Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park — named in honour of Tanzania's founding president Julius Nyerere and formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve — is one of the largest national parks on Earth. Covering approximately 50,000 km² of southern Tanzania, it encompasses a vast mosaic of river systems, floodplains, open woodland, miombo bush, and grassland that supports one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the African continent.

The Rufiji River is the park's defining feature — a mighty waterway that carves through the landscape, supporting hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and an extraordinary diversity of water birds. Boat safaris on the Rufiji are Nyerere's signature experience, offering a perspective on African wildlife unavailable in any northern park. Walking safaris and fly camping deepen the experience further, bringing visitors into direct contact with the wilderness in the most primal and unforgettable way.

Despite its extraordinary scale and wildlife richness, Nyerere remains far less visited than Tanzania's northern parks. This means that those who do come experience something increasingly rare in modern Africa: genuine wilderness, undisturbed and unhurried, shared only with the wildlife and the natural rhythms of the bush.

Landscape & Ecosystems

Wildlife in Nyerere

Nyerere supports one of Africa's largest and most genetically diverse elephant populations — estimates suggest tens of thousands of elephants roam within the park boundaries. The Rufiji River system sustains huge hippo populations: at peak density, the channels are so packed with hippos that they appear to be carpeted in grey. Nile crocodiles of exceptional size patrol every waterway.

Predator diversity in Nyerere is extraordinary. Lions are abundant, leopards are frequently seen in the riverine woodland, and the park hosts one of Africa's most important populations of African wild dogs — one of the continent's rarest and most charismatic predators. Cheetahs are also present in the open grassland areas.

The miombo woodland supports sable antelope, roan antelope, and Lichtenstein's hartebeest — all species that are rarely seen in Tanzania's northern parks. Nyerere's wildlife completeness is one of its greatest assets; visitors who make the journey south discover an Africa that feels genuinely different and fundamentally less visited.

Frequently Asked Questions