About Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, holds the title of Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary. The park was renamed in honor of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the founder of the nation. Spanning over 30,000 square kilometers, Nyerere National Park is a vast wilderness area that preserves undisturbed ecological and biological processes, showcasing a diverse range of fauna and a robust predator-prey relationship.
Located approximately 230km to 300km away from Tanzania’s bustling city of Dar es Salaam, the park can be reached within a five-to-six-hour journey. Visitors can access the park through Matemere Gate in Morogoro or Matembwe Gate in Kisaki, a town with convenient amenities. With its proximity to infrastructure and transportation services, Nyerere National Park is becoming an increasingly popular destination on Tanzania safari tours.
Nyerere National Park offers a wide range of safari activities, making it a premier choice for wildlife enthusiasts. Visitors can embark on water safaris, standard game drives, walking safaris, and legendary fly camping adventures within this expansive area. The park is home to large herds of elephants, which often captivate tourists and observe them with great attention.
During our safari in Nyerere National Park, we witnessed magnificent wildlife such as wild dogs, antelope herds, elephants, lions, and impalas. These animals maintained a respectful distance from our vehicle as we traversed the vast plains adorned with golden grass, savannah woods, riverine marshes, and lakes. The park is traversed by the Rufiji River, Tanzania’s longest river, with its brownish waters flowing into the Indian Ocean. The charm of Nyerere National Park is further enhanced by the presence of the Rufiji River, making it a captivating destination for honeymoon holidays in Tanzania.
Accommodation options within Nyerere National Park include Serena Mivumo River Lodge, Selous Serena Camp, Mbuyu Safari Camp, BehoBeho Camp, Stiegler’s Gorge Camp, Rufiji River Camp, and Sand Rivers. The park boasts an extraordinary abundance of wildlife, making it a must-visit destination on your Tanzania safari tour. The Rufiji River, known for its crocodile population, attracts various animals such as buffaloes, elephants, Thomson’s gazelles, and giraffes, creating a captivating scene of coexistence.
According to park wardens, Nyerere National Park harbors the highest number of hippos and buffaloes among all wildlife parks in Africa, excluding elephants. The park features lakes such as Manze, Siwandu, Mzizimia, and Tagalala, while the immense Ruaha and Rufiji Rivers form a broad inland delta in the northeast. This habitat of seasonal canals, grassy plains, dunes, steep banks, and borassus palm trees is frequented by hippos, crocodiles, and Carmine bee-eaters, showcasing the park’s rich wildlife diversity.
