, and leopards.
The Nyerere national park can also be visited during the wet season, from October – May, during this period; the scenery is lush and green. During the months of March, April and May, bird watching time is at its peak as the migratory birds are present. However, the roads may be hard to travel due to the rains, and many Nyerere national park safari camps and lodges are closed.
Nyerere National Park Safari Tours and Activities
Nyerere national park is more remote, unspoilt and offers safaris equivalent to the old days without the convoy of tourists. Nyerere safari tours offer a mix of activities beyond just sitting in a 4X4 vehicle for hours, in addition to a game drive, you can also go on a riverboat safari down the Rufiji or go on a walking safari (hike) with an armed game ranger, with a possibility to do much more – if that’s not safari adventure, I don’t know what is!
Go on a Game Drive
In your safari 4×4 vehicle explore the park on a standard game drive, numerous sunrise and sunset game drives additionally present truly memorable and authentic encounters. The guides know all about the animals’ habits and hangouts, so you can be sure to experience great sightings, whether you are hoping to see lions or leopards in a tree, or photograph a rare African bird.
Go on a Walking Safari
Here, you will feel Africa underfoot on a guided walking safari with a highly trained game ranger. Nyerere national park walking safaris offer an intimate encounter with nature and wildlife. Walking safaris here are generally very well organised and more importantly, very much safety conscious.
Take Fishing Tours
Going spot fishing for tiger fish and the giant catfish which could easily weigh up to 50kg can be an exciting way to pass an evening. The oxbow lakes and channels of Rifiji river are home to a large variety of fish species.
Go Fly-camping
For the more adventurous holidaymakers, you can set out on the Nyerere national park fly-camping safaris which are organized by a number of camps. These adventures involve sleeping out in the African wilderness in basic tents under a mosquito net. These adventures are more suited for tourists who can do without so much comfort.
Hot Springs at Maji Moto
There are hot springs at Maji Moto (said to be the source of the water used in the Maji Maji Rebellion) in the Beho Beho section of the reserve, and it’s a great place to soak away the dust and bruises of overland safari travel
Enjoy a Boat Safari
The most sublime way to explore the park is by boat, meandering through channels and swamps, and exploring hidden lagoons. This offers visitors a more relaxing and tranquil experience, yet still entertaining and filled with a lot of thrill and excitement. There are sandbanks crowded with huge crocodiles and hippos, and swampy islands visited by wandering wildlife.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Experience an unforgettable hot air balloon safari over the mighty Nyerere national park. A balloon safari in Nyerere national park gives you a lift of a different kind – in a hot air balloon! See the expansive African wilderness as never before; a very different kind of adventure that still puts you in the excitement of the wild.
Birding Tours in Nyerere Park
Bird lovers will not feel left out in Nyerere national park since there are about 400 species of birds recorded here. During the months of March, April and May, bird watching time is at its peak as the migratory birds are present.
Enjoy a Hot Bush Meal
An opportunity to have meals in the wilderness is offered in Nyerere National park. Breakfast, picnics, sundowners and fine romantic dinners enjoyed with just the company of nature and wildlife in the African bush is another unforgettable special experience everyone should add to their to-do list while visiting Nyerere national park.
Photography Safaris
Nyerere park is great for birdlife and wildlife photography especially when you take an evening river boat safari. However, photography safaris here depend on how competent you are and what kind of photos you are looking for.
How to get to Nyerere National Park
Travellers wishing to go on Nyerere National Park safari tours have 3 modes of transport options to choose from; Flight and road being the most common modes of transport used, however, the Selous game reserve can also be accessed by rail.
By Road: Driving down from Dar es salaam to Nyerere ntaional park is convenient, affordable and presents you the best opportunity to enjoy a road trip with super views of Tanzania’s countryside, you will have a chance to see the way people live and work within the rural villages. The drive from Dar es Salaam to Selous game reserve, Mtemere gate, is approximately 184 km and takes 5 hours.
By Flight: For visitors who would wish to save on driving time to the park, a Nyerere park safari holidays is best organised by flying from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar – Most safari camps and lodges are located near an airstrip for light aircraft so you can reach your accommodation easily. There is a number of scheduled flights that operate between Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, and Nyerere national park.
By Rail: For adventure lovers, there is a scheduled train (TAZARA – Tanzania Zambia Railway) that connects Dar es Salaam with the park on its way to Zambia. Throughout this journey, you enjoy the beauty of the bushland. The journey takes you four to five hours in a panoramic tour of Tanzania rural landscape. It is usually the most worthwhile way to get to the Nyerere national park.
Where to stay in Nyerere National Park
Accommodation in the park is mainly based in the north of the park, there are safari camps and lodges located inside and outside the national park, and these cater for safari travellers of all budgets.
For budget Nyerere safari tours, there is an option of budget camping, or staying at one of the affordable safari lodges or camps such as Selous Jimbiza lodge, Hippo Camp, Selous Ngalawa tented camp, Mloka Safari Lodge, Rufiji river camp.
For mid-range and luxury Nyerere safari tours, there is a variety of options available such as Siwandu Safari Camp, Selous Wilderness Camp, Selous Riverside Safari Camp, Selous River Camp, Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp, Selous Kinga Lodge, Retreat Selous, Mivumo River, Selous Luxury Camp, Beho Beho Selous.
Thinking of going on a Nyerere safari holiday? The choices of safari tours to Nyerere national park out there are almost overwhelming, contact our safari expert to assist you to get the best out of your safari holiday to one of Africa’s greatest national parks.
