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Nyerere (Selous) Safari Tours & Holidays
One of the largest protected spaces in Africa, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is a fabulous, beautiful world of big cats, big elephants and big herds of wildlife. The landscape here is also something special, with a beguiling mix of the mighty Rufiji River, palm-fringed lakes, deep gorges and wild woodlands. The Selous, as most locals still call it, has a refreshingly wild feel about it, and it’s nicely removed from the crowds that you often get in the parks of Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit. In fact, this is one of few places in East Africa where you can enjoy the region’s famous safari trails in relative peace, and where each wildlife encounter still feels like a real discovery.
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4-Day Amazing Safari Dar Es Salaam to Nyerere NP/Selous
$880 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Uwanda Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 173 Reviews
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10-Day Nyerere National Park and Zanzibar Adventure
$3,671 to $5,024 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & ResortYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (Tanzania Beaches), Zanzibar Stone Town (Zanzibar), Zanzibar (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.8/5 – 172 Reviews
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3-Day Selous Thrills Fly from Zanzibar with 2 Game Drive
$975 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Plex Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 60 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
10-Day Stone Town & Zanzibar Sand & Selous Safari
$1,929 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & ResortYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Zanzibar Stone Town (Zanzibar), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (Tanzania Beaches), Zanzibar Airport (End)
Paradise & Wilderness
4.8/5 – 209 Reviews
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3-Day Safari Zanzibar Nyerere National Park (Selous)
$1,103 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Greg Adventures
5.0/5 – 35 Reviews
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4-Day Nyerere and Mikumi National Parks
$959 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Mikumi NP, Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Bujo Tours
5.0/5 – 60 Reviews
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3-Day Unforgettable Experience in Nyerere National Park
$660 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Widman Tours & Safari
4.7/5 – 49 Reviews
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3-Day Nyerere NP (Game Drive, Boat and Walking Safari)
$451 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Asante Bibi Safaris and Tours
4.9/5 – 27 Reviews
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3-Day Selous (Nyerere NP) Boat, Game & Walking Safari
$583 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Luitours and Safaris
4.8/5 – 113 Reviews
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3-Day Nyerere NP (Selous) with Boat & Bush Walk Safari
$770 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Connect African Safaris
4.9/5 – 39 Reviews
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3-Day Nyerere National Park Mid Range
$820 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Golden Trips Tanzania
5.0/5 – 61 Reviews
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5-Day Safari to Nyerere National Park (Selous)
$1,573 to $1,661 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar es Salaam Airport (End)
Mtango Safaris & Tours
5.0/5 – 5 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Mid Range Safari to ( Selous) Nyerere Nation Park
$1,254 to $1,364 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Tanzania Roadside Expeditions
5.0/5 – 275 Reviews
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4-Day Tantalizing Trip Mikumi and Nyerere National Parks
$955 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Mikumi NP, Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Ziara to Africa Tours and Safari
5.0/5 – 3 Reviews
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4-Day A Ride down the Rufijii River
$2,635 to $3,623 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryTented Camp
You Visit: Nyerere National Park (Start), Dar es Salaam (City), Nyerere National Park (End)
Furahia-Tanzania Safari & Trekking
4.9/5 – 33 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Selous (Nyerere NP)Boat, Game Drive&Walking Safari
$450 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Kihindo Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 260 Reviews
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4-Day Fly-in from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park
$1,650 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Nyerere NP, Zanzibar (End)
Ngekewa Tours and Safaris
4.7/5 – 59 Reviews
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3-Day Nyerere Private Safari from Dar Es Salaam
$613 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Fresh Mood Treks
5.0/5 – 19 Reviews
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4-Day Elegance Exploration in Mikumi and Nyerere NP
$1,208 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Mikumi NP, Nyerere NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Passionate Guides Tanzania
5.0/5 – 24 Reviews
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4-Day Amazing Safari to Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi
$1,210 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented Camp & CottageYou Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Nyerere NP, Mikumi NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Kima Adventures
4.7/5 – 29 Reviews
5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) National Park Tours
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony has extensive experience in writing about Tanzania, and he has always had a soft spot for Selous, now known as Nyerere National Park. The final chapter of his book, ‘The Last Lions of Africa’, was centered on the Selous, its lions and the communities along the Rufiji riverbank.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) National Park Tours
How does a Nyerere safari compare to a Serengeti safari?
