In Short
This is a private 2-day, 1-night safari from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park (the former Selous). It combines a Rufiji River sunset boat safari, a full-day game drive, and one night on the riverbank at Selous River View Lodge or Selous River Camp, with private road transfers from and back to Dar es Salaam.
Want to Explore more: how to travel from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere.
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Southern Tanzania's wild heart, in two days
Nyerere National Park is Africa's largest protected wildlife sanctuary, and this short safari is built for travellers who want a genuine taste of it without a long trip. Because it is private, your vehicle, your guide and your pace belong to your group alone, so you can linger at a sighting or a sundowner without a fixed group schedule.
The trip pairs two very different ways of seeing wildlife. On the afternoon of Day 1 you drift along the Rufiji River by boat, watching hippos, crocodiles and water birds as the sun sets over the water. On Day 2 you head out for a classic game drive across the park's plains and lakes, where elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and buffalo gather, especially in the dry season. It is an ideal first safari, a short break for couples and families, or an add-on to time in Dar es Salaam or on the coast.
- Private vehicle and guide, for your party only
- Rufiji River sunset boat safari: hippos, crocodiles and water birds
- Full-day game drive in a 4x4 in Nyerere National Park
- One night on the Rufiji riverbank at Selous River View Lodge or Selous River Camp
- Private hotel transfers from and back to Dar es Salaam
- Park fees included
- Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park and Rufiji River sunset boat safari
- Day 2: Full game drive and return to Dar es Salaam
Your 2-day private itinerary
Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park
Your safari begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel in Dar es Salaam. You travel by road to Nyerere National Park, watching the landscapes of rural Tanzania change along the way. On arrival you are welcomed at Selous River View Lodge or Selous River Camp on the bank of the Rufiji River, with a view over the water from your room. After check-in, enjoy lunch and time to relax in the peaceful surroundings.
In the late afternoon, at around 3:00 pm, you set out on a boat safari along the Rufiji River until sunset. This is a different perspective on the wild: hippos, crocodiles, water birds and other wildlife along the banks, finishing with the African sunset over the river before you return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Lunch and dinner. Stay: Rufiji River Camp.
Day 2: Nyerere National Park to Dar es Salaam
After an early breakfast you set off for a full game drive in Nyerere National Park. A short drive takes you to the park gate, and from there you explore the park's diverse landscapes in a 4x4, searching for elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelope and the many other species that call Nyerere home.
You stop for a picnic lunch inside the park before continuing the game drive until around 3:00 pm. After the safari you begin the journey back to Dar es Salaam, arriving in the evening after roughly four hours of driving.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
Timings are a guide and flex with the season, road conditions and the wildlife.
Private safari price, 2026 to 2027
Rates are per person and include private transfers, park fees, the Rufiji boat safari, a full-day game drive and one night on the riverbank. Send us your dates and group size to confirm availability and your riverside lodge.
| Group size | 2 people sharing (per person) | Single traveller |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person (USD) | $490 | $1,020 |
Private safari prices for 2026 to 2027. Send us your dates and group size and we will confirm availability, your riverside lodge and your private rate, usually within a few hours.
Want to Explore more: 2 days Dar to Selous safari.
Accommodation on the Rufiji riverbank
Your night in the park is spent at Selous River View Lodge or Selous River Camp, both set right on the bank of the Rufiji River, so the water and its wildlife are part of the view from your room.
- Rooms overlooking the Rufiji River
- On-site restaurant with lunch and dinner included
- Peaceful riverside setting surrounded by birds and wildlife
- Minutes from the boat-safari launch point
What's included
- • Private transfers from and back to Dar es Salaam
- • Park entrance fees
- • Boat safari on the Rufiji River
- • Full-day game drive in a 4x4 safari vehicle
- • Professional English-speaking safari guide
- • One night at Selous River View Lodge or Selous River Camp
- • Meals as specified in the itinerary
- • Drinking water during safari activities
What's excluded
- • International flights
- • Travel insurance
- • Alcoholic drinks
- • Personal expenses
- • Tips and gratuities
- • Items of a personal nature
Wildlife you will see
The boat safari on the Rufiji River and the game drive across the park's plains and lakes show you very different wildlife.
| Animal | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| Hippo | Rufiji River, on the boat safari. Very likely. |
| Crocodile | Rufiji River, on the boat safari. Very likely. |
| Water birds | Rufiji River and the lakes, and excellent in the green season. |
| Elephant | Game drive, especially in the dry season. |
| Lion | Game drive, across the plains and lakes. |
| Giraffe, zebra and buffalo | Game drive in the plains and lakes. |
| Wildebeest and antelope | Game drive. |
Best time for this safari
Short answer
The dry season from June to October is best for wildlife, when animals gather near the Rufiji River and its lakes. The safari runs year-round, with the green season quieter and excellent for birdlife.
Good to know
- Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern section of the former Selous Game Reserve, so the area is still widely known as Selous.
- The drive from Dar es Salaam is roughly 4 to 5 hours each way, which is why the safari starts with an early morning pick-up.
- This is a private safari: your vehicle, guide and schedule are reserved for your party alone.
- You stay at Selous River View Lodge or Selous River Camp, and your lodge is confirmed when you book.
