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    Herd of elephants moving through the waters of a clearing in a dense green Nyerere National Park, Tanzania

    Luxury Safaris in
    Nyerere National Park
    made for you

    Explore one of Africa's wildest parks
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    Explore on foot

    Go on guided bush walks

    Jacada Travel vector art of a river, drawn in bold, gold line

    Make a splash

    Enjoy a river safari

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    Spot big cats

    Look out for predators

    Abundant wildlife and picturesque scenery

    One of Africa‘s wildest parks, Nyerere National Park (previously known at Selous Game Reserve) is vast. Measuring a staggering almost 31,000 square kilometres, it has claimed the title of Africa’s largest stand-alone national park and is, in fact, one of the largest in the world.

    The wildlife here is not only abundant and diverse, but the concentrations are high, and thanks to the park being relatively new (formed in 2019) and not as popular as other areas yet, the animals have been less expose to humans, making for a far wilder safari experience. Game drives here often reward you with unforgettable sightings of lions, cheetahs and leopards, as well as elephants, giraffes, buffalos, wildebeest, zebras and plenty more.

    The mighty Rufiji River winds through the park, helping sustain huge numbers of elephants (half of all of Tanzania‘s) and stunning sickle horned sables, kudus and a variety of other antelopes. The picturesque river is also home to one of the largest hippo and crocodile populations in Africa. Elusive African wild dog are regularly seen here, a truly memorable sighting. Make sure you have your camera at the ready, and your binoculars on hand.

    Nyerere National Park is the ideal destination for an off-the-beaten-track safari experience, giving you a genuine look at Africa at her wildest. In addition to game drives, there are also boat safaris and the opportunity to visit nearby Maasai villages to spend time with the people who call this breathtaking area home.

    Highlights

    Go on exhilarating bush walks, seeing nature close-up with an experienced guide

    Head out on fascinating morning and afternoon game drives getting to know the park

    Enjoy a leisurely river safari spotting wildlife on the banks and in the waters

    From its large concentrations of mammals and birds, this stunning park is a wildlife spotter's dream. And even better, it's fairly new, so you won't have to share it with the crowds you may find elsewhere in Tanzania.

    Emily Wallington headshot

    Emily Wallington

    Senior Travel Designer

    Luxury accommodation in Nyerere National Park

    There are many incredible places to stay in Nyerere National Park. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

    Why book with Jacada?

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    Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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    Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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    Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

    Ready to plan your adventure?

    Whatever you want from your Nyerere National Park tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Discover more of Tanzania

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    Arusha

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    Katavi National Park

    For safari experts, the isolated Katavi National Park comes highly recommended. With a combination of grassland plains, marshland, rugged hills, woodland, lakes and rivers, this multifaceted region of Tanzania is home to a dense and varied wildlife quotient - including predators.

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    Kilimanjaro Climb

    The mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, or ‘The Roof of Africa’, is the continent’s highest mountain. To reach this dormant volcano’s snow-capped peak, hikers have to embark on a challenging yet epic journey. As you ascend the mountain you will camp from point to point, enjoying staggering sights along the way.

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    Lake Manyara

    Lake Manyara has an abundance of animal species ranging from baboons, blue monkeys and bushbuck in its evergreen forests, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra on its flood plains. Its acacia woodland is popular amongst its leopards and tree-climbing lions. One of the main draws to the park is its variation of birdlife.

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    Mahale Mountains

    Sitting right by the longest freshwater lake in the world, Mahale Mountains is the best place to visit for spotting chimpanzees in Tanzania. The region also offers plenty of opportunities to spot birds and aquatic life of all kinds.

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    Mwiba Wildlife Reserve

    Marking the southernmost point of the wildebeest’s migration loop, Mwiba Wildlife Reserve is where the herds spread out across the wider region to calve between January and March. There is only one permanent camp option so you’re guaranteed unbeatable privacy and exclusivity. There is also the possibility of setting off on night drives.

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    Ngorongoro Crater

    A great introduction to Tanzania, this nature wonderland offers you incredible sightings of the famous big five as well as a whole host of excellent plains game.

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    North Serengeti

    The North Serengeti forms the border with the equally famous Maasai Mara of Kenya. This is the region where the herds are at their most concentrated during the migration, and it’s where you’ll see the infamous river crossings.

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    Ruaha National Park

    Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania and East Africa. This pristine area has the same wildlife density and diversity of the Kruger, but with only around 1% of the visitors, so privacy is a given.

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    Serengeti National Park

    The Serengeti National Park is one of the world’s most famous national parks. It is host to Africa’s Great Migration where huge herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope travel around before making their way into Kenya’s iconic Maasai Mara.

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    Singita Grumeti

    Singita Grumeti is Tanzania’s largest private reserve. The reserve is exclusive to Singita properties, which means privacy is a given. The region offers unrivalled game viewing experiences, and especially during the Great Wildebeest Migration between the months of June and July.

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    Tarangire National Park

    Tarangire National Park is home to huge herds of elephants. There are also over 550 bird species including the Yellow-collared Lovebirds and the world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori Bustard. Depending on the time of the year, you can also see the migratory wildebeest.

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    Zanzibar

    White sand beaches and a laid back atmosphere are the perfect combination to any adventurous safari. Beachfront hotels, nestled in spice gardens and shrouded in palms are the backdrop to your island activities.

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    Meet your Africa team

    When to visit

    June to November is the dry season and peak time for seeing excellent game. January to April is green and wonderful for birdlife but difficult terrain for game drives.

    Best game viewing main icon

    Best game viewing

    July–October

    Lush scenery main icon

    Lush scenery

    December–February

    World-class birding main icon

    World-class birding

    February

    When is the Best Time to Visit Tanzania?

    When is the Best Time to Visit Tanzania?

    Read more

    Plan your trip to Nyerere National Park

    Whatever you want from your adventure in Nyerere National Park, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Herd of zebra in the grasslands in the golden light, TanzaniaHot air balloon over Marrakech in the sunset light.

    Plan with peace of mind

    When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.

    If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.

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