What You Need to Know: Our 3-day Nyerere safari from Dar es Salaam costs from US$1,446 per person for 2 travelers sharing. It goes by road from your Dar es Salaam hotel, about 4 hours, to a tented camp on the Rufiji River, with a sunset boat safari on the first afternoon, a full day of game drives with a picnic lunch by the river, and an early-morning walk with a local bushman guide before the drive back. Park fees, full-board meals, drinking water and an open-roof 4x4 with a driver-guide are included. Nyerere, the former Selous Game Reserve, is one of the best parks in Africa for wild dogs.
Who Is the 3-Day Nyerere Safari For?
It suits travelers in Dar es Salaam, or finishing a Zanzibar holiday, who want a real wilderness safari without flying: three activities that the northern parks don't offer in one trip (a boat on the river, a full day of game drives and a walk on foot), and very few other vehicles. Nyerere is far from the established tourist routes, and the riverside camps feel remote even though the park is only a morning's drive from the city.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want boat, drive and walking safaris in one short trip | You only have a weekend: our 2-day Nyerere safari, from US$964 |
| You'd rather drive than fly from Dar es Salaam | You'd rather fly in from Zanzibar, about an hour by light aircraft: quoted on request |
| You've done the northern parks and want somewhere quieter | You want the train and open plains: the 3-day Mikumi safari by SGR train |
The 3-Day Nyerere Safari at a Glance
| Day | Plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pickup in Dar es Salaam at 8:00, drive about 4 hours to Nyerere; afternoon boat safari on the Rufiji River until sunset | Tented camp on the Rufiji |
| 2 | Full-day game drive with a picnic lunch overlooking the river | Tented camp on the Rufiji |
| 3 | Early-morning walk with a local bushman guide, breakfast, drive back to Dar es Salaam | — |
3-Day Nyerere Safari Itinerary, Day by Day
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Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Nyerere and a sunset boat safari on the Rufiji River
Your driver-guide collects you from your hotel in Dar es Salaam after breakfast, at about 8:00, for the drive of about 4 hours south-west to Nyerere National Park. After checking in at camp and lunch, you transfer to the river bank for the boat safari: 2–3 hours on the Rufiji among hippos, crocodiles and water birds, with elephants and buffaloes often coming down to drink, ending with the sunset over the water.
Stay: African Safari camp or similar, a tented camp on the Rufiji River, full board.
Road transferBoat safariLunch, dinner -
Day 2: A full day of game drives in Nyerere, with a picnic lunch by the river
After breakfast you head out for a full day in the open-roof 4x4. Nyerere holds big herds of elephants and buffaloes, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and the endangered African wild dog, with giraffes, zebras, impalas, kudus and the rare sable antelope in the woodland. Lunch is a picnic under a shade tree overlooking the Rufiji, and the afternoon drive takes you around the lakes, where the birdlife is at its best: fish eagles, kingfishers, open-billed storks, marabous and weavers among more than 400 species.
Stay: African Safari camp or similar, full board.
Full-day game drivePicnic lunchBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: Morning walk with a bushman guide, then back to Dar es Salaam
Before breakfast, a local bushman guide takes you on foot around the village edge of the park: tracks in the sand, the birds of the early morning and the plants people here use, with a look at village life. Back at camp for breakfast, then the drive to Dar es Salaam, where we drop you at your hotel, the airport or the ferry port for Zanzibar.
WalkingVillage visitBreakfast
Three Ways to See Nyerere: Boat, Vehicle and On Foot
Most short safaris in Tanzania are game drives only. Nyerere is one of the few parks where you can add a boat and a walk, and each gives you a different view of the same wilderness:
| Activity | What you see | When |
|---|---|---|
| Boat safari on the Rufiji | Hippos and crocodiles at eye level, elephants drinking, water birds | Day 1, afternoon to sunset |
| Game drive in an open-roof 4x4 | Lions, wild dogs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes | Day 2, full day |
| Walk with a bushman guide | Tracks, birds, plants and village life | Day 3, early morning |
Two days in Nyerere gives you a boat safari and one game drive; the third day here is what lets you add the full day of driving and the walk. Read more about the park in our Nyerere National Park guide.
How Much Is a 3-Day Nyerere Safari from Dar es Salaam?
The safari costs from US$1,446 per person for 2 travelers sharing, at mid-range level, from Dar es Salaam and back by road. Solo travelers, larger groups and upgrades to the luxury Rufiji camps are quoted on request.
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| 3-day Nyerere safari by road, 2 sharing | From US$1,446 per person |
| 2-day Nyerere safari by road | From US$964 per person |
| Fly-in from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar | Quoted on request |
Nyerere's conservation fee is higher than in most southern parks; we confirm the current rate in your quotation, and it is included in the price, with the boat safari and walking fees. See our Tanzania park fees guide.
What the 3-Day Nyerere Safari Includes
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel, the airport or the ferry port in Dar es Salaam
- Transport in an open-roof 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide, and the guide's allowances
- Park fees and the boat safari and walking fees
- The boat safari on the Rufiji River, a full-day game drive and the guided walk
- 2 nights at a tented camp on the Rufiji with full board
- Safe drinking water throughout
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa and the mandatory inbound travel insurance (US$44 per adult)
- Alcoholic drinks, tips and personal expenses
When Is the Best Time for a Nyerere Safari?
June to October, the dry season, is the best time: animals gather near the river and lakes, and the bush is thin enough to see them. January and February are hot, with short dry spells, and many camps close from about April to May, during the long rains.
Can You Add to the 3-Day Nyerere Safari?
- Zanzibar or Mafia Island: we drop you at the ferry port on Day 3, or fly you on to the coast; see our 4-day Mafia Island whale shark holiday.
- Mikumi and Ruaha: continue west for a longer southern circuit, such as our 7-day Nyerere, Mikumi and Ruaha safari from US$3,374.
- A honeymoon: our 11-day Zanzibar, Nyerere and Mafia honeymoon spends three nights on the Rufiji.
How to Book the 3-Day Nyerere Safari
Send us your dates and the number of travelers through the booking form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and our team will reply with a written quotation and the itinerary for your dates. A 30% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is paid on arrival. If you cancel 60 days or more before arrival, the deposit is refunded in full; closer to the date, a sliding scale applies, and your quotation sets out the terms.
Common Questions About the 3-Day Nyerere Safari
How much is a 3-day Nyerere safari from Dar es Salaam?
From US$1,446 per person for 2 travelers sharing, by road, with park fees, the boat safari, the guided walk, full board and a driver-guide included.
How far is Nyerere from Dar es Salaam?
About 4–5 hours by road, or about 45 minutes by light aircraft.
Is Nyerere the same as the Selous?
Yes. The northern part of the former Selous Game Reserve became Nyerere National Park; most people still call it the Selous.
Can we see wild dogs in Nyerere?
Nyerere is one of the best places in Africa for them, though sightings depend on where the packs are; your guide will know where they have been seen recently.
Is the walking safari safe?
Yes. The walk is short, at a slow pace, around the village edge of the park with an experienced local guide who knows the area and its animals.
Can I start from Zanzibar?
Yes. Take the fast ferry to Dar es Salaam the day before, or fly to Nyerere from Zanzibar in about an hour; the fly-in version is quoted on request.
What should I pack?
Neutral-colored clothes, a warm layer for the morning boat and walk, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and closed shoes for the walk.
The Bottom Line
Three days in Nyerere gives you the river, the plains and the bush on foot: a boat safari at sunset, a full day of game drives and a morning walk, from US$1,446 per person for two, with the drive from Dar es Salaam included. Send us your dates for a quotation.