Selous (Nyerere) National Park

Officially renamed Nyerere National Park in 2019 in honour of Tanzania's founding president Julius Nyerere, the former Selous Game Reserve is Africa's largest protected area — over 50,000 km² of wilderness in southern Tanzania. For context, it is larger than Switzerland. Despite this extraordinary scale, it receives a fraction of the visitors that the Serengeti and Ngorongoro attract, making it one of Africa's most genuinely wild safari destinations.

The Rufiji River

The Rufiji River is the heart of Nyerere/Selous. Tanzania's largest river, it flows through the park in a series of lakes, channels and swamps that support an astonishing density of wildlife. The boat safari on the Rufiji is widely considered one of Africa's finest wildlife experiences — floating silently past pods of 30–50 hippos, ancient Nile crocodiles basking on sandbars, and dozens of waterbird species in a landscape of extraordinary beauty.

Wildlife

  • Hippos — One of Africa's largest hippo populations. Pods of 50+ are common on the Rufiji.
  • Nile Crocodiles — Among the largest in Africa. Very common along the river banks.
  • Wild Dogs — Nyerere/Selous has one of Africa's largest wild dog populations. Sightings are realistic, particularly in the dry season.
  • Elephants — Very large population, though historically impacted by poaching. Recovering strongly since 2014.
  • Lions — Good populations in the woodland and grassland zones.
  • Buffalo — Enormous herds throughout the park.
  • Birds — 440+ species, including the African skimmer, bohm's bee-eater and the Pel's fishing owl.

Safari Activities

Unlike Mikumi, Nyerere/Selous offers multiple safari modes. Boat safaris on the Rufiji are the signature experience. Walking safaris with armed rangers provide a thrilling ground-level perspective. Night game drives (spotlight drives) reveal a nocturnal world of leopard, civets and genets. And of course, traditional 4x4 game drives cover the more open areas of the park.

Getting There from Zanzibar

Light aircraft fly from Zanzibar to several Selous/Nyerere airstrips in approximately 50 minutes. This is the recommended approach — the road transfer is very long. Our 2-Day Fly-In Selous Comfort Safari combines a game drive in Mikumi with a boat safari in Selous across two days.