Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park – Africa’s Largest Protected Wilderness

Nyerere National Park, formerly part of the vast Selous Game Reserve, is the largest national park in Africa, covering over 30,000 square kilometers of untouched wilderness. Located in southern Tanzania and accessible via short flights or road from Dar es Salaam, the park offers a remote, uncrowded safari experience with incredible biodiversity and landscapes shaped by the mighty Rufiji River.

Named in honor of Tanzania’s founding president, Julius Nyerere, this park is a dream for those seeking raw, authentic safari adventures away from the tourist hotspots. The Rufiji River, the park’s lifeline, creates an ecosystem of swamps, lakes, and channels that support dense populations of wildlife and birdlife, making boat safaris one of the park’s most thrilling highlights. Floating down the river, guests can spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a wide variety of water birds just meters away.

Game drives in Nyerere offer fantastic chances to see the Big Five, although rhinos are rare. The park is particularly famous for its large herds of elephants and buffaloes, as well as lions, leopards, hyenas, and even the critically endangered African wild dog, which thrives here. Giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, kudu, sable antelope, and warthogs are also frequently sighted in the savannahs and miombo woodlands.

Another unique feature of Nyerere is the opportunity to go on guided walking safaris—a rare activity in many national parks. Led by expert rangers, these walks let you explore the bush on foot, learning about animal tracks, medicinal plants, and the intricate details of the ecosystem.

The park is also a paradise for bird watchers, with over 440 recorded species including fish eagles, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and flamingos. The diversity of habitats—rivers, forests, grasslands, and wetlands—provides ideal conditions for birdlife year-round.

Despite its size and rich wildlife, Nyerere remains uncrowded and wild, offering a sense of solitude that is hard to find in more popular northern parks. At Kiriwe Travel and Trekking Safari, we arrange tailor-made safaris to Nyerere that include boat safaris, walking safaris, and game drives, all led by professional local guides. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an experienced safari-goer, Nyerere delivers an unforgettable, off-the-beaten-path adventure into one of Africa’s greatest natural sanctuaries.