Nyerere is an important part of the massive cross-country 155,000km²/60,000mi² Greater Selous-Niassa ecosystem. Its main habitat is dense miombo woodland, but the main wildlife-viewing circuit follows a string of five connected lakes fed by the Rufiji, one of Africa’s great rivers. Its palm-fringed channels attract loads of wildlife in the Dry season and its sandbanks are permanently filled with monstrous crocodiles. Nyerere’s unusually diverse range of activities means that it offers arguably the most rounded bush experience of any Tanzanian national park. Game drives are rewarding for predator sightings, while boat trips on the Rufiji River and associated lakes offer utterly compelling water-based wildlife viewing. Guided walking safaris and night drives both add further dimensions to the wilderness experience. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can sleep under the stars on a fly-camping trip.
With a truly massive wilderness area in East Africa, this National park has an undisturbed ecology and can be considered to be more remote, pristine and unspoilt compared to the more visited parks in Tanzania, such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. The park is home to an intact and diverse range of wildlife exhibiting significant predator and prey relationship. The great Rufiji River, the largest river in Tanzania, which flows into the Indian Ocean and has a healthy population of hippo and crocodiles,flows through the northern part of the park and is one of the tourist attractions here. The river is very picturesque and a designated photographic zone. The Nyerere Park, as this destination is also referred to as, is among the best wildlife areas to spot some of the fascinating wild animals of Africa.
By Air: Flying to Nyerere (Selous) National Park is the most convenient and preferred means of getting there. The flight is about 1 hour from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. Several domestic airlines offer daily flights to the park. Other flights take off from Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Airport. Several airstrips are located in different parts of the park, including (Mtemere, Sumbazi, Siwandu, Beho Beho, Matambwe & Kiba). The leading airlines operating the route are (Regional Air, Coastal Aviation, Auric Air & Safari Air Link.
By Road: One can access Nyerere National Park from Dar es Salaam by car, which covers approximately 250km to the nearest entry point. The journey takes about 5 hours. Some parts of the road are in poor condition, and the road is covered by gravel on the last 75km to the park. The journey might not be pleasant, but it's all part of an authentic African experience.
By Railway: You can access the park by boarding a Tanzania Zambia Railways AZARA train from Dar Es Salaam, which will take you across the wilderness. At the same time, you enjoy magnificent views and wildlife in Matambwe.
There is a plethora of wildlife in Nyerere National Park. There are approximately 100,000 wildebeests, 35,000 giraffes, 145,000 buffalos, 250,000 impalas, 4000 lions, 40,000 hippos and large numbers of crocodiles, leopards, elands, elephants, bushbucks, waterbucks, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and hyenas. The park is also among the few in Africa where you will come across the puku antelopes, sable antelope and the African wild dog.
If you are an avid bird watcher, you must visit Nyerere National Park. Over 445 bird species have been recorded, including migrant and endemic birds such as kingfishers, African skimmers, and pelicans, which are found along the shore of the lake. Other birds include trumpeters, malachite kingfishers, purple-crested turaco, white-fronted bee-eater, carmine, fish eagles, palm-nut vultures, hornbill, and yellow-billed stork ibises.