Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park is the largest national park in Africa, covering more than 30,000 sq km of pristine wilderness in Southern Tanzania. Carved out of the northern sector of the historic Selous Game Reserve and renamed in honour of Tanzania’s founding president Julius Nyerere, the park protects one of the continent’s last truly wild ecosystems. Its defining feature is the mighty Rufiji River, whose channels, sandbanks, oxbow lakes and palm-fringed islands create an exceptional habitat for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and an extraordinary diversity of birdlife.

A safari in Nyerere is unlike the more crowded northern parks — here, classic 4×4 game drives are complemented by boat safaris on the Rufiji, guided walking safaris through miombo woodland and even fly-camping under the stars. The park supports vast populations of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, sable antelope and one of the most important African wild dog strongholds on Earth.

Lions are abundant, leopards frequently sighted in the riverine forest, and birders record over 440 species including African skimmers, palm-nut vultures and Pel’s fishing owl. Because Nyerere is enormous and lightly visited, luxury safari camps such as Sand Rivers Selous, Roho ya Selous and Siwandu offer some of the most exclusive bush experiences in Africa, often with no other vehicles in sight. For travellers seeking a luxury Tanzania safari that combines exceptional wildlife, multiple activities and genuine wilderness, Nyerere National Park is unmatched in scale and atmosphere.

Discover what makes Nyerere National Park one of East Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations — curated experiences, wildlife, and cultural encounters our local team recommends to every traveller.