Nyerere national park is the largest National Park in Tanzania to explore while on Tanzania Safaris and East Africa, but also the second largest National Park in Africa. The park was given the name Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere Park in memory of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who founded the country. The Park, which has a footprint of more than 30,000 square kilometers, was formed in this location in 2019. Nyerere National Park, the largest wilderness area in East Africa, features a variety of species with strong predator-prey relationships as well as generally unaltered ecological and biological processes.
The park’s diversified vegetation, which is largely untouched by people, includes outlying savannah, riverine forest, and swamp areas that compete with the miombo woodland that predominates. In turn, a broad variety of wildlife and flora can be found in this diversified area. Off-roading is allowed, giving tourists the chance to meet the locals up close.
The powerful Rufiji River flows into the Indian Ocean with a renowned population of hippos and rhinos. The river is a well-liked tourist site and has been recognized as a photography zone. The Nyerere contains an incredible number of games, in greater abundance are elephants, buffalo, and lions, and the park, together with the remaining portion of Selous game reserve is the last remaining real refuge for African wild dogs. Visitors to this expansive park will be able to partake in the widest variety of safari activities available in the nation, including boat safaris in addition to traditional game drives, walking safaris, and storied fly camping excursions.
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, hippos, leopards, wild dogs, zebras, the majestic sable antelope, giraffes, hyenas, wildebeest, gazelles, and many other animal species. Over 400 bird species have been spotted in the park, including African fish eagles, Malachite Kingfishers, African Skimmers, and Bohm’s Bee-eaters. Savannah grasslands and Miombo woodlands abound throughout the park.
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK TOURIST ACTIVITIES
You can engage in the broadest variety of Tanzania safari activities in this enormous area, including both traditional game drives and motorboat safaris. There are also legendary fly-camping excursions and walking safaris to enjoy. Visitors to this park can also see large herds of elephants being extremely cautious around people and cars.
Nyerere National Park game drives: You can see animals all year long. You can go on a game drive in the evening, morning or in the afternoon and take in the stunning environment while watching the many animal species meander around the park and near water sources like the River Rufiji. There may be giraffes, zebras, cape buffaloes, and African fish eagles among the animals that can be viewed.
Nyerere National Park Guided nature walk: Take stunning photos of the landscape, various bird species, and other creatures as you explore the park’s trails and get up close and personal with Mother Nature. This is carried out alongside a skilled, armed game ranger to ensure your safety against predators and other dangerous animals.
Nyerere National Park cultural outing: Get the chance to interact with the renowned indigenous Masaai people who live in most of Tanzania’s national parks. As you interact with the locals in the Masaai community, you will learn more about their distinctive rituals and way of life.
Nyerere national Park boating and canoeing excursions: This is a fascinating and wonderful thing to do. The Tanzania boating safari is a fantastic opportunity to explore the park on the river as you witness many wildlife along the river’s banks, including swimming hippos, crocodiles, and other creatures.
Nyerere National Park Fly-Camping Tours: For vacationers who are feeling more daring, there are several resorts in the park that provide scenic fly-camping safaris. These journeys entail spending the night in simple tents with mosquito netting in the African wilderness. These excursions are better suited for travelers who don’t require as much comfort.
Nyerere National Park hot air balloon safaris: Only the renowned Serengeti National Park, which is located on the northern Tanzania safari circuit, and the enormous Selous Reserve, which is located in the southern portion of the country, provide visitors a perspective from above of the plains below while they wonder at the various wild creatures in the reserve.
GETTING TO THE NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
Scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam city and Zanzibar take just under an hour, making it simple to reach the park. Visitors can also go by car from Dar es Salaam city to the park, but we advise taking a break along the way, perhaps with a stop in Mikumi National Park. The route to Selous is frequently graded, although it’s important to check on the condition of the road after the main rainy season in April and May.
There is, in our opinion, no better way to reach the park if you’re feeling adventurous and interested in experiential travel than by taking the TAZARA train from Dar es Salaam city. This is the Tanzania to Zambia train, which travels there in around 4.5 hours and leaves Dar es Salaam city twice a week on Tuesday and Friday. The train is remarkably reliable when it comes to timing, yet on other days there can be hours-long delays or perhaps no delays at all.
BEST TIME TO VISIT NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
Game viewing is best in Nyerere national park from July through October. Game prefers to gather along rivers and lakes during this “dry” season, making viewing considerably simpler. Since the jungle is so sparse and dry, the herds gather in search of water, making game-watching much simpler. If you’re a birder, you should know that birding is fantastic from November to March.
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK SAFARIS
Nyerere National Park not only provides a fantastic introduction to untainted Africa, but is also a fantastic location for seasoned safari enthusiasts. Of all the Tanzanian safari areas, Nyerere National Park offers some of the best walking safaris, boat/ canoe safaris, and fly camping excursions in all of Africa. In particular, the boat safari distinguishes this park from the others. Boat safaris are only allowed here and in the Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and Saadani National Park on the shore.
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK ACCOMMODATION.
There are several lodging options in Nyerere National Park, including Sand Rivers, Selous Serena Camp, Mbuyu Safari Camp, Beho Beho Camp, Stiegler’s Gorge Camp, and Serena Mivumo River Lodge. The sheer amount of wildlife in Nyerere National Park is amazing and we advise you to include this location on your list of next Tanzania Safari Tours vacation if you want to take advantage of the park’s adventures and activities.
