The Nyerere National Park, formally the Selous Game Reserve, is enormous, wild and remote. And it has great wildlife such as hunting dogs, sable, roan, greater kudu, lesser kudu, raptors, ostrich, croc, hippos, elephants and big cats. The Rufiji River, Tanzania’s largest, flows through the northern part of the park, and this river, which is slow-moving and wide, has created a number of oxbow Lakes in its northern flood plains, and they create a beautiful landscape of plains and woodlands interspersed with expanses of water. The Lakes are fringed by morasses and doom palm groves and other attractive trees, and besides being home to a very large population of hippo and crocodiles, these Lakes are a magnet for wildlife during the dry season.

The hinterland away from the River is characterised by extensive savannah and woodland, the occasional baobab, and large stands of Terminalia with their thick branches of attractive leaf tables. These are intensively browsed by Giraffes, which arrived recently in this area and are now increasing rapidly in numbers.

As one winds around this interesting landscape on small, intimate tracks, enjoying the wildlife, it is easy to understand why the Selous was declared a protected area in 1896 and part of which is now the Nyerere National Park.

Altitude. The national park is at a relatively low altitude, averaging about 1000 meters above sea level.

Seasons. The dry season starts in June and lasts until about November, and although the remainder of the year is relatively wet, the national park is green and absolutely beautiful from December to February, with many parts accessible.

Activities;

• Game viewing

With a maintained network of tracks, game viewing by vehicle is the popular way of enjoying wildlife in the park.

• Boating

Watching wildlife from the water is a beautiful and different way of game viewing. Crocodiles and hippos abounds and elephants, waterbucks, and buffaloes spend a lot of time near the water, but keep your eyes peeled for the prolific bird life.

• Walking safari

Guided walking safari led by well- trained guides accompanied by armed park rangers.

Getting there

Air

There are a number of scheduled flights from Arusha and Dar es Salaam supplying a number of small airstrips within the park.

Road

There are two ways to get to Nyerere National Park by road, the shortest is via Kibit and is about 240 Km to Mtemere gates, while the more interesting route is about 350 Km goes via Mikumi National Park, the Uluguru Mountains and Kisaki, to the Matambwe.

Train

The Tazara railway goes through the park, and the two  main points which guest can be picked up by lodge vehicles or safari vehicles are at Kisaki and Matambwe near the Matambwe gate

Safari ideas

Nyerere National Park can fit well into many safari itineraries from the famous northern circuit, being en route to Mikumi, Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale and all these parks are connected by air.