Key facts
| Area | over 30,000 km² |
|---|---|
| Location and distance | Southern Tanzania, around 230 km from Dar es Salaam to Mtemere Gate |
| Getting there | Usually around 45 to 60 minutes' flight from Dar es Salaam, around 7 hours by road |
| Park fee per person per day | 70 USD (16 May to 14 March), 60 USD (15 March to 15 May); children aged 5 to 15 years 20 USD, under 5 years free; plus 18% VAT. |
| Best months | June to October |
| Typical wildlife | Elephants, buffalo, African wild dogs, hippos, Nile crocodiles |
| Accommodation | Africa Safari Selous, Selous Impala Camp, Lake Manze Tented Camp, Roho ya Selous, Rufiji River Camp, Selous Kulinda Camp, Selous Wilderness Camp |
Highlights and wildlife
Nyerere National Park covers over 30,000 km², making it one of the largest national parks in Africa. Its ecological heart is the Rufiji, which divides into a network of branches, channels, lakes and lagoons. In between lie open savannahs, swamps and riverside forests. This water-rich landscape clearly sets it apart from the drier savannah parks in the north. You experience the region in two ways: on game drives you travel through wide plains and along river courses, on boat safaris you pass stretches of shoreline that are barely accessible by land. Because of its size and the low number of visitors, it stays quiet, and your guide adapts the route flexibly to the day’s sightings.
On land, elephants live in large numbers, often along the riverbanks. Buffalo move in large herds between grassy areas and waterholes, and giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and antelopes such as impalas, waterbuck and eland are widespread. Lions are sighted regularly, leopards keep to the denser vegetation along the rivers, and hyenas follow the herds. For African wild dogs, the park is one of the most important protected areas in East Africa. The Rufiji river system is home to large populations of hippos and Nile crocodiles. More than 400 bird species have been recorded, including many waterbirds and birds of prey.
Best time to visit
The best time for your visit is the dry season from June to October. The tracks are easily passable then, and many animals move to the rivers and lakes, which makes them easier to observe. Boat safaris are also reliably possible. Rain falls from November to May, some areas are harder to access, and many camps close seasonally. At the same time, the park turns a lush green, and the animals spread out more widely. If you want to travel in these months, agree the route with the team in Arusha early on. You can find more about the seasons in the guide to the best time to visit Tanzania.
| Month | Weather | Animals |
|---|---|---|
Dry season, good tracks | ||
Rain, areas harder to access |
Fees and rules
The park fee is 70 USD per person per day from 16 May to 14 March, and 60 USD from 15 March to 15 May. Children aged 5 to 15 pay 20 USD; children under 5 are free. 18% VAT is added to these amounts. The lower rate falls within the rainy season, when many camps also close. So plan the fee together with your travel dates, not just your budget. Walking safaris depend on your accommodation, as not every camp offers them. When you enquire, tell the team in Arusha if you would like to go on foot. You can find more about costs in the guide to Tanzania safari costs.
Getting there and combinations
Nyerere National Park lies in the south of Tanzania, around 230 km from Dar es Salaam to the Mtemere Gate. You have two ways of getting there: by domestic flight to an airstrip in the park, around 45 to 60 minutes, or by road, for which you should allow around 7 hours. Its proximity to the coast makes the park a good match for a beach stay in Zanzibar, which you can add on. Elsewhere in the south, Mikumi National Park is a good option for open savannah safaris, or Ruaha National Park for even more remote wilderness. This way, your route combines river landscapes, savannahs and, if you wish, the beach.
