What is Nyerere National Park?
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 out of the northern section of the old Selous Game Reserve, and at over 30,893 km² it is the largest national park in Africa — bigger than Belgium, and roughly twice the size of the Serengeti. It sits in south-eastern Tanzania, reached from Dar es Salaam rather than Arusha, which makes it the natural gateway to the southern safari circuit.
Most travellers still know it as Selous. The remaining southern portion keeps that name as a game reserve; the part you visit as a tourist is now Nyerere, named after Tanzania's first president.
What sets it apart is water. The Rufiji River runs through it, spreading into a network of lakes, channels and sandbanks, and that changes what a safari here is: you can do a boat safari, a walking safari and a game drive in the same day — a combination that simply is not possible in the Serengeti.
The areas of Nyerere
The park is vast, and almost all tourism is concentrated in a small northern section around the river and lakes. These are the main areas, and what each one offers.
The Rufiji River and lake system
The largest river in East Africa by volume slows, spreads and splits into a network of channels, oxbow lakes and sandbanks as it crosses the park. Five main lakes — Tagalala, Manze, Nzerakera, Siwandu and Mzizimia — sit here in the section where most camps are based, each with its own hippo pods and resident birds. This is where the boat safaris happen, and it is unlike anywhere in the northern circuit.
Stiegler's Gorge and the northern tourist zone
The main visitor area, easily reached from the airstrips near the Rufiji camps. Stiegler's Gorge, 100 m deep and 100 m wide, cuts through the north of the park. This zone combines game drives, walking safaris and boat trips within a short distance of each lodge, which is why nearly every visitor stays here.
The southern wilderness
The vast majority of Nyerere's 30,893 km² lies south of the tourist zone, and it is genuinely remote — few roads, few camps, and rarely visited even by Tanzanian standards. It is not part of a typical itinerary, but it underlines what makes this park different from the northern circuit: space, and an almost complete absence of other vehicles.
Boat safaris, walking safaris and more
This is why you come to Nyerere rather than adding another northern park.
| Activity | Duration | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Boat safari on the Rufiji | 2–3h | Drifting the river and its lakes at eye level with hippo pods and crocodiles on the sandbanks, watching elephants come down to drink and fish eagles work the channels. The best boat safari in Tanzania. |
| Walking safari | 2–3h | With an armed ranger, generally at first light. Nyerere was one of the first places in Tanzania to offer walking safaris and remains one of the best — you track on foot and encounter animals at ground level. |
| Fly-camping | 1 night | A night out under canvas away from the main camp, with a guide and a ranger. Simple, and often the most memorable night of the whole trip. |
| Game drive | 3–4h | Classic vehicle safari through miombo woodland and open grassland, usually combined with a boat trip or a walk on the same day. |
Boat safaris, walking safaris and fly-camping are charged separately by the camps — tell us in advance which you want, since they are the main reason to come.
Wildlife: what you will actually see
On a three-day visit combining game drives and boat safaris in the dry season, based on our guides' sighting records.
Hippo and crocodile are close to a certainty on the river, and elephant, lion and buffalo are all realistic across a three-day stay. Nyerere holds one of the largest remaining populations of African wild dog on the continent — around a 35% chance of a sighting on a three-day visit, which is exceptional for a species with fewer than 7,000 individuals left in the wild.
Black rhino are effectively absent: a tiny number survive in the wider ecosystem, but for practical purposes you should not plan a trip here expecting to see one. For rhino in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is the realistic option. Unlike the Serengeti, Nyerere has no migration — instead it has large resident populations that are present year-round.
When to visit
Nyerere effectively shuts for the long rains, a real difference from the northern parks, which operate year-round.
June to October is best: the dry season concentrates game along the Rufiji, boat safaris are at their finest and temperatures are comfortable. November and December bring the short rains — green scenery, good birding and fewer visitors, still very workable.
January and February are hot and humid but still good for game and excellent for birds. March to May, the long rains, is when most camps close and roads flood — we do not recommend travelling then.
Where to stay
Check carefully what is included. At the luxury end, boat safaris, walking safaris and park fees are often bundled; at the mid-range they usually are not, and adding them changes the real price considerably. We itemise all of it in writing.
Budget
from $35.40/night park fee + camping
Public campsite or simple bandas near the Mtemere gate, often used by road-based trips from Dar. Basic facilities; you need your own equipment or ours.
Mid-range
$200–400/night
Comfortable tented camp near the lakes. Activities such as boat safaris and walks are usually charged separately from the room rate.
Luxury
$450–1,000+/night
Small camps on Lake Manze or Siwandu, fully inclusive with boat and walking safaris built in. Hippos calling outside the tent at night.
Where to base yourself: the northern lake section around Manze and Siwandu is where the boat safaris and most game viewing happen. Camps further south are cheaper but you spend more of the day driving to the water.
Park fees (2026)
Fees are set by TANAPA, the Tanzania National Parks Authority, and are identical for every operator.
| Category | Adult (16+) | Child (5–15) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, per 24 hours | $59.00 | $17.70 |
| Concession, sleeping inside park (per night) | $47.20 | $11.80 |
| Public campsite (per night) | $35.40 | $5.90 |
All figures include 18% VAT. Children under 5 enter free. Boat safaris, walking safaris and fly-camping are charged separately by the camps. Fees are reviewed by the government and can change without notice — your written quote from us always states the exact amount for your dates.
Nyerere in pictures
Nyerere National Park — frequently asked questions
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern section of the Selous Game Reserve. The remaining southern portion is still called Selous. The area tourists visit is now Nyerere, though many operators still use the old name.
The 2026 non-resident fee is $59.00 per adult and $17.70 per child aged 5–15, per 24 hours, including 18% VAT. Boat safaris, walking safaris and fly-camping are charged separately by the camps.
About 45 minutes by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam, with daily scheduled flights, or five to six hours by road. Nyerere is reached from Dar, not Arusha, which changes the logistics of a trip compared with the northern parks.
Yes, and it is the main reason to come. Two or three hours on the Rufiji River and its lakes brings you level with hippo pods and crocodiles, with elephants coming down to drink. It is the best boat safari in Tanzania.
Yes, with an armed ranger, usually at first light for two to three hours. Nyerere was among the first places in Tanzania to offer walking safaris and remains one of the best for them.
Roughly a 35% chance on a three-day visit — outstanding for a species with fewer than 7,000 individuals left in the wild. Nyerere holds one of the largest remaining populations in Africa.
Three to four days. That gives you a boat safari, a walking safari and several game drives without rushing — which is the whole point of coming here rather than adding another northern park.
A very small number of black rhino survive in the wider ecosystem, but you should assume you will not see one. For rhino in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is the realistic option.