Nyerere National Park
Experience Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park Highlights
At 30,893 square kilometers, the vast Nyerere National Park is actually Africa's largest stand alone National Park, and one of the largest in the world. The park is located in south Eastern Tanzania, roughly 230 kilometers by road from Dar es Salaam city to Mtemere Gate, and was carved out from the Selous Game reserve, a huge wilderness area and safari destination in Southern Tanzania. Nyerere Park boasts of the largest concentration of wild animals and a rich collection of wildlife that is abundant and diverse. The fact that this park is new and largely less frequented by tourists means that the animals here tend to be less exposed to humans. Good numbers of Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah are to be found here along with other large Game animals such as Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Giraffe, Eland, Zebra, Wildebeest and other wildlife.
Undisturbed Ecology
With a truly massive wilderness area in East Africa, this National park has an undisturbed ecology and can be considered to be more remote, pristine and unspoilt compared to the more visited parks in Tanzania, such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. The park is home to an intact and diverse range of wildlife exhibiting significant predator and prey relationship. The great Rufiji River, the largest river in Tanzania, which flows into the Indian Ocean and has a healthy population of hippo and crocodiles,flows through the northern part of the park and is one of the tourist attractions here. The river is very picturesque and a designated photographic zone. The Nyerere Park, as this destination is also referred to as, is among the best wildlife areas to spot some of the fascinating wild animals of Africa.
The defining feature of Nyerere National Park is the river systems that flow into it from the surrounding highlands. As these rivers lose altitude, they move towards each other and convene to become the Rufiji river. The Rufiji meanders its way towards the Indian ocean, and over time, this massive body of water has chiselled features into the land such as gorges, lakes, swamps and marshes, all of which make for a very dramatic landscape. The river systems attract and sustain a diverse range of wildlife and vegetation. Nyerere National Park is one of the few places in Tanzania where it is possible to go on a boat safari along the river and its tributaries, an incredible experience that gives a unique perspective on the wildlife.
Activities at the Nyerere National Park
There are several exciting activities one can enjoy in Nyerere National Park. The most exciting of these has to be the River Boat Safari which involves spotting wildlife from the comfort of a boat on parts of the Rufiji River, exploring channels, lagoons and swamps. This unique activity is quite popular and a fantastic way to explore the park. Another unique experience is visiting a traditional village. The village visit allows visitors a revealing cultural experience that allows insight into the special and unique way of life of the local people living around this park. Visitors to the park can also enjoy a selection of other excursions such as nature treks, sundowners and romantic bush meals.
Sundowner at the Rufiji River