“The ideal scenario is a holiday in which you visit both Nyerere National Park and the Serengeti. That way you could compare these two magnificent parks for yourself. At the highest level, both parks have incredible wildlife and you’ll get to see the animals against a backdrop of beautiful landscapes. Looking a little closer, Nyerere has much more water and subtropical vegetation, as well as denser woodlands. These landscape differences are also reflected in the subtle differences in the wildlife you can see here. Although there are many species that are common to both, such as big cats, elephants, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles and hippos, Nyerere has fewer plains or savannah species and is a crossover zone where you can see bird species from both East and southern Africa.”
1What can I expect from a Nyerere National Park tour?
“The simple answer is that you can expect to see lots of wildlife against a backdrop of stunning landscapes when you’re on a safari in Nyerere National Park. More specifically, the most exciting part of your holiday will be the early morning and late afternoon wildlife experiences. Usually this means a before-dawn wake-up call, a hot drink, then a game drive looking for birds and animals. Unless you’re moving on to a different location for the next night, you’ll return to camp mid- to late morning for breakfast and/or lunch. This is often a time to relax, before afternoon tea and another game drive immediately afterwards. While out on the trail, just before sunset, you’ll most likely stop somewhere scenic for a sundowner where you can enjoy the drink of your choice at a simply gorgeous time of day. In Nyerere National Park, there’s one fine variation on this classic safari experience: instead of one or more of the game drives, you might go on a boat tour or safari out on the Rufiji River, from where you’ll get a whole new perspective on the park.”
2How much will a Nyerere safari cost?
“Prices vary widely when it comes to Nyerere National Park safari packages, starting from $150 per person per day for the cheapest safari, up to more than $1,000 per person per day for the height of luxury. At the cheaper end of the price range, you’ll most likely be sleeping in simple rooms or bungalows, possibly with shared bathrooms, or in camp tents. If you’re on a camping safari, you might be expected to contribute to group chores, such as setting up camp and cooking. For mid-range safaris, you can expect rooms, meals and vehicles of a higher standard. If your accommodation is in safari tents, you’ll have en suite bathrooms and a few other furnishings, with space to walk around in. At the luxury end of the scale, accommodation is superb and spacious, with high levels of personal service, excellent meals and less-crowded safari vehicles.”
3What animals can I expect to see?
“Nyerere National Park has the advantage of having incredible scenery and wildlife habitat on both land and the Rufiji River. On a boat safari out on the river, you’ll almost certainly see hippos, crocs and abundant birdlife, and you never know which land mammals might come down to drink by the river’s edge. On game drives, you’re almost guaranteed to see both lions and elephants: the Selous (as Nyerere National Park is still called by many locals) has some of Tanzania’s largest populations of both species. Other big cats are always a possibility, as are African wild dogs, and the park has large populations of zebra, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest and so many other species. More than 440 bird species have been recorded in the park, making this a top-notch destination for birders.”
4How many days are recommended for a trip to the park?
“Spend as much time as you can in Nyerere National Park. I would recommend a minimum of 3 days for a safari to Nyerere National Park. That will give you time to go on a number of game drives, take a Rufiji River boat safari, enjoy more than one river sunset, and get a good overall experience of what the park has to offer. With just 2 days, you could achieve much of the same, but it will be a bit of a rush, and you’ll most likely leave wanting more. Each extra day you have here will bring rewards, allowing you to see more of the park and return to some of your favorite corners of the park. Additional days also mean you can factor in relaxation time to enjoy your accommodation and downtime without feeling as though you’re missing out if you don’t go out and explore.”
5Nyerere Safari Reviews
Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.
True Wilderness – and wild dogs
If you’re after a true wilderness sensation that goes beyond the confines of a Land Cruiser, then come to Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve). A vast chunk of Nyerere, most of the land south of the Rufiji River, is sadly...
Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
My Top Tip for Tanzania
Nyerere (Selous) National Park is my favourite game area in Tanzania, and possibly the whole of Africa. The landscape, with its emerald-green swamplands, dead trees submerged in water and shaggy-topped palms, is ravishingly beautiful. You...
Nyerere National Park is very large. Wildlife is very present there. You can see many animals (elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, etc.). However, the BIG 5 will be more difficult to see. Already because of the size of the park, so you...
It were not the big five but maybe in the other national parks. We were in the wrong national park to see them. This were the first safari and visit in Tansania .It was a great visit in this national park and we saw many another animals. ...
Not every animal chose to appear for us, but we were able to get close to an incredibly diverse range of animals and birds. Our guide was highly professional and knowledgeable and really enhanced our understanding of what we were seeing.
I was able to see 3 of the Big 5. Elephant, Buffalo and Leopard. Didn't see any lions on the day but they are around sometimes. No rhinos on this park. It was a magnificent 3 day experience with a lot of wildlife. The tour guide was...