NYERERE NATIONAL PARK

Initially known as Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park carries pride as the largest national park and Game Reserve in Tanzania situated in the southeastern part of the country. The epic park is a protected area and covers about 30, 893 square kilometres of land area making it the largest national park on the African continent and also one of the world’s largest wildlife sanctuaries.

The vast park is richly endowed with abundant wildlife concentration including wild cats like cheetahs, leopards, and lions and a variety of mammal species from elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes, elands, and rhinos, to mention but a few with about 400 different bird species.

The parks Transformation

The vast park is newly established by the Tanzanian Government and Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) in late 2019. It derives its name “Nyerere” from the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the founding father of the Tanzania nation and the park is in his honour. 

Unlike other popular national parks in Tanzania like Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro National Park, which are fully utilized and mostly visited, Nyerere National Park is under-utilized, least visited, and more remote and its ecology is still intact. 

One of the key attractions of the magnificent park is the River Rufiji which flows to the Indian Ocean and also Tanzania’s largest river flowing in the Northern part of the park. The epic river harbors several aquatic species of mammals including hippos, crocodiles and more hence a popular tourist attraction in the country. 

WHAT TO DO WHILE AT NYERERE NATIONAL PARK?

Game drives. The vast park is one of the World’s largest wildlife reserves and its wilderness is epic. The fact that the park is newly established and receives few visitors, most of the wildlife is not so open to the human presence as some wild animals are seen hiding from the tourists. However, several wildlife species like hippos, lions, leopards, wildebeests, zebras, wild dogs, rhinos, elands, baboons, elephants, and giraffes can be sighted during the long game drives in the park. Both the morning and afternoon game drives are a great way to have an ultimate game drive wildlife experience at Nyerere. Around 11:00 am and 3:00 pm is the best time to encounter the wildlife of the vast park. 

Guided nature walks

One of the thrilling remarkable moments while at Nyerere National Park is when on guided nature walks. The walks are safe and accompanied by the park ranger to ensure visitors face no threats from wild animals and are mostly done in safer and predator-free zones. Visitors are advised to keenly follow the instructions given to them by the tour guides to ensure safety and an unforgettable wildlife experience. Some of the animals that can be sighted while on walking safaris in Nyerere National Park include zebras, elephants, elands, buffaloes, wildebeests and more.

Birding at Nyerere

Endowed with over 400 different bird species, Nyerere National Park is one of the best destinations for all birding activities. Unlike other tourism activities that are best executed during the dry season, birding in Nyerere is best done during the wet season. The migratory birds tend to fly in the country during this particular season around November and April. Several bird species that can be sighted in the vast park include the black cuckoo-shrike, palm vulture, African skimmer, mangrove kingfisher, red red-winged warbler, to mention but a few.

Cultural visits

Cultural visits to the vast park enable visitors to link up and learn more about the local community of Masaai people who are initial inhabitants of most of the national parks in the country. Visitors shall also be impressed by the way of living of the Masaai and their unique traditions and customs. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT NYERERE NATIONAL PARK 

Even though the vast park is an all-year tourism destination, the best time to visit this thrilling tourism destination is during the dry season of the year. The dry season period of months like December to February and July to September is the right time to visit the park and have an ultimate wildlife experience.

It’s during this particular period that the wildlife of Nyerere tends to gather on the only remaining water sources for drinking water and food. Game drives are also done easier during the dry period of the year since the trails for game driving and nature walks are dry and accessible hence less challenging to maneuver and have a great wildlife experience. 

Visitors into birding can visit the park during the wet season since the period attracts a variety of migratory bird species.