Nyerere National Park

Visited: Jun. 2024 Reviewed: Sep. 04, 2024 Submitted in:

After spending 3 days in Mikumi, we stayed 8 days in Selous, at the “Lake Manze camp”. This was our 5th safari stay in Selous, and the 3rd at Lake Manze camp. It was the first time in June. Lake Manze camp remains our favorite place to live in Tanzania. Alas, this time we saw few animals!! Despite the information collected by driver and guide, it was not possible to find the Lycaons, nor Leopard (but seen footprints...), and only one unfortunate Lioness in 8 days. Nevertheless, the atmosphere in Sélous is still fabulous. If I ever return to southern Tanzania, I will return to Selous at Lake Manze camp, but probably in September or October. Saw lots of birds and bee-eaters in particular. Attention: The Chinese are building a large airfield with terminal building near Mtemere Gate. There are already quite a few day safaris coming from Zanzibar. the phenomenon will increase and the atmosphere in Selous risks changing a lot.... ___________________________________________________ Apres avoir passé 3 jours à Mikumi, nous avons séjourné 8 jours à Selous, au "Lake Manze camp". C'était notre 5eme séjour safari à Selous, et le 3eme au Lake Manze camp . C'était la première fois au mois de Juin . Le Lake Manze camp reste notre lieu de vie préféré en Tanzanie . Hélas, cette fois nous avons vu peu d'animaux !! Malgré les informations collectées par chauffeur et guide, il n'a pas été possible de trouver les Lycaons, ni Léopard (mais vu des empreintes ...), et une seule malheureuse Lionne en 8 jours . Néanmoins, l'ambiance dans Sélous est toujours aussi fabuleuse . Si je retourne un jour en Tanzanie du sud, je retournerai à Selous au Lake Manze camp, mais probablement en septembre ou octobre . Vu beaucoup d'oiseaux et de de Guêpiers en particulier . Attention: Les chinois sont en train de construire un grand aérodrome avec aérogare près de la porte de Mtemere. Il y a déjà pas mal de safaris à la journée venant de Zanzibar. le phénomène va s'amplifier et l'ambiance dans Selous risque de beaucoup changer .... ...

Visited: Jun. 2022 Reviewed: Jan. 24, 2023 Submitted in:

Whether you are planning to land in Dar es salaam or Zanzibar, Nyerere is a perfect choice fo your next trip. This park offers the best wildlife experience if you chose a professional safari company to handle your trip. Lions, hippos, elephant and wildebeest are common here.

Visited: Aug. 2022 Reviewed: Aug. 20, 2022 Submitted in:

Nyerere, Sealous and Pemba Island We found Sue at Track Safaris following a google search and then our holiday of a lifetime was born through several conversations and some emails. Sue tailored our safari adventure to suit our requests and budget and we really appreciated how available and knowledgeable she was throughout the planning stage – this was so reassuring. We stayed at the Siwandu camp on the Sealous game reserve and then moved on to Jongomero camp in the Nyerere game reserve. Both camps exceeded our expectations, and it is difficult to do them justice through a review! The welcome we received and the way we were looked after by the incredibly friendly staff was second to none and in both camps, the game drives did not disappoint – our guides (Mporto in Siwandu and Giovanni in Jongomero) were knowledgeable and friendly, sympathetic and their knowledge of the area and experience meant that we were fully immersed in the whole safari experience. Both camps expertly ‘matched’ us with people for the game drives – we have friends for life in the couple we met at Siwandu! We never felt rushed or bored and saw the most incredible sights from really close vantage points. In both camps the food was outstanding and the accommodation akin to our experience of 5*. With the Masai escorting us and patrolling the camp at night we felt very safe, and a lasting memory will be falling asleep to the sound of hippos guffawing in the lake nearby! We celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary whilst at Siwandu camp and the staff went above and beyond to make us feel very special. We finished our holiday with 5 nights at The Manta Resort on Pemba Island. This was an ideal way to relax and reflect after the safari experience. Again, the staff were really friendly and could not do enough for us, the resort was quiet, the accommodation (beach side villa) superb and the food was outstanding. We saw a pod of dolphins and a humpbacked whale, and my husband went scuba diving under the excellent guidance of Mohammed. I am so glad my husband pushed me out of my comfort zone for this experience of a lifetime. We have both fallen in love with Africa.

Visited: Feb. 2022 Reviewed: Mar. 08, 2022 Submitted in:

Nyerere National Park, previously known Selous Game Reserve, is a wildlife park in the southern part of Tanzania. It one of the biggest parks and have abundant wildlife and awesome sceneries. I have visited and taken guests in the Nyerere park for years, and of course no one expected the number of animals available in this vast animal sanctuary. From the smallest of animals such as squirrels to the gentle giants of wild the elephants, this park never disappoints. Due to its size, it's easy to miss on important opportunities to see animals due to being scattered across the lands. However, the nature of animals is just like humans, they concentrate where there is abundant food and water, hence many groups of animals might be spotted in a single location and make it absolutely effortless to enjoy the view. The central part is one of the most beautiful landscape you can see in the park. Savanna like bushes with expansive natural vegetation that attract ungulates such as buffalo, zebras, kongoni and gazelles. The fact that this park receives way fewer tourists than its counterparts in the northern zone makes it everything anyone would like to see with a touch of privacy and serenity.

