Nyerere or Serengeti which is better? Tanzania is an epic country with rich wildlife, diverse culture, and the icon of Africa—Kilimanjaro, to be specific. Each year, about 2 million tourists enter this East African country for the sake of leisure, study, and more. And the diverse wildlife it hosts is what makes it an intriguing part of the world.
Many safari goers dream of the Serengeti, and once they come to Tanzania, they meet tons of other safari parks worth visiting. Sometimes, they struggle to decide whether to stay in the Serengeti or explore other safari parks.
While Serengeti is extremely famous in the world, there is another less-known destination you can consider for your safari. In this article, we’ll compare two parks, Serengeti and Nyerere National Parks, to help you know them better before you make your final decision.
Size
Nyerere National Park is far bigger than Serengeti National Park. Nyerere spans 30,893 square kilometers, and that’s twice the Serengeti, which is 14,763 square kilometers. It is Africa’s largest national park, while Serengeti is Africa’s eighth largest park.
Wildlife
The Big Five
The wildlife diversity in both Nyerere and Serengeti is interesting. Nyerere hosts plenty of ungulates, predators, and many other animals. In Nyerere, you can tick off the Big Five animals. These are lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and black rhinos. The number of lions is remarkably interesting, approximately between 1,700 and 6,900, while elephants are also abundant. The rhino is extremely rare in the Nyerere, but you might be one of the luckiest people to see it.
Serengeti, on the other hand, has a large population of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, etc. It hosts all the Big Five animals. There is an interesting number of the Big Five. For instance, there are over 3,000 lions in the plains, around 7,000 elephants, about 1,000 leopards, over 50,000 buffalos, and about 160 black rhinos.
The Great Migration
Wildlife migration happens in any of these parks. But the Serengeti migration is remarkable because of its circular manner and is never-ending. This spectacle features over 2 million ungulates: wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, etc. The major drive is the search for greener grazing grounds.
This event has caught nature lovers’ attention globally. Each year, plan a visit to the Serengeti, aiming to witness herds of wildebeest moving across the plains. This migration is not an easy-going natural wonder but usually comprises lethal challenges like predation, starvation, and hunger. The Grumeti and Mara rivers also obstruct this journey. But animals have no other option than to cross, and once they do, hungry Nile crocs take their share from the herd.
In Nyerere, animals migrate to a few remaining water sources, including the Rufiji River, Great Ruaha River, Njombe River, and many others. So, this migration is very minimal, not enough to compare it with spectacles like the wildebeest migration.
Uniqueness
Serengeti is famous for its diverse wildlife and natural wonders, like the wildebeest migration. Because of its fame, it is always crowded, especially in the dry season. People always choose Serengeti to witness the Big Five, carnivores, wildebeest migration, etc. On the other hand, Nyerere is known for its remoteness and pristine forests. It’s hard to encounter many safari vehicles in this destination. For those wishing to have an authentic, crowd-free, yet inspiring safari tour, Nyerere National Park suits them.
Accessibility
The Nyerere lies in the southern part, while the Serengeti is nestled in the northern part of Tanzania. Serengeti is very accessible from Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania. Visitors can land at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha and then drive or fly to one of its seven airstrips. Sometimes they spend a night in a hotel in Arusha before departing for their itinerary.
Nyerere is accessible from Dar es Salaam, the business capital of Tanzania. You can drive for 9 hours from Dar es Salaam or fly to one of its airports. Something important to note is that there are more flight options to Serengeti than to Nyerere National Park.
Landscape
Serengeti and Nyerere differ a little in their landscape. Serengeti is mainly dominated by grassy savanna plains stretching farther than the eye can see. And because of these plains, Serengeti got its name. The Maasai called it “Siringit,” meaning endless plains. This landscape is lovely for wildlife viewing since you can watch animals from a distance. However, the park also has rolling hills (in the north), kopjes (in the central part), and riverine forests.
Nyerere is characterized by thick forests, lush forests, plains, open woodlands, and riverine forests. The vegetation is so thick and may obstruct your wildlife views. Animals may hide in forests, shrubs, and long grasslands. There are also seasonal swamps, river basins, and lakes that add a unique appearance.
Cost
Serengeti is always more expensive than the Nyerere. This is mainly due to its fame. It’s a favorite for many adventure seekers. Many people compete to visit it, thereby driving the prices up. Nyerere National Park is a budget-friendly destination. You don’t have to be affluent to book a luxurious trip. It’s uncrowded, so no need to escape the crowd.
Best time
Both parks are good all year round. However, if you want to witness phenomenal events like the wildebeest migration, you’ll have to plan your trip very carefully. The forests in Nyerere turn into thick forests during the rainy season, and this makes wildlife viewing very challenging.
Accommodation options
Serengeti has a quite wide range of accommodations, and most of them are open throughout the year. You can choose permanent or mobile camps, or luxurious lodges and tented camps distributed throughout the ecosystem.
The Nyerere, on the other hand, has a few accommodations, and some of them cease operations during the wet season. Still, there are luxurious properties available throughout the year. And another advantage is that you will stay with a few people—something very funny, especially for families.
Nyerere and Serengeti are both interesting wildlife sanctuaries—ideal ones for everyone seeking nature and luxury. More interesting, you can visit both if you want. You can also choose the best one between them. Whatever the choice you make, at Focus East Africa Tours we can help you enjoy your holiday.
