Nyerere National Park: Africa’s Largest and Most Untamed Safari

Nyerere National Park, located in southern Tanzania, is a sprawling wilderness that holds the title of Africa’s largest national park. Formerly the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, it was officially designated a national park in 2019. This massive, unspoiled ecosystem offers a wild and exclusive safari experience that is a stark contrast to the more famous and often more crowded parks of Tanzania’s northern circuit. A safari here is defined by its diverse activities and a profound sense of remoteness.

Unique Safari Activities

One of the main draws of Nyerere National Park is its variety of safari activities, which go beyond the traditional game drive.

• Boat Safaris on the Rufiji River: A boat safari on the vast Rufiji River is a major highlight. From the safety of a boat, you can get incredibly close to hippos, crocodiles, and a huge variety of waterbirds. The boat safari provides a completely different perspective on the wildlife and allows you to explore the river’s unique habitats and channels.
• Walking Safaris: Nyerere is one of the few places in Tanzania where you can embark on an exhilarating walking safari. Accompanied by an armed ranger, you can explore the wilderness on foot, learning about the smaller details of the ecosystem, tracking animal spoor, and feeling the thrill of being on the ground in a wild environment.
• Game Drives: The game drives here are conducted in an open-sided vehicle, offering an unrestricted view of the wildlife. Due to the park’s immense size and low visitor numbers, you can often spend hours on a game drive without seeing another vehicle, providing a truly private and intimate experience.

An Abundance of Wildlife

Nyerere National Park is home to one of the largest concentrations of large mammals in Africa.

• Elephants: The park has a huge population of elephants, and you will see them in large herds as they come to the river to drink.
• Wild Dogs: The park is a sanctuary for the African wild dog, a highly endangered and fascinating predator. Nyerere has one of the largest populations of these animals in Africa, and a sighting is a rare and exciting event.
• Lions and Leopards: The park has a healthy population of lions and leopards, and due to the open terrain, sightings of these predators are frequent.
• Other Wildlife: You can also see large herds of buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and a huge variety of antelopes, including the sable. The river is teeming with hippos and crocodiles.

Planning a Safari to Nyerere

Due to its vast size and remote location, a safari to Nyerere is typically a fly-in safari. Most visitors fly from Dar es Salaam or Arusha to one of the park’s many airstrips. The lodges and camps in Nyerere are often small and exclusive, offering a high-end experience with a strong focus on a personal and authentic safari.

Nyerere National Park is a destination for the experienced safari-goer or for anyone who wants to escape the crowds and immerse themselves in an untouched African wilderness. It is a place of raw beauty, with an incredible density of wildlife and an unparalleled variety of safari activities.