Well regarded as one of Tanzania’s great wilderness places, Nyerere is somewhat large. Although Ruaha National Park is most usually associated with it, it is also a destination on its own right. We plan numerous beach excursions and short safaris out of this park. The nicest camps in the park are located in the northern part; most of them rely on Rufiji River or one of its lakes. The focus of the game activities in the area and the lifeblood of the park are these rivers.

To pay respect to President Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, the Tanzanian national park authority (TANAPA) announced in 2019 a change of identification for the northern portion of this reserve. Nyerere National Park today covers the territory from the northern photography sector all the way to the river Rufiji’s wildness section in the south.

Are the Big Five present in Nyerere National Park?

Though we have only ever had a few customers sight rhino here, technically it is possible to see the Big Five in Nyerere! Elephants and buffalo abound; lion is always present; with effort leopard can be located. It’s rhino that’s the issue. Although black rhinos are rare in the Nyerere, their shy behavior and appreciation of rich habitat mean you have to be quite lucky to come upon one here! Reality is that this park is just for the Big “Four”.

Overall game viewing

On the banks of the river and its lakes, amazing numbers of herbivores gather; similarly, equally amazing concentrations of predators pursue these herds! Cats are lions, leopard, and cheetahs. Particularly common are lions, who are just waiting for their next meal! Often, travellers see a kill here. Other mammal species include hippopotamus, zebra, giraffe, sable antelope, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, greater kudu, eland, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, Nyasa wildbeest, kongoni — the miombo forests create a good home for antelopes in particularly. Spotted hyena, side-striped jackal, vervet monkey, and yellow baboon also abound. Nyerere boasts the highest wild dog population among all the continents! This is indeed one of the primary attractions of the reserve.

On a Nyerere safari, keen birders are in their element with around 450 species noted! All kind of waterfowl call the lakes home: ducks, geese, grebes, egrets, herons, bitterns, pelicans, spoonbills, kingfishers, skimmers, cormorants, storks, ibises. Raptors comprise eagles, vultures, hawks, harriers, buzzards, kites, osprey. While other ground-dwellers such quails, guineafowl, crakes and bustards feed in the foliage, the secretary bird hunts on foot. Additionally present are gulls, plovers, doves, pigeons, lovebirds, parrots, cuckoos and bee-eaters. If you enjoy your birdlife, this is a really excellent spot!

When should one go to see a game?

From July through October Nyerere is a classic dry season park with superb game viewing. Usually gathering around the rivers and lakes, this “dry” season game makes watching more simpler. The jungle is so sparse and dry that the herds gather in quest of water and game viewing becomes much simpler.

Apart from this time, game viewing in Nyerere can be somewhat “iffy”. Travel in June and you might discover the grass still too long. travel from November on and the relocation of wildlife away from the rivers (because to rain) means there is less of a concentration to be found across the park. But this is the time safaris go; glad to have less animal density in return for the seclusion of peaceful parks and lodges. But from November through March, birding is quite amazing—if that tickles the twitching in you!

Nyerere Safari holiday events

Daytime game drive and boating are among the activities on a Nyerere safari. Nyerere has no night safaris permitted. Most camps also provide walking safaris with Sand Rivers and Beho Beho providing an exceptionally high degree of walking operation. Not only in Tanzania but also among other walking camps in Africa, Sand Rivers well-known fly camping excursions are among the best!

From our “Value” level to a number of luxury sites in our “Luxury” category, Our’s preferred camps and lodges in Nyerere National Park offer a broad spectrum. While boating safaris are up there with the very best, the Siwandu lakes are maybe the best place for wildlife watching and the camps here (Siwandu Camp and Lake Manze Camp) offer rather good game drives and walking safaris. The lakes are truly breathtaking; dhoum palm palms swing on the banks, and game usually comes down to the edge for an evening or morning drink.

Your opulent choice is Siwandu Camp, which boasts lovely tents spanning out over the lake and a high degree of service. It’s ideal for honeymooners and those looking for more amenities to value their holiday destination. There is great value at Lake Manze Camp. It comes at a price that rivals any home close to the Mtemere gate and is hands over better. The location of the camp is excellent, and it consistently satisfies expectations. Why would you hang around the park gate with Manze is on offer?

Further inside the park you will find the Beho Beho hills and the magnificent Beho Beho Lodge, the most opulent property in the area. Along with great cuisine and service, it boasts first-rate rooms with amazing views. For these reasons it has grown to be among the most well-known attractions in Tanzania and will always satisfy those seeking a top-end hotel within the park. Though opportunities still remain quite rare, Beho Beho is in a league of its own with regard to food and service. Known for its very high degrees of guiding, it is one of the few sites where you have chance to view rhino in the park!

Sand Rivers is the last property that merits thought. It provides barefoot luxury and truly concentrates on providing a real safari experience. The boating is the best in the park;, if lucky, you can visit Stiegler’s Gorge and view leopard, red colobus monkey, and hyrax! The walking is also rather excellent since the Sand Rivers guides are up there with the best we have ever seen! We advise guests staying four nights here to spend a night in the wild, fly camping; this will be what you discuss when you come back home!

Nyereres best advice

The overall park’s greatest place for game viewing is the Siwandu region. This is a great place to game drive, home of Siwandu Camp and also Lake Manze camp. While camps like Azura are a very long way away from here, Beho Beho, Sand Rivers and Impala can all game drive in this region at a push!
Nothing without Ruaha would be Nyerere! Common for a southern Tanzania safari, combining these two parks is a really outstanding trip. Nyerere is charming and gorgeous, yet it lacks a concentration of cats. Ruaha is among the most predator-rich parks in Africa; it is all about cats.
Recently, Azura Selous raised quite a stir in the business drawing attention to a section of the Nyerere running up the Ruaha river. The fact that the territory of the camps in this location was mostly poached only a few years ago makes what they possess inadequate. The game has definitely not returned to the extent required, and boating safaris here are severely limited given the Ruaha’s water level these days.
Like walking safaris in Ruaha, we advise only to stroll beside camps with licenced gun holders. Unless additionally accompanied by a certified gun carrier from the camp, we do not advise individuals to stroll with the park rangers.
If you are looking at combining two parts of the Nyerere on one trip, we would advise you to explore the Siwandu area with either Sand Rivers or Beho Beho.