Nyere National Park

Wildlife, Wilderness and Inspiration in Nyere National Park

Located in the southern latitudes of Tanzania and formerly known as Selous, Nyere National Park is one of the key visiting points in what is sometimes referred to as the ‘Southern Circuit.’ Although somewhat lesser known to first-time visitors to Africa, this expansive game reserve offers substantially more conservation land than the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater National Parks combined, making it Africa’s largest single wildlife reserve.

The charm of Nyere National Park is a subtle and yet special one, in our opinion. While first-time travellers may wish to tick the Serengeti National Park off their bucket list, Nyere National Park is far quieter than the Serengeti or the Maasai Mara, and the sense of remote wilderness and solitude that await the seasoned traveller here, in the midst of the impressive meanderings of the Rufiji River, are almost unbeatable. This river, together with the lakes surrounding it provide the lifeblood for the northern parts of the reserve, and the tranquility of scenic wilderness that have been inspiration to so many.

WHERE TO VISIT IN NYERE NATIONAL PARK

Overall, we think that the northern part of Nyere offers more to visitors than the southern parts do - it is more scenic, and with its ecosystem of rivers and lakes, we would expect stronger wildlife sightings in this part of the reserve. Nyere is home to all the major animal players - from predator cats, through large herds of Elephant and Buffalo, to the numerous plains game, riverine wildlife, and birdlife that call this sanctuary their home. Wild Dog are also a huge drawcard for Nyere, with packs of these seen regularly in this area.

That being said, there are also some fantastic safari experiences toward the southern side of the park. This area focuses on riverine and water-based safari experiences, with sightings of large herds of Buffalo and Elephant being common, and some excellent variety of activities and experiences being offered here.

BEST TIME TO VISIT NYERE NATIONAL PARK

As with so many national parks in Africa, the best time to visit Nyere is during the drier winter months, when grasses are shorter and wildlife sightings tend to be more concentrated, especially in the areas closer to the rivers and lakes as they are attracted by the abundance of water during this harsher time of year.