The short answer
- Best months
- June to October
- Getting there
- Light aircraft from Dar or Zanzibar
- Best for
- Boat and walking safaris, few vehicles
- Closed
- Many camps, about April to May
The south sees a fraction of the north's visitors. There's no Great Migration and no Ngorongoro Crater, but you get huge wild landscapes, very few vehicles, and activities rarely allowed in the north: boat safaris on the Rufiji River and walks with an armed ranger.
It's the natural choice for a second safari in Tanzania, or a short safari from Zanzibar.
The southern parks compared
| Nyerere (Selous) | Ruaha | Mikumi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | About 30,900 square kilometres | About 20,000 square kilometres | About 3,200 square kilometres |
| Highlights | Boat safaris, wild dogs, lakes along the Rufiji River | Big lion prides, elephants, kudu, baobab country | Open plains, easy game viewing |
| Activities | Boat trips, walking safaris, game drives | Game drives, walking safaris | Game drives |
| Getting there | About 45 minutes by air from Dar or Zanzibar | About 2 hours by air, or a long drive | About 5 hours by road from Dar, or the train to Morogoro |
| Best for | Combining with Zanzibar | Serious safari fans | Short trips on a budget |
Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
North or south?
Which suits your trip?
Choose an answer to see what we recommend.
See all 4 recommendationsHide the list
- First safari: The north
- The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater are hard to beat for a first visit.
- Second safari: The south
- Wilder, quieter and different, with boats and walking.
- A few days from Zanzibar: Nyerere
- Fly in for two or three nights and back to the beach.
- Avoiding crowds: Ruaha
- One of Africa's least visited big parks.
When to go
June to October is best: dry, with animals gathered at the rivers. January and February can be good but hot. From about March to May the rains make tracks impassable and many camps close, so check before you book.
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| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern parksNyerere, Ruaha | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed |
Costs
- Park fees: Lower than the north: about US$35 a day for Ruaha and Mikumi, and about US$70 to 83 for Nyerere, depending on the source.
- Flights: Light aircraft add a few hundred dollars each way, but most southern safaris are fly in.
- Camps: Mostly small mid range to luxury tented camps; budget options are mainly in Mikumi.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Selous the same as Nyerere National Park?
Mostly. Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 from the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, where nearly all tourist camps are.
Is southern Tanzania better than the north?
Not better, but different: fewer vehicles, boat and walking safaris and a wilder feel, without the Great Migration or the Ngorongoro Crater.
Can I do a safari from Zanzibar?
Yes. Nyerere is about 45 minutes by light aircraft from Zanzibar, so a 2 or 3 night safari is easy. Day trips are possible but rushed.
Tanzania month by month
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