Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
Introducing
Nyerere National Park
One of the largest game reserves in Africa, Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) sprawls across 50,000 square kilometres in the southeast of Tanzania. Its staggering wildlife diversity and undisturbed natural landscapes have seen it designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although the region was first set aside as a protected area as far back as 1896 by the German Governor of Tanganyika, Hermann von Wissmann. In 1905, the region was established as a hunting reserve and was later named after Frederick Selous. This big game hunter and conservationist died at Beho Beho (which lies within the modern-day Selous Game Reserve) during World War I while fighting against the Germans.
While many areas of the reserve are still used for game hunting as privately leased concessions, the northern part of Selous Game Reserve along the Rufiji River is a popular safari destination and photography zone. It’s dotted with high-end lodges and camps that run daily game drives and walking safaris, as well as boat safaris to spot animals as they refuel along the banks of the Rufiji River.
Highlights
Nyerere National Park's staggering wildlife diversity and undisturbed natural landscapes have seen it designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site'
Nyerere National Park's vast numbers of animals have seen it identified as one of the greatest surviving African wildernesses and one that’s not to be missed.'
Nyerere National Park is home to huge numbers of buffalos (120,000 - 150,000), as well as large numbers of hippos and around 4,000 lions - among the largest populations in Africa.
More than 440 bird species have been recorded.
Wildlife Viewing:
Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park is home to huge numbers of buffalos (120,000 - 150,000), as well as large numbers of hippos and around 4,000 lions - among the largest populations in Africa. It also supports healthy populations of wildebeest, zebra and impala, together with giraffe, greater kudu, waterbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and eland.
The reserve is also considered an important sanctuary for the endangered African wild dog, as well as sable and puku antelope. Add to that spotted hyena, leopard, black rhino and Nile crocodile and it’s no wonder Selous is renowned amongst safari enthusiasts. While the park was once home to around 109,000 elephants (at the time the largest population in the world), numbers have significantly dropped due to poaching and there are only around 13,000 left today.
Best time to visit:
Nyerere National Park
The dry season of July through October is the best time of year for the greatest overall concentrations of game in this park when wildlife congregates around the lakes. However, do not underestimate this park at any other time outside the rainy season of April & May as game viewing is very good in various areas throughout the year. December through February is a lovely time to visit too and is known as the Green Season, when the scenery is lush and green. February is a great time to see young being born with birding during this time of year being absolutely world class. Note that the presence and the absence of rain affects vegetation and water sources thus affecting movement and concentration of animals in the park and the sorrounding Selous Game Reserve. However, with many travelers coming for the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, the best time to visit for this spectacular event is from June to mid October. Although due to varying rainfall patterns, the timing does vary year to year.
How to get to:
Nyerere National Park
The road distance from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park is about 230 kilometers to the nearest entry point, though this differs depending on which entry gate you plan to access. One of the most common questions from tourists is how long is the drive from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park. So the road trip from Dar es Salaam to the park takes about 5 hours, and this is to one of the nearer entry gates in the Nyerere Park. Road conditions are poor in places with the last 75 kms to the park being on a bumpy gravel road. Flying to Nyerere National Park is the most popular and convenient option, being only about a 1 hour flight from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam to a variety of different airstrips in Nyerere.
