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4-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safari Tours

4.4/5  –  97 Nyerere Reviews

It is difficult to imagine anyone who goes on a 4-day Nyerere safari being disappointed by the experience. The park, which used to be known as Selous Game Reserve and is now called Nyerere National Park, has an amazing offering of wildlife and wild landscapes to enjoy. And with 4 days dedicated to your safari, you can count on 2 full days in and around the park. In addition to the many animals that you’re likely to see while you’re here, you can also add the memorable experience of a boat excursion on the Rufiji River, where you can look forward to some of the best sunset views anywhere in southern Tanzania.

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1-20 of 35 Nyerere National Park 4-day trips, itineraries, holidays, packages & vacations

5 Questions About 4-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safaris

 
 

5 Questions About 4-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safaris

Answered by Anthony Ham

What type of accommodation is available on a 4-day Nyerere (Selous) safari?

“There is a broad range of accommodation both inside Nyerere National Park, and just outside the park’s eastern Mtemere Gate. The accommodation inside the park’s boundaries is overwhelmingly aimed at those in the mid-range and high-end luxury price categories, with very little to offer budget travelers. Most of the in-park accommodation consists of tented camps, where you’ll sleep in supremely comfortable safari tents with en suite bathrooms. Many will have views out over the river or lakes, and some tents will have writing desks, private terraces and a delightful sense of light and space; lie in bed at night and listen for lions. The tented camps all have bars, restaurants and lounge areas, and most have swimming pools. Outside the park, there are lots of tented camps and other types of accommodation in the forest that runs along the riverbank of the Rufiji. Many have stunning sunset views. Accommodation here comes in many different shapes and sizes, often even within the same camp, including rooms (some with en suite bathrooms, others with shared facilities), campsites with communal shower and toilet facilities, and safari tents. Elephants, monkeys and even African wild dogs sometimes pass through the camps. These accommodation types also usually have a bar, restaurant and sometimes a swimming pool.”

1

What is the best time of the year for a Nyerere safari?

“Nyerere is at its best for visitors between June and October. Partly this is about the weather, an important factor when you only have 4 days here to enjoy your holiday. This is when you can expect fine days with milder temperatures and cooler nights. With the good weather come the best driving conditions. The park’s tracks are unsealed, and it’s easier to drive on them when it hasn’t rained for a while. If you had to pick one time to visit above all others it would be late in the Dry season (i.e. September and October). This is when the animals are drawn more often to the remaining water sources, making them easier to find and to see. Outside of the official Dry season, November and December can also be good, when rain is possible but rarely enough to spoil your safari. If possible, avoid March and April, as these are the months when heavy and/or prolonged rains are more likely. Birders have recorded more than 440 different bird species in the park. The best months to go looking for many of them are between November and April, when large numbers of migratory birds from North Africa, southern Asia and Europe spend time in the park.”

2

Which activities are available on a 4-day Nyerere safari?

“As with any East African safari, the guided game drive will probably be the most common activity on your tour. Guided game drives involve going out to look for animals in the early morning and late afternoon, when most animals are easier to find and at their most active. Your guide and driver will take you out looking in an open-sided 4WD vehicle with a canvas roof and tiered seating. No matter how many game drives you’ve done, the sense of anticipation of this mainstay of the safari never fades. Quite simply, it’s a wonderful experience. A special activity that is particular to Nyerere is a boat excursion on the Rufiji River. The best time to enjoy this is close to sunset when the views are often spectacular. You’ll love the views, and also the chance to see hippos, crocs and maybe even land-based animals coming down to the water’s edge to drink. More sedate activities include a bush breakfast (breakfast served in the bush) and the sundowner. Part of the guided game drive, the sundowner involves stopping in a picturesque location just before sunset to enjoy a drink and snacks.”

3

Can I add a Nyerere trip to a beach holiday?

“Many travelers combine a beach holiday with their 4-day Nyerere safari, and it’s certainly something that safari tour operators have experience in arranging. To make it work, especially if you have limited time, you’ll probably need to fly between Nyerere and the beach through the airstrip just outside the east gate of Nyerere National Park. You could drive if your beach destination is on the Tanzanian mainland (as opposed to one of the islands such as Zanzibar or Pemba). But doing so could add considerably to the time you need for your holiday and take away from time spent in the destinations themselves. Combining some time along the Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania with a safari gives you a wonderfully broad and in-depth experience of what the country has to offer. All you have to decide is which you want to visit first!”

4

How much does a 4-day Nyerere safari cost?

“There is no simple answer to this question, but as a general (and very broad) guide, expect prices to start at around US$150 per person per day for the cheapest kind of camping safari and rise beyond US$500 per person per day for a luxury safari experience in Nyerere. Major costs that you need to factor in include the cost of air transfers (as much as US$300 per person for two air transfers) and the daily park entrance fee (US$50/25 per adult/child per day). If you travel in high season (June to October) you could pay as much as double what you’d pay to visit during the low-season months. The same applies to a private safari (where you have your very own guide, driver and vehicles) when compared to a group or a self-drive safari. Another big variable is your accommodation, where prices range from rock-bottom budget camping to top-end luxury tented camps, and everything in between.”

5

Nyerere Reviews

4.4/5 97 Reviews
Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

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
5/5

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...

Full Review

Expert
Philip Briggs  –  
South Africa ZA

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

Southern Tanzania’s Ultimate Wilderness
4/5

A lot of the publicity for the 30,893km2/11,928mi2 Nyerere NP (formerly Selous) focuses on its status as one of Africa’s largest national parks. This can set up false expectations, however, as most of the park’s lodges, camps and...

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Harald Schulz  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: Mar 18, 2024
4/5

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. ...

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Danielle  –  
Israel IL
Reviewed: Oct 7, 2023
5/5

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.

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Andros Belfonte  –  
Trinidad and Tobago TT
Reviewed: Jul 14, 2023
5/5

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...

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Jaroslav Karhánek  –  
Czech Republic CZ
Reviewed: May 12, 2023
5/5

As I mentioned before in review for Tanzania, this park is emazing. Close to Dar es Salaam so if you do not have so much time this is the best option and you will not regret it. Many animals, great landscape, kind people and everything 5*....

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