Nyerere (Selous) Budget Safari Tours

4.5/5 – 93 Nyerere Reviews

Nyerere National Park, which was formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, is a terrific safari destination in Tanzania’s south, and an excellent place to go on a budget safari. The wildlife here is fantastic: the park is especially known for its populations of lions and elephants. Nyerere’s landscapes are similarly special, with palm-fringed lakes and the mighty Rufiji River. It has a range of activities, including boat trips out on the river. And it’s really well set up for those who are looking for a more affordable safari, thanks to the good range of cheap accommodation just outside the park’s eastern gate.

1-20 of 76 cheap tours, packages and holidays to Nyerere National Park

4 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Budget Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Tanzania and East Africa. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of The Last Lions of Africa, a major section of which was set in Nyerere (Selous) National Park.

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What is usually included in a budget safari to Nyerere (Selous) NP?

“On your Nyerere budget safari you can expect your accommodation, meals, water, guide, and game drives to be included. When it comes to game drives, most safari packages include two daily guided game drives (one early in the morning, the other in late afternoon). Your safari should also include a boat excursion on the Rufiji River, preferably around sunset. What may or may not be included in the price quoted by your safari tour operator (but which you’ll have to pay either way) are the park entry fees (US$50/30 per adult/child per day) and transfers. Additional activities may also not be included in quoted prices. There are almost as many different kinds of budget safari tours as there are safari operators. To make sure that you are fully informed, you should ask any potential operator for all inclusions and exclusions before agreeing to let them take you on safari.”

What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Nyerere (Selous) NP packages?

“There’s not much cheap or otherwise affordable accommodation inside the park, but there is a good selection just outside the park’s eastern gate. Many of these choices occupy the forest along the banks of the Rufiji River and promise superb sunset views, as well as a restaurant, bar and perhaps even a swimming pool. Also in the forest are elephants, various primate species, and even African wild dogs, so keep an eye out for them wandering through camp. Most are only a short drive from the park entrance and they’re a delightful place to spend your holiday. Many of these places have a range of accommodation that might include simple campsites (with a communal shower and toilet building), simple rooms (which may have en suite bathrooms), and more expensive safari tents.”

How do I avoid the crowds on a Nyerere (Selous) NP safari?

“Nyerere National Park is one of Tanzania’s most popular parks, so avoiding the crowds can take careful trip planning. The further you explore into the park away from one of the park’s gates, the more you’re likely to have any wildlife encounters to yourself. Another solution might be to travel outside the busy June-to-October period, although rain is possible at any time from November to May. I’d probably choose to share the safari trails with other travelers than come when heavy rain is likely. Thankfully, Nyerere is a big park and it rarely feels too crowded, even when it’s busy. Much of the budget or cheap accommodation is in its own section of the forest, and it can feel as if there’s no one else around. Also, out on the river you’re unlikely to feel crowded by other boats as there’s plenty of river for everyone.”

How much does a Nyerere (Selous) NP budget trip cost?

“The cost of a Nyerere budget safari holiday varies greatly from one safari operator to the next. Most tours or packages at the cheap or budget end of the price range start at US$150 per person per day. This includes the daily park entrance fees of US$50/30 per adult/child per day. On a really cheap safari, you may be expected to help out with things around camp. Tasks might include helping to set up camp, taking down tents when it’s time to move on to the next destination or campsite, cooking, and washing up after meals. The cost of any tours will, of course, be cheaper if you decide to travel outside the high season months (which run from June to October). That said, the difference in price between low and high seasons may not be too great at the budget end of the scale when compared with more expensive safaris.”

Nyerere Reviews

4.5/5 93 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 (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...

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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...

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Danielle –

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 –

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 –

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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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...

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All 93 Nyerere Reviews

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Nyerere (Selous) Budget Safari Tours

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4 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Budget Safaris

Answered by

Anthony Ham

4 Questions About Nyerere (Selous) Budget Safaris

What is usually included in a budget safari to Nyerere (Selous) NP?

What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Nyerere (Selous) NP packages?

How do I avoid the crowds on a Nyerere (Selous) NP safari?

How much does a Nyerere (Selous) NP budget trip cost?

Nyerere Reviews

My Top Tip for Tanzania

True Wilderness – and wild dogs