Boat safaris on the Rufiji, in a park larger than some countries
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern section of the old Selous Game Reserve and covers roughly 30,900 square kilometres. Its defining feature is water: the Rufiji river system, a chain of lakes and channels, and the boat safaris that come with them.
Game drives work as they do anywhere, but the park’s real distinction is that you can also travel by boat and on foot. Boat safaris run the Rufiji and its lakes, putting you at eye level with hippo, crocodile, elephant coming down to drink and an enormous range of water birds. The angle is lower and closer than a vehicle allows, and it is the trip most people remember.
Walking safaris cover ground slowly with an armed ranger and shift the focus from big animals to tracks, dung, insects, bark and the smaller mechanics of the bush. Combining all three over three nights gives a more complete picture of a place than driving alone ever does.
You will still see this area sold as Selous, and for a long time it was. In 2019 the northern photographic section was gazetted as Nyerere National Park, named for Julius Nyerere, while the southern portion retains the Selous Game Reserve name. Operators and camps use both names, sometimes interchangeably, so if a quote mentions Selous it is worth clarifying which part of the ecosystem it means.
Seasons shift year to year. Treat these as a guide and confirm with your operator.
Dry season. Best game concentration and full boat access.
Warm, green, good birding between the rains.
Long rains. Most camps close.
Short rains. Green and quiet.
Three nights to use the drives, the boat and a walk.
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