Selous Game Reserve (now Nyerere National Park)

Southern Tanzania, Tanzania

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The Selous Game Reserve, now largely designated as Nyerere National Park, is a vast protected wilderness in southern Tanzania and one of Africa’s largest wildlife conservation areas.

Named after Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, the park is famous for its remote and unspoiled landscapes, which include savannas, woodlands, wetlands, and the winding Rufiji River. It supports an impressive variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, and one of Africa’s most important populations of endangered African wild dogs.

Unlike many other safari destinations, Nyerere is especially known for its boat safaris on the Rufiji River, offering unique opportunities to observe wildlife from the water in a peaceful and less crowded setting. The area originated as the historic Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its biodiversity and vast natural habitats, and remains one of Tanzania’s premier destinations for experiencing authentic wilderness.