Nyerere National Park covers roughly 30,893 sq km of southern Tanzania, making it one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Africa, close to the size of Belgium. Created in 2019 from the northern portion of the former Selous Game Reserve and renamed after Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, the park is built around the Rufiji River, Tanzania’s largest waterway.
The park at a glance
- About 30,893 sq km, created in 2019 from the northern portion of Selous Game Reserve
- Named after Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president
- Built around the Rufiji River, Tanzania’s largest river, whose delta holds one of the world’s largest mangrove forests
- The southern portion of the original reserve remains protected separately as Selous Game Reserve
Wildlife along the Rufiji
The Rufiji River supports large populations of hippo and crocodile, and the wider park holds one of Africa’s most significant remaining populations of endangered African wild dogs. Lion, leopard, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra are all present, though elephant numbers here have fallen sharply since the mid-1970s due to past poaching, a decline that ongoing conservation efforts are working to reverse.
A different kind of safari
Because the park is centred on a major river system, boat safaris along the Rufiji are a distinctive feature here, offering wildlife viewing from the water alongside conventional game drives, a combination not available in most of Tanzania’s drier northern parks.
Things to do
- Boat safaris on the Rufiji River for hippo, crocodile and waterbirds
- Game drives for wild dog, lion and giraffe
- Walking safaris with armed rangers in designated areas
- Fly-camping, offered by some operators for a more immersive stay
Practical information
- Reached by scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, or by a long road drive via Morogoro
- Best visited in the dry seasons from June to October and January to February
- Fewer visitors than Tanzania’s northern parks make it a quieter alternative for a southern circuit
Nyerere National Park offers a genuinely different safari experience built around water rather than open plains. Offmap Safaris can combine it with a Ruaha or southern Tanzania circuit. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and responsible travel.