The largest game reserve in Africa, with lots of attractions such as the Great Rhuha and Rufiji Rivers. A boat ride is amazing. Lots of hippos, different species of birds. Walking with armed ranger in the nature trails. Seeing a pack of wild dogs hunting. It was very rewarding and productive.

The Selous is the Largest game reserve in all of Africa, named after the great explorer Frederik Courtney Selous, who is incidentally, buried in the park at a grave site that can be visited by guests in the reserve. The photographic area of the Selous is in the northern part of the park, spanning about 3000sq km. The area is mostly flat and steady at about 50-60m above sea level. This means that the Rufiji River which runs through the park is slow and wide, producing a constant water source, which is great for wildlife! The park is located in the southern Safari circuit of Tanzania which is much less visited by tourists, which means no crowds and a much more authentic and pleasant experience. Selous Game Reserve is such a vast area,we spent hours driving around looking for the animals. While the wildlife population density isn't as high as it is in northern Tanzania, We still saw loads of animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, impala, hartebeest, greater kudu, zebras, buffalos, warthogs, hippos and crocodiles. Unfortunately we weren't lucky enough to see any leopards, rhinos or wild dogs during our safaris, but it gives me an excuse to go back there one day.

Selous Game Reserve is an unmatched, unchallenged and undisturbed game reserve. Selous is among the worlds largest game reserves and has a significant concentration of wild animals like elephants, wild dogs, lions, leopards, black rhinos, hippos and crocodiles. The view of sunset from the Rufiji River is as amazing as anything can be. Once you witness it you will never forget the experience. Selous is not as famous as other northern Tanzania's parks and you will find many vehicles in the reserve and that give you the feeling of actual wildlife and wilderness in the peace of Selous Game Reserve. You will actually feel that the game drives have been specially organised for you due to low density of vehicles in the park. You will love to watch hippos and crocodiles in Rufiji River.You will also witness the hundreds of birds species in the park. If you are going to Tanzania, Selous is among the must-visit parks.

The diverse Selous Game Reserve is one of the few places in the world whose ecology and biological processes are totally undisturbed by man. For that matter Selous Game Reserve is the 2nd largest remaining wilderness in Africa covering 44800kmsq. The life line of Selous is the river Rufiji which flows across the Reserve and covers the large parts of the wooded grasslands of the northern Selous, caused by the seasonal floods of the rising water of the Rufiji River. The grasslands creates a very dynamic ecosystem including a diverse range of wildlife with significant predator/prey relationships. Selous Game Reserve harbours one of the most significant concentrations of elephant, black rhinoceros, cheetah, giraffe, hippopotamus and crocodile, amongst many other species surrounding six lakes as well as hot springs. It is in fact a UNESCO world heritage site due to the diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed nature.

I had been to several of the northern parks of Tanzania numerous times already when I got a chance to explore the southern parks. Oh my, that was something I should have done way earlier! Okay I agree, if you want to go for the abundant wildlife, the incredible Great Migration, you should go to the Northern Parks. But if you already visited the Northern Parks, I would really suggest to try the Southern Tanzania on your next visit! I was lucky to travel to Selous in the time the TAZARA trains (Tanzania-Zambia Railway) were still running by schedule (more or less). A great experience on its own! The train ride felt like one big adventure, meals served in our cabin, having a drink at the bar in the train seeing the landscape passing by, the stops in the little village with the bursting colors of the womens khangas en kitenges who came to our windows to sell us fruits and snacks and of course the occasional stops: sorry a buffalo is on the trail, sorry elephants are blocking our way. And after this fantastic train ride, Selous National Reserve.... Wooow... you sometimes feel it is only you which is driving around. I mean I think on my first game drive in Selous, we actually met four other vehicles, three of which we met at the entrance gate and one when we were having our picnic break with a fantastic view over the lakes! Everything just feels wilder, animals react to the sounds of vehicles, except for the lions who just open one eye! And then, for me the absolute highlight: African Wild Dogs. My most favorite animal which always manage to capture me with their fantastic hunts, their well organised pack life! Oh and did I mention the game walk we did? Once on foot you realize an elephant is a truly majestic animal! And after all this excitement, what would one love better than sipping a cold gin-tonic while watching hippos in the Rufiji River?

We spent a few days in Selous and have mixed feelings about it. It was definitely less crowded than the northern parks and we saw quite a few lions. However, in Selous, we were required to share a vehicle with others and it was an open-sided vehicle, which meant no place to rest the camera lens. Also, the foliage is much more dense here and it's far more humid than up north. I enjoyed the boat rides on the Rufiji River and would have enjoyed my safari more with a private vehicle with sides.