5-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safari Tours

4.4/5 – 89 Nyerere Reviews

You’ll fall in love with Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) on your 5-day safari. It really is one of East Africa’s most rewarding parks. It has abundant water, picturesque landscapes and incredible wildlife, and 5 days here will allow you to get to know the park and its wildlife. You should also have plenty of time to relax, and there may even be enough time left over to visit another nearby park. Before you move on, there’s so much to enjoy in Nyerere itself, including fantastic game drives and excellent accommodation. And don’t miss the specialty of a trip here: a sunset boat ride out onto the waters of the Rufiji River.

1-20 of 23 Nyerere National Park 5-day trips, itineraries, holidays, packages & vacations

5 Questions About 5-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written more than 150 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Kenya’, ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’. He writes for magazines and newspapers around the world, and is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’, which has a major section on the Nyerere National Park.

› More about Anthony

Which other parks can I visit on a 5-day Nyerere (Selous) safari?

“Many travelers are quite happy to spend 5 days in Nyerere without going anywhere else. The park certainly has enough to keep you busy and engaged for the whole time. But if you’re in the area, there are some other options to consider. Mikumi National Park is not far away from Nyerere, to the northwest, and it’s a brilliant park to visit. Its vast floodplains and waterholes play host to big herds of elephant and buffalo, and predators such as big cats can possibly be seen. Another option is Udzungwa Mountains National Park, one of Tanzania’s greenest and most rewarding hiking and birding destinations. Given that it’s possible to fly from Nyerere to just about anywhere else in Tanzania and be there within a couple of hours, that may open up other possible parks farther afield. That said, it could mean rushing and trying to do too much in the short space of time you have available.”

What type of accommodation is available on a Nyerere trip?

“Nyerere has terrific accommodation, some of which lies within the park boundaries, with even more just outside the park’s eastern Mtemere Gate. There’s plenty of choice both within and outside the park, with one exception: there’s very little for budget travelers inside the park. Most of the accommodation within the park is in the form of tented camps, which cater mostly to mid-range and luxury travelers. Most of these camps lie close to the water, either by the lakes for which Nyerere is famous or along the banks of the Rufiji River, and some have water views from the tents. The safari tents themselves are often large and luxurious, with mosquito nets, en suite bathrooms, writing desks, wooden floors and other furnishings, as well as ample private terraces from which to enjoy the view. The camps usually have a bar, restaurant, lounge area and possibly a swimming pool. Outside the park, there are numerous options in the forest along the banks of the Rufiji River. Many have fine sunset views, most have a bar, restaurant and swimming pool, and they’re only a short drive from the park entrance. These places have a mix of camping areas (with shared showers and toilets), rooms and safari tents. Keep an eye open for elephants, monkeys and African wild dogs wandering through camp.”

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

“The best time to go on a 5-day Nyerere safari is from June to October. Because this period coincides with the Dry season, you can look forward to fine weather and mild temperatures (if a little cool at night). As rains are unlikely, the park’s unpaved tracks have a higher chance of being in good condition, making getting around easier. Later in the Dry season, particularly in September and October, animals are also more likely to draw near to known water sources, making it easier for you to find them. If you’re traveling in November and December, these can also be good months. This is the time of the short rains, so brief, intense thunderstorms are possible, but they shouldn’t disrupt your safari too much. The same can’t be said for the long rains, which usually fall from March to May. If you’re here to see as many birds as possible (Nyerere has recorded more than 440 different kinds), migratory species arrive in large numbers from Europe, southern Asia and North Africa around November, and they usually stay until April.”

Can I combine a 5-day Nyerere safari with a beach holiday?

“It is definitely possible to combine your 5-day Nyerere safari with time on the beach. Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations, but it’s so much more than that. In fact combining beach and safari on one trip is one of the best things you can do in Tanzania, because it gives you a much broader experience of what this wonderful country has to offer. Logistically it’s as easy to do as asking your safari tour operator to make the arrangements. This is a common combination, and operators should be able to present you with a number of options. These might include Zanzibar, Pemba or any of the other beach areas along Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coastline. The journey will usually involve flying between the coast and the airstrip located just outside the eastern Mtemere Gate of Nyerere.”

How much will this safari cost?

