This budget 3 days Nyerere National Park safari from Dar es Salaam is built for travellers who want a real, unfiltered African safari without a luxury price tag. Over three days you cross into Nyerere National Park, the vast wilderness carved from the northern Selous, and experience it three different ways: a Rufiji River boat safari past hippos and crocodiles, a full day of game drives looking for lions, elephants and wild dogs, and a guided walking safari with an armed ranger. A visit to a Maasai community on the final day rounds out the trip. All-inclusive from $480 per person.
Wildlife at the water, Nyerere National Park
Nyerere is one of the last strongholds of the African wild dog
Nyerere National Park: The Wild South
Nyerere National Park was gazetted in 2019 from the northern section of the former Selous Game Reserve, and at over 30,000 km² it ranks among the largest protected wildlife areas on the continent. Many travellers still know it simply as Selous.
What sets it apart from Tanzania's northern parks is water. The Rufiji River winds through the reserve, feeding a network of lakes and channels that make a boat safari possible, something you cannot do on the Serengeti plains. The river also draws elephants, buffalo and huge concentrations of birdlife to its banks.
The park is one of the last strongholds of the endangered African wild dog, and its low visitor numbers mean you often have sightings to yourself. It is remote, raw and rewarding, exactly what a southern-circuit safari should feel like.
- 🛣️ Route: Dar es Salaam ↔ Nyerere National Park
- 🕒 Drive time: ~4-5 hours each way
- 🌳 Park: Nyerere (Selous)
- 🚤 Rufiji River boat safari
- 🚶 Guided walking safari with an armed ranger
- 🔥 Maasai cultural visit
- 📅 Best season: June - October
Detailed 3-Day Itinerary
A private, flexible schedule. Meal codes: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Dar es Salaam to Nyerere: Rufiji River Boat Safari at Sunset
An early morning pick-up from your Dar es Salaam hotel and a scenic 4 to 5 hour drive to Nyerere National Park. You check into your lodge or tented camp and enjoy lunch beside the Rufiji River. In the afternoon you board a boat for a river safari, watching hippos surface, crocodiles bask and elephants come down to drink, with the birdlife at its best as the sun sets over the water. Return for dinner and your first night in the wilderness.
🍽 Lunch & Dinner🛏 Lodge / Tented Camp🚤 Boat safariFull-Day Game Drive Across the Wilderness
After breakfast you head out for a full day of game drives across the vast plains and woodlands of Nyerere. This is prime territory for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and gazelle, with a real chance of spotting the endangered African wild dog. You break for a picnic lunch near a hippo pool before continuing your afternoon game viewing, then return to camp for dinner and overnight.
🍽 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner🛏 Lodge / Tented Camp🦁 Full-day game driveWalking Safari, Maasai Culture & Return
Start the day on foot with an early guided walking safari led by a professional armed ranger, tracking animals, reading signs and learning about the plants and small details of the bush that you miss from a vehicle. Return for breakfast and check-out. With a packed lunch, you visit a Maasai village for an authentic cultural experience before the drive back to Dar es Salaam, where the safari ends.
🍽 Breakfast & Lunch🚶 Walking safari🔥 Maasai cultural visit3 Days Nyerere Budget Safari Price
All rates are per person sharing and all-inclusive of the safari services listed below. The larger your group, the lower the per-person price.
Per person, sharing basis. Larger groups pay a lower per-person rate.
| Group Size | Price Per Person (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2 People Sharing | $610 |
| 3 People Sharing | $535 |
| 4 People Sharing BEST VALUE | $480 |
Prices include park fees, accommodation, all meals on safari, game drives, boat safari, walking safari and a professional guide. Final cost may vary with season and availability. Children's rates available on request.
Included in the Price
- 2 nights accommodation inside Nyerere National Park
- All park entry and conservation fees
- Game drives and the Rufiji River boat safari
- Guided walking safari with a professional ranger
- All meals during the safari (as per itinerary)
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Return road transport from Dar es Salaam
Not Included
- Accommodation before / after the safari in Dar es Salaam
- Alcoholic and soft beverages
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tanzania visa fees
- International and domestic flights
- Tips and gratuities for guides
- Travel insurance
Why Choose Kai Tours & Safaris
A registered Tanzanian company with experienced, TANAPA-aligned local guides.
Hundreds of guests rate our Nyerere and Mikumi safaris five stars.
One transparent, all-inclusive budget price with flexible booking.
A specialist on call from planning to your final drop-off in Dar.
Best Time to Visit Nyerere National Park
The dry season, June to October, is the best time for this safari. As water sources shrink, wildlife concentrates along the Rufiji River and remaining pools, making game drives and boat safaris especially rewarding. Skies are clear and roads are easy.
The green season, November to March, brings lush scenery, newborn animals and excellent birding, with fewer visitors and quieter camps. Heavy rains in April and May can make some areas harder to reach, though the park is beautifully green. The safari runs year-round; tell us your dates and we will advise on conditions.
Book Your 3 Days Nyerere Budget Safari
Tell us your travel dates and group size and we'll confirm availability, accommodation and your final all-inclusive price, usually within a few hours. From $480 per person.
Message us on WhatsApp Email for a quote"Kai Tours was the best decision we made in Tanzania. Justus is a fantastic, reliable guide and everything was smooth and unforgettable from start to finish."
"An absolutely first-class experience. We spotted elephants, lions and even a rare leopard, and the bush lunch was unforgettable."
"Our family had a wonderful safari with Kai Tours. Everything was well organized and the company is very trustworthy — worth every dollar."
Frequently Asked Questions
Safari Operations Director, Kai Tours & Safaris. 5+ years guiding across Nyerere, Mikumi, Serengeti and Zanzibar routes.
✔ Itinerary verified for 2026-2027 travel operations
