# Nyerere National Park (Selous) Safari Guide URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/parks/nyerere-selous Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Plan Nyerere National Park, the former Selous: Rufiji River boat safaris, walking, wild dogs, the best dry-season months and fly-in links from Dar or Zanzibar. **Quick answer:** Nyerere National Park, created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, is Tanzania’s largest park and one of its wildest-feeling safaris. Instead of busy game drives, you combine boat trips on the Rufiji River and its lakes with walking and driving. Fly in from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar and stay three or four nights between June and October. - Country: Tanzania (southern safari circuit) - Best for: Boat safaris, walking, wild dogs, safari-and-Zanzibar trips - Best time: June–October; many camps close around April–May - Getting there: Light aircraft from Dar es Salaam (under an hour) or Zanzibar; scheduled links to Ruaha - Ideal stay: 3–4 nights - Malaria: Yes — low-lying and hot; CDC recommends prevention ## What makes Nyerere different from the northern parks? Nyerere covers roughly 30,900 square kilometers (about 11,900 square miles) — more than twice the size of the Serengeti — yet receives a fraction of the visitors. It was carved from the Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in 2019, while the southern Selous continues as a game reserve. The Rufiji River and a chain of lakes, including Manze, Tagalala and Siwandu, define the experience. Water means boat safaris, and the park’s size means you can still feel alone with the wildlife. It’s a strong contrast to the Serengeti on a longer Tanzania trip; our Tanzania guide has the bigger picture. ## What wildlife can you see in Nyerere, and when? The park is an important stronghold for African wild dogs, and the river supports large numbers of hippos and crocodiles. Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe, sable antelope and big herds of impala are present, and the birdlife along the water — fish eagles, kingfishers, storks and herons — is superb. The dry season, roughly June to October, is best: wildlife gathers near the river and lakes, vegetation thins and walking is comfortable. Many camps close for the long rains around April and May. November to March is hot and green, with excellent birding and lower rates at camps that stay open. ## Where should you stay in Nyerere? Tourism is concentrated in the park’s north, where camps sit along the Rufiji or overlook the lakes. Expect intimate tented camps and a few lodges with thatched or stone cottages, many with only a dozen or so rooms, so the area never feels crowded. Choose a camp that offers all three activities — boat, walk and drive — so you can vary each day. Sand Rivers Selous, on a bend of the Rufiji, is one of the area’s long-running camps. Some camps also run simple fly camps: a night under mosquito nets in the bush after an afternoon walk. ## How do you get to Nyerere, and what does it combine with? Scheduled and charter light aircraft fly from Dar es Salaam in under an hour, and from Zanzibar in a little longer, landing at airstrips near the camps. Road access is possible but long and rough. Luggage limits are typically around 15 kg (33 lb) in soft bags; check your itinerary. The southern circuit pairs Nyerere’s water with Ruaha’s rugged dry country, linked by scheduled flights, and then flies to Zanzibar. Because it’s so close to the coast, Nyerere also works as a three-night add-on for travelers whose main focus is the beach — see our beach and bush guide. ## What should you know about boat and walking safaris here? Boat trips run in small motorboats on the river and lakes, with guides keeping a safe distance from hippos, which can be dangerous. Walks are led by an armed park ranger alongside your guide: wear neutral colors, walk in single file and follow instructions, especially near elephants and buffalo. UNESCO has listed the Selous as World Heritage in Danger since 2014, first over elephant poaching and later also over a large hydropower dam on the Rufiji. Choosing well-run camps that employ local staff and support anti-poaching work is one practical way your visit helps. Park fees are set by Tanzania National Parks; confirm current rates as of 2026. ## Nyerere highlights - **Rufiji River boat safari** (Rufiji River & lakes): Glide past hippo pods, basking crocodiles and elephants drinking at the water’s edge. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/experiences/mokoro-and-water-safari - **Wild dog sightings** (Throughout the photographic area): One of Africa’s better places to find painted wolves, especially around denning time in the dry season. - **Walking with an armed ranger** (Camp-based walks): Read tracks, learn bush medicine and approach game on foot in country that sees few people. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/africa/experiences/walking-safari - **Lakeside sundowners** (Manze, Tagalala & Siwandu lakes): Drinks by the water as hippos grunt and the sky turns orange over the palms. - **Fly-in from Zanzibar** (Beach-and-bush trips): A short flight from the island puts you on safari the same morning — no long road transfers. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: Is Nyerere National Park the same as the Selous?** A: Partly. In 2019, Tanzania created Nyerere National Park from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, including the Rufiji River and lakes where nearly all photographic safaris operate. The southern Selous remains a game reserve. Camps you may know as ‘Selous’ camps are now inside Nyerere, and many operators still use both names. **Q: What is the best time to visit Nyerere?** A: June to October, the dry season, is the best time. Wildlife concentrates near the Rufiji and its lakes, vegetation thins and temperatures suit walking. Many camps close around April and May for the long rains. November to March is hot and green, with superb birdlife and quieter camps, but some activities depend on conditions. **Q: How do you get to Nyerere from Zanzibar?** A: Scheduled and charter light aircraft fly from Zanzibar to airstrips in Nyerere, often via Dar es Salaam, in roughly an hour or a little more. That makes Nyerere one of the easiest safaris to combine with a Zanzibar beach stay, in either order. Soft-sided bags and strict weight limits apply on these small planes. **Q: Should you choose Nyerere or Ruaha?** A: Choose Nyerere for water: boat safaris, lakes and easy access from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Choose Ruaha for dry, rugged landscapes, large lion prides and species such as greater kudu and sable. Many travelers do both, three nights each, linked by a short scheduled flight — together they make one of East Africa’s most varied and least crowded safaris. ## Sources - [Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)](https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz) - [UNESCO: Selous Game Reserve](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/199/) - [CDC: Travelers’ Health — Tanzania](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania)