Nyerere National Park holidays & tours (Selous)
The Serengeti gets all the glory, but Nyerere National Park is far more expansive – with the wildlife numbers to match. Thousands of elephants, buffalo and antelopes roam the park, along with rare and beautiful wild dogs – not usually seen in the north. A boat cruise on Lake Tagalala or Rufiji River gets you up close to hippos, crocodiles and birds. The massive space and handful of lodges mean you’re far more likely to see wildlife than tourists on our Nyerere National Park holidays. When you spot wildlife, you can protect it: our trips help contribute research to the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, where you can report your African wild dog sightings, and help wildlife thrive in one of the world's largest national parks.
Luxury Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday
Selous safari then relax on beautiful Zanzibar
From
£5050
13 days
inc UK flights
Selous safari & Mafia Islands diving holiday
Africa's largest game park
From
£4180
13 days
inc UK flights
Tanzania Nyerere safari holiday & Zanzibar
Off-the-beaten track safari experiences & paradise beaches
From
£5999
10 days
ex flights
Southern Tanzania luxury safari holiday
Two of the most wild and unspoilt parks of Tanzania
From
£10750
12 days
inc UK flights
Tanzania luxury safari and beach holiday
Safari in remote wilderness, relax on white-sand beaches
From
£9270
11 days
ex flights
Tanzania camping safari, Selous and Ruaha
Adventure deep into the African bush!
From
£3175
10 days
ex flights
Contact Us
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Nyerere National Park map & highlights
When a reserve is the size of a small country, you might be wondering how on earth you go about deciding which parts of it to visit. But in reality, traditional safaris take place only in the far north of the Selous (around 5 percent of the total area) – making them far more accessible from the popular northern game parks – with the south made up of hunting reserves. The north contains the main lodges and camps – as well as the Rufiji River and Lake Tagalala – meaning you can take your pick of accommodation and safari styles – from bushwalks and traditional game drives to sunset cruises. Selous is normally reached via a short flight from Dar es Salaam; but to really experience the vastness of Tanzania, take the 5-hour train journey through the bush. Your daily commute this is not!
African wild dogs
1. African wild dogs
Wild dogs – also known as painted dogs due to their beautifully patterned fur – are highly endangered. Selous is the best place in Africa to observe them in their natural habitat as they live here in great numbers. The eastern region of the reserve offers the greatest chances of sightings of the dogs – as well as of lions, their main competitor – and predator.
Lake Tagalala
2. Lake Tagalala
This oxbow lake, bordered by the skeletons of trees which were drowned as the waters rose, draws elephants, wildebeest and zebra from across the plains during the dry season – these in turn attract lions and other predators. The lake is wonderful for keen birders, too, with many species thriving along its banks. Drive around the lake, cruise its tranquil waters or bathe in the natural hot springs nearby.
Maasai villages
3. Maasai villages
While Selous may seem like a vast wilderness, people do live along its borders, and visiting a Maasai village may just end up being one of the most memorable experiences of your Selous safari. Far from the contrived “tribal” experiences that may be found in more touristy regions, the villagers here are warm, welcoming and simply going about their daily life – find out what life is like beside Africa’s largest game reserve.
Rufiji River
4. Rufiji River
Tanzania’s largest river slices the reserve in two on its journey from the highlands down to the Indian Ocean. Rufiji, and the lakes it leaves in its wake, provide a habitat for hippos and crocs, as well as the opportunity to view wildlife from a boat – a truly tranquil experience. The mighty river winds through forests and grasslands, and small bankside camps guarantee scenic sunset views.
The Big Five
5. The Big Five
The eastern section of Selous is dense with game – including the Big Five, so named because they were historically considered the most challenging (and dangerous) to hunt. Today, the only (legal) shooting taking place in this part of the reserve is with a camera – and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to train your lens on the 120,000+ buffalo and 4,000 lions, some of the highest concentrations in Africa.
Our Nyerere National Park safaris (Selous) reviews
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22Nyerere National Park safaris (Selous) reviews
Stephen Walby26 Feb 2024
Excellent, exceeded our expectations. Everything was well planned and executed, staff everywhere were lovely, accommodation and food all very good.read more
Emily Attwood17 Nov 2023
Fantastic! From start to finish, Marie has been so helpful and knowledgeable in getting our trip organised. While on safari we feel that we could not have got any more out of it if we tried. Our guide was the absolute best and we adored him.
Our second week on Zanzibar was truly relaxing and we were totally spoilt.
THANK YOU!!!! read more
Annie Bird11 Jul 2023
Outstanding. We loved it from start to finish read more
S Zimmerman20 Jun 2023
Most of it was both memorable and exciting. The gorilla trek was extremely tough but worth it and an adventure in its own right. Four days in Ruaha Park in Tanzania brought a huge number of sightings at close proximity as well as wonderful accommodations that we will remember forever. read more
