Safari park · Southern Circuit

Nyerere National Park (Selous)

Southern Circuit (Morogoro)

Best season: Jun-Oct (dry season)

The largest national park in Tanzania and one of the biggest in Africa, with the Rufiji River at its heart. Its signature activity is a boat safari, which lets you watch hippo, crocodile and waterbirds from the water, and walking safaris are permitted with an armed ranger. Far quieter than the northern circuit.

Country: Tanzania
Region: Southern Circuit (Morogoro)
Best season: Jun-Oct (dry season)
Status: Standard listing

Wildlife highlights

Boat safari on the Rufiji
African wild dog
Hippo
Elephant

Migration timing

Not a migration park. Best game viewing is the dry season (Jun-Oct) when the Rufiji channels concentrate wildlife; boat access reduces in the heavy rains of Mar-May.

What to pack

Light clothing for hot humid days, a swimsuit for boat camps, neutral colours, insect repellent (tsetse and mosquitoes are both present), and a dry bag for boat safaris on the Rufiji.

Park fees

Entrance is roughly US$45-55 per person per 24 hours plus boat/vehicle activity fees, administered by TANATOCA. Boat safaris are priced separately by camps and operators.

Wildlife safety

Nyerere offers boat safaris among hippo and crocodiles — keep hands inside the boat and follow the guide's distances exactly. Walking safaris are armed-ranger only. Wild dogs, lions and buffalo are all present.

Photos

Every image is license-verified for commercial reuse; photographers are credited where the license requires it.

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 2 — Kadin Eksteen, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 3 — Valerie Sutton, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 4 — Harvey Sapir, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 5 — Alex Levis, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 6 — Muwanguzi Isaac, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 7 — Prince III, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 8 — Adriaan Greyling, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 9 — Laura Phillips, via Pexels

Nyerere National Park (Selous) — photograph 10 — Zenji, via Pexels