Camping
Serviced campsites inside or beside the parks. Dome tents, camp beds, a cook travelling with the group. The most affordable way to sleep inside a national park.
4 days, 3 nights
Four Day Nyerere National Park, Boat and Walking Safari
Nyerere National Park
Duration4 days, 3 nights
ParksNyerere National Park
Starts and endsDar es Salaam
Group size2 to 6 guests
Safari typeWildlife safari, southern circuit, boat and walking
Best seasonJune to October
The safari
Walk, and cross the Rufiji by boat, in the largest national park in Africa.
Tanzania's southern parks are a different experience from the north, and most visitors never see them.
Nyerere National Park is the largest national park in Africa, built around the Rufiji River and its lakes. It is far emptier than the Serengeti, and the things you can do here are things the northern parks do not allow. You can get out of the vehicle and walk. You can cross the water by boat at eye level with hippo, crocodile and elephant coming down to drink.
This is the trip for a second safari, or for a traveller who would rather have the place largely to themselves than tick off the famous names.
Priced per person on enquiry, based on your dates, group size and choice of accommodation.
Day by day
Day by day itinerary
- Day 1
A short scheduled flight from Dar es Salaam to an airstrip inside the park, roughly forty five minutes, or a road transfer of six to eight hours for those who prefer to drive and want to see the country in between. Met at the airstrip and transferred to camp with a game drive on the way. Afternoon at leisure, with an evening game drive before dinner.
- Day 2
A full day in the park. A morning game drive through the lake circuit, where the game concentrates: Lake Manze, Lake Nzerakera and the channels between them. Return to camp for lunch and the heat of the day. In the late afternoon, a boat safari on the Rufiji, which is the signature experience here, taking you past hippo pods, basking crocodile and elephant on the banks as the light goes.
- Day 3
An early morning walking safari with an armed park ranger and your guide. Walking changes the scale of everything. You follow tracks, read dung, identify birds and come across things you would drive past without noticing. Back to camp for breakfast and a rest through the midday heat, then an afternoon and evening game drive, with the chance of wild dog on the move.
- Day 4
A final morning game drive, then transfer to the airstrip for the flight back to Dar es Salaam, or the road transfer. Connections to Zanzibar can be arranged directly from the park.
Meal key: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner.
- 1Dar es Salaam
- 2Nyerere National Park
Accommodation
Where you stay
Every safari is quoted at one of three levels, and you can mix them across a single trip. We will name the exact camps in your quotation, chosen for your route and your dates.
Mid range
Permanent tented camps and lodges with ensuite bathrooms, hot water and full board. The option most guests choose.
Luxury
Premium lodges and small tented camps in prime locations, with a higher level of service, space and privacy.
Included
- All ground transport in a four wheel drive safari vehicle with a pop up roof hatch and a guaranteed window seat
- A professional English speaking driver guide throughout
- All national park and conservation area entry fees
- All government taxes and levies
- Accommodation at the level selected
- All meals as shown in the daily itinerary
- Drinking water throughout the safari
- Airport or hotel transfers at the start and end of the safari
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania entry visa
- Travel and medical insurance, which is strongly recommended and may be required
- Tips for your guide, camp and lodge staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Laundry, telephone and items of a personal nature
- Optional activities including balloon safaris, cultural visits and spa treatments
- Anything not specifically listed as included
Best time to travel
June to October is the strongest period. The vegetation thins, the game concentrates on the river and the lakes, and the walking is at its best. Many camps in the park close during the long rains between March and May, when access becomes difficult.
From the road
Places on this route
Arusha based, Tanzanian owned
Member, Tanzania Association of Tour Operators
Every safari planned by the founder
Reply within 24 hours
Tell us what you want to see.
There is no fixed menu here. Tell us your dates, how long you have, and what matters most to you, and we will put together a safari built around that. You will have a reply within a day, written by the person who will plan your trip.
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