Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park, carved out of the northeastern part of the vast Selous Game Reserve, was elevated to national park status in November 2019. Named after Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere, in honor of his efforts in wildlife conservation, Nyerere National Park is a stunning and wildlife-rich area within the Selous ecosystem, encompassing the Rufiji River basin in southeastern Tanzania.

Covering approximately 30,893 square kilometers, Nyerere National Park is the largest national park in Africa. It remains one of the continent's most pristine wilderness areas, featuring diverse habitats such as open grasslands, Miombo woodlands, swamps, and riverine forests along the many tributaries of the Rufiji River, which flows through the park to the Indian Ocean.

The park's wildlife is extraordinary, boasting some of the largest populations of mammals and reptiles in Africa, including buffaloes, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles. Nyerere National Park, along with the remaining part of the Selous Game Reserve, is a crucial refuge for the African wild dog. Other common wildlife includes wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, elands, greater kudus, sable antelopes, black rhinos, waterbucks, impalas, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, baboons, vervet and blue monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys found in riverine forests. Bird enthusiasts can also enjoy spotting around 440 species of resident and migratory birds.

Situated in southeastern Tanzania, Nyerere National Park is bordered by Mikumi National Park to the northwest and Udzungwa Mountains National Park to the west. The park offers a variety of game viewing opportunities, including the thrilling experience of walking safaris accompanied by armed rangers. Its numerous waterways provide a perfect setting for boat safaris, ideal for big game viewing and bird watching. Additionally, game drives in specially designed safari vehicles, combined with boat and walking safaris, create a unique and exciting itinerary.

The best time to visit is from June to October. During the long rains, from March to May, some parts of the park may be temporarily closed for game drives due to poor accessibility.