Nyerere National Park

Carved out of the northern part of the vast Selous Game Reserve and named after Tanzania's first president, Nyerere is one of the largest national parks in Africa. Its defining feature is water: the Rufiji river spreads into a system of lakes, channels and sandbanks that supports enormous numbers of hippo and crocodile and draws game to its edges. That makes boat safaris a genuine alternative to game drives here, drifting past elephants on the bank and fish eagles overhead, and walking safaris with an armed ranger are also permitted, which is rare in Tanzania. Wild dog, one of Africa's most endangered predators, hold on here in numbers that matter continentally.

What you actually see

• Boat safaris on the Rufiji - drifting the channels and lakes among hippo and birdlife.
• Walking safaris - guided on foot with an armed ranger, uncommon elsewhere in the country.
• African wild dog - one of the more reliable places on the continent to see them.
• Lake Tagalala and the hot springs - a boat destination with springs on the shore.

When to go

June to October for the main dry season, and January to February for a shorter dry window. The long rains from March to May close many camps and make tracks impassable.

Honest expectations

The park is so large that what you see depends heavily on which sector your camp sits in; almost all tourism is concentrated in the northern river section. Flying in is the practical option and adds significantly to the cost. Tsetse flies are a real nuisance in parts of the woodland, and there has been long-running controversy over a hydropower dam built within the wider ecosystem.

Nearby

Dar es Salaam and the coast lie east; Ruaha is the other great southern park.