A SOUTHERN TANZANIA WONDER
Explore Nyerere National Park with us
Far from the well-trodden trails of the Serengeti lies a landscape shaped by rivers, forests, and floodplains - a vast wilderness where nature dictates the rhythm of life. Welcome to Nyerere National Park, the beating heart of southern Tanzania and a place where the safari experience feels utterly untamed. Formerly the northern sector of the Selous Game Reserve, this is the largest national park in East Africa, yet it remains surprisingly little visited. For those who venture here, Nyerere offers not only superb game viewing but a rare sense of space and solitude - the kind of safari that feels entirely your own.
At more than 30,000 square kilometres, Nyerere National Park is a giant on the African safari map. But its scale is matched by its diversity. Rivers snake across open plains, miombo woodlands stretch to the horizon, and oxbow lakes lie hidden among palm-lined channels. The lifeblood of it all is the Rufiji River, one of Tanzania’s great waterways, which brings a distinct rhythm to life in the park.
This abundance of water attracts remarkable wildlife. Elephants gather in herds along the riverbanks, hippos snort and wallow in the shallows, and crocodiles sun themselves on sandbars. Lions prowl the floodplains, leopards are often seen in the trees, and painted wolves (African wild dogs) - increasingly rare elsewhere - thrive in this unspoilt wilderness. Birders, too, are well rewarded here: Nyerere boasts more than 400 bird species, from fish eagles and bee-eaters to the striking Pel’s fishing owl.
What truly sets Nyerere apart from Tanzania’s northern parks is not just the wildlife, but how you experience it. This is one of the few national parks in East Africa where boat safaris are permitted. Gliding silently through the channels of the Rufiji is a completely different way to encounter the wild - less about the chase, more about immersion. You might spot elephants crossing the water, birds nesting along the reeds, or a pod of hippos disappearing beneath your boat.
Walking safaris are another highlight of Nyerere, led by expert guides who understand the delicate language of tracks, sounds, and scents. It’s a slower pace, one that brings a deeper awareness of the bush - from the tell-tale flutter of a hornbill to the distant cough of a leopard.
Game drives, meanwhile, cover vast distances and often feel like private adventures. Unlike the northern parks, where vehicle numbers can climb quickly in peak season, sightings here tend to be shared only with the wildlife - not with a crowd of other guests.
Nyerere’s remote charm is matched by its lodges. These are intimate, low-impact camps designed to blend into the landscape, with service that’s warm but unobtrusive. Many sit along the Rufiji River, offering front-row seats to the natural theatre unfolding each day.
The diversity of habitats within Nyerere also supports a wide array of antelope species. Giraffe browse along the riverine woodlands, while eland and kudu traverse the miombo forests. Waterbuck and reedbuck favour the grassier floodplains, and smaller antelopes such as impala and steenbok are abundant, often glimpsed between the trees. Each species interacts with the landscape in its own way, creating a dynamic ecosystem that is fascinating to observe across different times of day.
The park’s birdlife deserves special attention. Beyond the Pel’s fishing owl and fish eagles, raptors such as the African harrier-hawk patrol the skies, and colourful kingfishers and bee-eaters add vibrancy to the riverbanks. Seasonal migrations of storks and herons transform the channels into living galleries, and the combination of wetlands and woodland provides habitats for both water-loving and forest species, making Nyerere a true birding paradise.
Nyerere’s nocturnal wildlife is equally compelling. Evenings bring a change in the air, and the park reveals a hidden world of activity. Hippos emerge more fully from the water, crocodiles patrol river edges, and nocturnal predators such as leopards and civets begin their hunts. A night drive or even a late-afternoon boat excursion can reveal these secretive behaviours, offering experiences that are rare elsewhere in Tanzania.
The park’s accessibility has improved significantly in recent years, with daily flights linking it to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. That means Nyerere now fits easily into a multi-stop itinerary, pairing beautifully with the Serengeti, Ruaha, or a coastal extension.
For safari-goers seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience, without compromising on comfort or wildlife, Nyerere is a revelation. It’s raw, vast, and deeply atmospheric - the kind of place that stays with you long after the journey ends.
Leadwood Holidays crafts tailor-made itineraries into Nyerere that highlight its unique offerings, whether you're drawn to boat safaris, predator tracking, or simply the thrill of silence under endless skies. Get in touch to find out more!
