Nyerere National Park

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At 30,893 square kilometers, the vast Nyerere National Park is Africa's largest stand-alone National Park and one of the largest in the world. The park is located in south Eastern Tanzania, roughly 230 kilometers by road from Dar es Salaam city to Mtemere Gate, and was carved out from the Selous Game reserve, a huge wilderness area and safari destination in Southern Tanzania. Nyerere Park boasts of the largest concentration of wild animals and a rich collection of wildlife that is abundant and diverse. The fact that this park is new and largely less frequented by tourists means that the animals here tend to be less exposed to humans. Good numbers of Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah are to be found here along with other large Game animals such as Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Giraffe, Eland, Zebra, Wildebeest and other wildlife.
Why visit:
There are several exciting activities one can enjoy in Nyerere National Park. The most exciting of these has to be the River Boat Safari which involves spotting wildlife from the comfort of a boat on parts of the Rufiji River, exploring channels, lagoons and swamps. This unique activity is quite popular and a fantastic way to explore the park. Another unique experience is visiting a traditional village. The village visit allows visitors a revealing cultural experience that allows insight into the special and unique way of life of the local people living around this park. Visitors to the park can also enjoy a selection of other excursions such as nature treks, sundowners and romantic bush meals.
Get To Explore:
  • Africa's Largest Wilderness Park
  • The Rufiji River which supports hippos, crocodiles, and boat safaris
  • Home to Africa’s largest population of endangered wild dogs
  • Offers walking safaris, boat trips, and traditional game drives
  • Over 440 bird species, including waterbirds and raptors
  • Diverse scenery spans wetlands, woodlands, and open savannas
Best time to visit:
The dry season of July through October is the best time of year for the greatest overall concentrations of game in this park when wildlife congregates around the lakes. However, do not underestimate this park at any other time outside the rainy season of April & May as game viewing is very good in various areas throughout the year. December through February is a lovely time to visit too and is known as the Green Season, when the scenery is lush and green. February is a great time to see young being born with birding during this time of year being absolutely world class. Note that the presence and the absence of rain affects vegetation and water sources thus affecting movement and concentration of animals in the park and the sorrounding Selous Game Reserve. However, with many travelers coming for the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, the best time to visit for this spectacular event is from June to mid-October. Although due to varying rainfall patterns, the timing does vary year to year.
Weather & Climate:
The average temperatures in Nyerere National Park vary very little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for most of the year with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The warmest time of year is generally mid to late November where highs are regularly around 92°F (33.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 70.5°F (21.4°C) at night. The Park experiences bimodal rainfall season and the short rains fall in November and December and are followed by a partial drying out in January and February. Thereafter, the long rains follow ending in early May.
Wildlife:
Nyerere National Park is the Africa's Largest National Park ! The collection of wildlife both in diversity and abundance is just remarquable. The park host the famous ''Big Five'' and large numbers of Lichtenstein's hartebeests, waterbucks, elands, and bushbucks, in addition to leopards, crocodiles, and hyenas. Furthermore, this is among the few wildlife sanctuaries on the African continent where you will find the puku antelopes, the African wild dogs as well as the sable antelope. The park also provides habitat for a variety of birds with over 440 species having been recorded. However for those visiting to watch as the great wildebeest migration unfolds in Serengeti National Park, the best time to visit is between June to October. Although the timings may vary from year to year due to rainfall patterns.
Bird:
With more than 440 species recorded, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is an excellent birding destination. The most conspicuous birds are attracted to the sandbanks, lagoons, islands and channels along the Rufiji River. A good way to enjoy the birdlife is on a boat safari, where you’ll see yellow-billed storks, kingfishers, lapwings and colorful bee-eaters. At dawn and dusk, flocks of African skimmers fly across the water while skimming the surface for fish. Also look out for African fish eagles and palm-nut vultures perched high in the trees. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Getting There:
The road distance from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park is about 230 kilometers to the nearest entry point, though this differs depending on which entry gate you plan to access. One of the most common questions from tourists is how long is the drive from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park. So the road trip from Dar es Salaam to the park takes about 5 hours, and this is to one of the nearer entry gates in the Nyerere Park. Road conditions are poor in places with the last 75 kms to the park being on a bumpy gravel road. Flying to Nyerere National Park is the most popular and convenient option, being only about a 1 hour flight from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam to a variety of different airstrips in Nyerere.