Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park, formerly the Selous Game Reserve, is Tanzania's largest national park and one of the biggest protected wild areas in Africa. It stretches along the Rufiji River in the south of the country and receives only a small share of the visitors who go north, so drives and boat trips feel private even in high season.

The river is what makes Nyerere special. As well as game drives, most trips include a boat safari on the Rufiji, gliding past hippos and big crocodiles at water level and reaching banks that vehicles cannot. The park also has large numbers of elephants and is one of the best places to see African wild dogs.

The best time to go is from June to October, when animals stay close to the water and the tracks are dry. Nyerere is a short flight or a longer drive from Dar es Salaam and pairs perfectly with Ruaha National Park on a southern safari.