3-Day Selous (Nyerere NP) Boat & Game Drive
Overview
3-Day Selous (Nyerere National Park) Boat & Game Drive with Akika Adventure Tours
Experience the wild beauty of Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), one of Africa’s largest and most untouched wildlife sanctuaries. This 3-day adventure offers a perfect blend of game drives and a unique boat safari along the Rufiji River. Nyerere National Park is renowned for its vast landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and abundant wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, and a large population of hippos and crocodiles. The park’s remote setting provides a more exclusive and less crowded safari experience. A highlight of this safari is the boat excursion on the Rufiji River, where you can observe wildlife from a different perspective. Glide past pods of hippos, sunbathing crocodiles, and a rich variety of birdlife along the riverbanks, especially during sunrise or sunset. Game drives take you deep into the park’s wilderness, offering excellent opportunities to spot predators and plains game in their natural habitat. With expert guides from Akika Adventure Tours, you’ll gain insight into the park’s ecology and wildlife behavior. This 3 day safari is ideal for travelers seeking a short yet immersive escape into one of Tanzania’s most spectacular and less-explored national parks.
Included / Excluded
At Akika Adventure & Tours, we provide clear and transparent safari packages. The following details outline what is included in your 3-day Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara safari, as well as any exclusions, to help you plan your trip with confidence.
- All meals during the safari (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
- Professional, English-speaking tour guide
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
- Park entry fees and government taxes
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, souvenirs, etc.)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks (unless specified)
- Tips and gratuities for guide and staff
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Top Highlights
Discover the very best of Tanzania’s wildlife and landscapes on this carefully curated safari experience with Akika Adventure & Tours. This journey is designed to provide exceptional game viewing, scenic exploration, and comfortable travel through some of the country’s most iconic destinations, including Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Enjoy guided game drives in a private 4x4 safari vehicle, offering flexibility and optimal wildlife viewing opportunities. Witness diverse ecosystems, abundant wildlife, and remarkable natural beauty while traveling with experienced professional guides who enhance your safari with expert knowledge and insight.
- Guided game drives in Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara
- Opportunity to see the Big Five and diverse wildlife species
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop up roof for optimal viewing
- Scenic landscapes, including crater views and lake ecosystems
Gallery
Explore captivating moments from our safari experiences, showcasing Tanzania’s breathtaking landscapes, rich wildlife, and unforgettable encounters. The gallery highlights real safari scenes from Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, giving you a glimpse of the natural beauty and adventure that awaits with Akika Adventure & Tours.
Itinerary
On this 3-day safari, you will embark on an unforgettable adventure in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), one of Africa’s largest and most pristine wildlife destinations. Throughout the trip, you will have the opportunity to explore diverse landscapes and witness a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitat, including elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles. This safari offers a unique combination of activities, including exciting game drives and a scenic boat safari along the Rufiji River, where you can observe wildlife from a different perspective. You will be traveling in a private, comfortable 4x4 Toyota vehicle, equipped with free mineral water to keep you refreshed during your journey. For the entire trip, you’ll be accompanied by a professional guide who will ensure a safe, informative, and memorable safari experience.
Day 1 - Dar es Salaam - Nyerere National Park + boating in river rufiji
Dar es salaam to Selous, you will be picked up by a guide at your hotel, airport, or ferry for a safari briefing and then drive south to Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere National Park) which is approximately five and half hour's drive from Dar es Salaam. On arrival, you will get lunch and start with afternoon boat safaris in the Rufiji River. On a boating safari, you will be able to see aquatic animals such as hippos, crocodiles, a vast number of birds, and animals like elephants, giraffes, and many others drinking on the Rufiji River. You will end your day by watching a stunning sunset as you enjoy the beautiful sands of the river-flooding plains. Late evening, you will drive to Africa Safari Selous for dinner and an overnight stay. Your meal plan includes picnic lunch boxes, drinking water and dinner.
Day 2: Nyerere National Park
After breakfast, you will board the vehicle with your picnic lunch boxes and depart for the full-day game drive. Nyerere National Park (formerly the northern part of Selous Game Reserve, pronunciation "Seluu") is the largest national park in Tanzania and also one of the world's largest wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. It is also one of the largest mangrove forests in the world located at its delta. Nyerere National Park is home to several species of wildlife: lions, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, rhinos, antelopes, hyenas, African wolves, and a large number of crocodiles in the Rufiji River. Most notably the park is also known for its prolific population of African wild dogs. You will have lunch at the picnic site. Late evening, you will drive to Africa Safari Selous for dinner and an overnight stay. Your meal plan includes breakfast, picnic lunch boxes, and dinner.
Day 3: Nyerere National Park - Dar es Salaam
After breakfast at the tented camp, you will board the vehicle with your picnic lunch boxes and drive to Dar es Salaam. Our driver guide will drop you off at the hotel you booked on your own. You will have the lunch break on your way to Dar es Salaam. Your meal plan includes breakfast and picnic lunch boxes only.
See Map
Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is one of Africa’s largest protected wildlife areas, located in southern Tanzania. Known for its vast, untouched wilderness, the park offers an authentic safari experience far from the crowds. Its diverse landscapes include open savannah, miombo woodlands, rolling hills, and the lifeline of the park Rufiji River. The Rufiji River is a central highlight, creating a dynamic ecosystem that supports an incredible concentration of wildlife. Along its banks, visitors can spot large populations of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and antelope, as well as predators such as lions and leopards. The park is also famous for its thriving populations of hippos and crocodiles, often seen during boat safaris. Bird enthusiasts will find Nyerere National Park especially rewarding, with hundreds of bird species inhabiting the riverbanks, wetlands, and woodlands. The variety of habitats makes it one of Tanzania’s top birdwatching destinations. What makes this destination truly special is the opportunity to explore it in multiple ways. In addition to traditional game drives, visitors can enjoy boat safaris along the Rufiji River, offering a unique perspective of wildlife, as well as guided walking safaris for a more immersive experience with Akika Adventure Tours.
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