“No two safaris will ever cost the same, as there are so many variables to factor in. As a broad starting point, however, expect a budget camping safari (on which you might be expected to help with cooking, cleaning and setting up the tents) to start at around US$100 to US$150 per person per day. If you’re looking for a high-end luxury safari, the per-person-per-day cost could go beyond US$500. Accommodation is obviously a major variable: the more you’re willing to pay, the more comfort and luxury you’ll enjoy. When you go is another consideration. High season runs from June to October, and this is when expensive high-season prices apply. These can be double the low-season prices. Also part of the mix is the type of safari you go on. A private safari, where you have your own guide, driver and vehicles, is more expensive than a group or self-drive safari. Fixed costs that you will need to take into account include park entrance fees (US$50/25 per adult/child per day) and the cost of any air transfers (as high as US$300 per person return). These costs aren’t always included in the safari price quoted by some operators, so always ask.”

Nyerere Reviews

4.4/5 89 Reviews

Expert

Gemma Pitcher –

Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

My top tip for Tanzania

5/5

Nyerere National Park (Selous) 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...

Full Review

Expert

Sue Watt –

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

Jaroslav Karhánek –

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*....

Full Review

Andy Bees –

Reviewed: Oct 3, 2022

5/5

The large area of this park means that the wildlife can be a bit more spread-out and the animals can be a bit more timid of vehicles. But in my opinion that is a good thing and exactly as it should be. Another plus is that the scenery is...

Full Review

Carry –

Reviewed: Sep 4, 2022

5/5

We did not spot the big 5, but Al lot of great animals. When one of the guides spotted lions, it suddenly gets very crowded. The rest of the day you will hardly see any other drivers. We had a beautiful boat safari and two fantastic full...

Full Review

Krzysztof Poręba –

Reviewed: Feb 23, 2020

4/5

The Selous Park is beautiful. And so many of our dibrtch memories from Tanzania. Afebxha was waiting for us by changing the number of employees in the contract. It was only after our intervention that she confessed to guilty and we...

Full Review

All 89 Nyerere Reviews

Cookie Settings

Manage Cookie Settings

Functional cookies

Analytical cookies (anonymous)

Advertising and social media cookies

Your Safari

Tour Length

Rates in USD $ – Change Currency

Starting From

Comfort Level

Private or Shared Tour

Safari Type

Operator Rating

Specialized Tours

Other Tour Features

Filter by Operator

Filter by Accommodation

Operators From

5-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safari Tours

5-Day Combined Selous Reserve - Mikumi National Park

5-Day Mikumi National Park to Selous GR + Boat Safari

5-Day Safari to Nyerere and Mikumi National Parks

5-Day Selous GR & Kilwa -Wildness, History and Beach

5-Day Mikumi NP and Selous Game Viewing + Amazing Boat

5-Day Selous, Mikumi & Boat Safari Adventure

5-Day Mikumi NP' (Overnight in the Park) + Nyerere NP

5-Day Budget Camping Nyerere and Mikumi National Park

5-Day The Wildlife, Night Safari, People & Culture

5-Day Guided Safari to Mikumi & Nyerere NP + Boat Safari

5-Day Selous GR and Mikumi NP Safari

5-Day Selous Game Reserve / Mikumi National Park

5-Day Mikumi NP, Udzungwa, and Selous, Hiking and Boat

5-Day Combined Mikumi NP and Nyerere NP Safari

5-Day Safari to Selous and Mikumi

5-Day Selous Safari

5-Day Wonderful Safari Zanzibar to Nyerere NP by Flight

5-Day Mikumi, Udzungwa and Selous Game, Walking & Boat

5-Day Nyerere National Park and Mikumi NP Safari-

5-Day Get Wild-Nyerere & Mikumi NP-Camp Inside the Park

Related Searches

5 Questions About 5-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safaris

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About 5-Day Nyerere (Selous) Safaris

Which other parks can I visit on a 5-day Nyerere (Selous) safari?

What type of accommodation is available on a Nyerere trip?

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

Can I combine a 5-day Nyerere safari with a beach holiday?

How much will this safari cost?

Nyerere Reviews

My top tip for Tanzania

True Wilderness – and wild dogs