Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park (former Salous Game Reserve) stands as one of Africa’s most important conservation areas. It also provides safarists will beautiful sights, quality game-viewing and a range of unique and fun activities. It consists mostly of dense miombo wilderness abutting the meandering Rufiji River. Safarists will also enjoy a collection of lakes, numerous streams, grassland and Acacia savanna. Some of the most popular animal sightings include: lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, spotted hyena, and leopards.

A fun and unique feature to this reserve is that it’s not subject to the regulations that govern national parks. This means that the Selous offers safarists a diverse range of true “bush-like” activities. Some of these include: guided bush walks, boat trips on the Rufiji River and fly-camping around the reserve’s lakes. Unique activities simply enhance the fun and character of this beautiful reserve.

Nyerere National Park is Africa's largest game reserve and one of favourite game viewing areas in Africa. Covering 50,000 square kilometres, is amongst the largest protected areas in Africa and is relatively undisturbed by human impact.

Africa’s largest and oldest game reserve is one of its most scenic wildlife destinations; the Selous is utterly beautiful. The beauty of the park is matched by the quality of a safari here; boating, walking and fly camping compliment standard game driving in thriving wildlife areas. This is an outrageously good safari park and an essential component of any southern circuit itinerary.

The Nyerere National Park is a superb safari destination for both family safaris and African honeymoons, all the better for the ease of getting there and the lack of crowds. The park has the widest diversity of safari activities in the country, offering the boating safaris as well as standard game drives, walking safaris and legendary fly camping trips.

The Northern section of Nyerere National Park is home to a network of channels and lagoons that run off the Rufiji River. This lush landscape provides a water supply for the region’s game and towards the end of the dry season the concentration of animals around these water sources is phenomenal. It is here, around the river and lakes, that the majority of the camps are based; successfully relying on the animal’s need for water to provide game viewing areas. Selous is in its peak season from July through to the middle of November - this when the dry season is raging and all the game homes in on the few permanent water sources.

The sheer volume of game in the Nyerere National Park is outstanding with statistics putting most parks in Africa to shame. Elephant, buffalo and lion are ‘arguably’ found in no greater numbers year round anywhere on the planet. But it is the Selous’ reputation as the last true stronghold for African wild dog that draws the enthusiasts.