Nyerere National Park - Selous Game Reserve

Remote and wild, Nyerere National Park (a part of the vast Selous Game Reserve) is the largest national park in Tanzania and contains some of the continent’s greatest wildlife concentrations.

The Rufiji River is the defining feature of Nyerere National Park. It cuts its course through the reserve from west to east, joining with the Ruaha River before spilling out into the Indian Ocean not far from the park's eastern boundaries. Along its course are many lakes, lagoons and marshes, while the Rufiji Delta protects some of Africa’s most impressive mangrove forests. As the largest water catchment area in the region, it attracts prodigious quantities of game to the northern region of the ark, which is the focus for most safaris into the region.

The Nyerere National Park is home to such a diversity of wildlife that it has been made a World Heritage Site. Some of Africa’s last black rhino reside within the reserve, as well as healthy populations of wild dog, one of the continent’s most endangered species. The waters of the Rufiji River and the Selous’ many lakes are home to gargantuan pods of hippo and equally large congregations of crocodile, while also attracting many species of water bird. Cheetah, lion, elephant, zebra, buffalo and an array of antelope species complete the picture.

One of the great advantages of the Nyerere National Park is that it allows for a wider range of activities than many of Tanzania's other wilderness areas. Boating safaris on the Rufiji River and the lakes of the park are as much a highlight as the game drives, allowing you to see the diverse life along the Rufiji River up close and in all its splendour. Hiking safaris and fly camping are also permitted within the park, which isn’t true of most of Tanzania's national parks, and provide an adventurous alternative to traditional 4x4 safaris.

In 2019, the northern section of the Selous, where the camps and lodges are concentrated, was declared a national park and given the name Nyerere, after Tanzania's founding president. Nyerere National Park is now the largest national park in Africa, though it only constitutes part of the greater Selous Game Reserve.