Located in southern Tanzania, far from the madding crowds, Nyerere National Park is Africa’s largest national park, covering a staggering 30,000 square kilometers. It is the size of Switzerland and twice as large as Serengeti National Park. Due to its dramatic landscapes and great diversity of wildlife, the Nyerere National Park (northeastern part of the huge Selous Game Reserve set aside for photographic safaris) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.

 It is a key landscape for endangered wild dogs, which share the reserve with plenty of crocodiles, lions, leopards, hippos, elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, and more than 400 bird species. With such a rich array of wildlife, it’s the perfect addition to any Tanzania Safari Holiday.

The rivers and lakes of Nyerere National Park are the lifeblood of the park. Located at the heart of Nyerere National Park, the Rufiji River, Tanzania’s largest river, creates a complex network of channels, lakes, and swamps that result in one of the most compelling ecological systems in East Africa.

More than just a great place for seasoned safari enthusiasts, Nyerere National Park also offers an amazing introduction to unspoiled Africa. It is one of the few big game reserves to offer some of Africa’s best walking and boat safaris as well as fly camping trips. In particular, the boating safaris set this reserve apart from other Tanzanian parks. The fact that Nyerere National Park is so much quieter (in visitor terms) than most of the rest of the country just adds to its attraction. And if quiet lands devoid of human presence interest you, you should also read more about Ruaha National Park.

Wildlife in Nyerere National Park

The wildlife in Nyerere National Park is particularly interesting as it attracts both East and Southern African wildlife, both resident and migratory, and over 450 known species of birds, making it a key destination on a Southern Tanzania safari. Lions are particularly strong here, and there are large numbers of leopards. 

The park is home to over 50% of the remaining endangered African wild dogs, and also hosts very good populations of elephants, crocodiles, hippos, spotted hyenas, buffalo, giraffes, elands, sable, kudu, baboons, wildebeests, zebras, impalas, hartebeests, colobus and vervet monkeys along with over 450 species of birds. 

Over time, Nyerere National Park has been home to a large proportion of Tanzania’s elephant population, but because of an unfortunate increase in poaching over recent years, elephant numbers are much lower than they once were. If elephants are your main reason for visiting Tanzania, check out our guide to Tarangire National Park, as Tarangire has the largest population of elephants in all of Tanzania.

When to Visit Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park is a classic dry season park, with game viewing getting progressively better the later in the season you travel. There are few mosquitoes during the dry season, and the humidity is lower. However, because of the drought, it can get quite dusty. 

The best time of year for the greatest overall concentrations of game is from July to October, but don’t underestimate the other times—throughout the year, game viewing is very good in various areas. During January and February, you will need to choose your camp very carefully as the game migrates away to more fertile feeding grounds. Birding at this time of year is absolutely world-class.

The hottest time of year is between November and March, but there’s good wildlife viewing as the animals are still active and there are often fewer vehicles and boats in the reserve. The migratory birds arrive during these months, too. The short rains fall in November, with humidity building until April. The long rains are from April until May, and most camps and lodges close during this season.

Activities in Nyerere National Park

Game drives are rewarding, particularly towards the end of the dry season when large mammals concentrate around the five lakes. However, standard daytime game drives are just the beginning. One of the main attractions here is the variety of game viewing activities available. Boat safaris drift on the lakes and channels, approaching birds and animals closely, including hippos and crocodiles. A walking safari is a must if you’re looking for something very special and unique in Nyerere National Park. The beauty and peacefulness that you’ll feel and see while on a Tanzania walking safari cannot be compared to any other.

Better still are the overnight fly-camping excursions offered by some of the camps, which entail sleeping out in a mosquito net in the middle of the bush—making it a very adventurous and romantic idea for a Tanzania honeymoon, but not for the faint-hearted! A fly-camp is a small, temporary camp set up in the bush with limited comfort because the tents are just basic camping tents.

 Dinner is cooked on a fire and served nearby—after which you can gather around the campfire, sit in canvas chairs to relax with a drink and a chat. If you haven’t done it before, sleeping out in the bush in Africa can seem a little scary, but there’s always an armed game scout nearby to reassure you. We highly recommend it for adventurous adults, but please note these trips aren’t for children and should not be a consideration for one of our Tanzania family holidays.

On game drives, follow wild dogs as they dash through the bush hunting for warthogs and antelope. Cruise along the river, passing pods of hippos cooling off underwater. Or head out on foot to study the landscape up close, learning about everything from termites to trees.

Conclusion

Nyerere National Park offers an exceptional safari experience, away from the crowds, with a rich diversity of wildlife and unique activities like boat and walking safaris. Whether you’re a seasoned safari enthusiast or a first-time visitor, Nyerere National Park provides a tranquil and captivating glimpse into unspoiled Africa. For more information on planning your adventure, check out our Tanzania safari trips.