Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park is very different from the famous northern parks. It is a vast wilderness in southern Tanzania of woodland, grassland, lakes and river channels, created from the northern part of the former Selous Game Reserve, a name with a long place in Tanzania's conservation history.

The Rufiji River defines the park. It supports large numbers of hippos and crocodiles and a rich birdlife, and a boat safari lets you watch animals along the banks and in the water rather than only from a vehicle. On game drives you can look for elephant, giraffe, buffalo, lion and African wild dog.

Where park rules and guide arrangements allow, a walking safari gives an even closer feel for the wilderness. The park sees far fewer visitors than the north, and there is a real sense of space.

Nyerere is within easy reach of Dar es Salaam and combines well with Mikumi, or with Ruaha further south. From Zanzibar we run a one-day flying safari to Mtemere airstrip, with game drives and a picnic lunch, and longer stays can be arranged, so the park pairs well with a beach holiday.