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MapSpeciesParksDiving
  1. Home
  2. Parks
  3. Tanzania
  4. Nyerere (formerly Selous)
Nyerere (formerly Selous), Tanzania
National ParkUNESCO World HeritageBiosphere Reserve

Nyerere (formerly Selous)

East AfricaDesignated in 201930,893 km²

Renamed in 2019 after Tanzania's first president; one of the largest protected wildlife areas in Africa

Area

30,893 km²

Protection category

IUCN II

Parque nacional —

Designated in

2019

Known for almost a century as the Selous Game Reserve — declared in 1922 and named after the British hunter and naturalist Frederick Selous — it was renamed Nyerere National Park in 2019 after Julius Nyerere, first president of independent Tanzania, as part of a wider review of the country's colonial place names. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 and is one of the largest protected wildlife areas in Africa, though building the Stiegler's Gorge hydroelectric dam within its boundaries in recent years has drawn strong international conservation criticism.

Location

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1 dive site within 300 km is also shown.

Nyerere (formerly Selous): 74 documented species

Mammals29Birds22Reptiles13Amphibians

Flora and ecosystems

Ecosystems found in Tanzania, where Nyerere (formerly Selous) lies.

SavannahMarine / coastal

Experiences in this park

SafariBoating and kayakingDiving and snorkellingBirdwatching

Nearby dive sites

Where can I dive near here?

249 km away

Wildlife you can see now

What is worth looking out for this month in Tanzania?

Now is a good time: Great Migration: the Mara River crossing (July to October)

Now is a good time: Great Migration: the Mara River crossing (July to October)

Now is a good time: Lesser flamingo breeding at Lake Natron (June to October (nesting Aug-Oct))

Similar parks

Which other parks are like this one?

Same country: Tanzania

Same country: Tanzania

Same country: Tanzania

Same country: Tanzania

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about this park.

Share your experience visiting Nyerere (formerly Selous), or a tip for other travellers.
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Region

East Africa

Climate

Tropical, Arid / desert, Temperate, Mountain

Best season

June to September

Route duration

3–4 days

Route difficulty

Moderate

Plan your visit

Best season
June to September
Route duration
3–4 days
Route difficulty
Moderate
Area
30,893 km²
More places in TanzaniaSee location
1
Fish1
Arachnida3
Gastropoda1
Insecta3
Diplopoda1

Threatened:Lappet-faced Vulture,Angolan Colobus,African Savanna Elephant,Grey Crowned Crane,Common Hippopotamus,Masai Giraffe,Lion,Leopard,African Wild Dog,Southern Ground-Hornbill,Udzungwa Red Colobus

Common AgamaLeast Concern

Common Agama

Agama agama

African Fish-EagleLeast Concern

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

BushbuckLeast Concern

Bushbuck

Tragelaphus scriptus

Sable AntelopeLeast Concern

Sable Antelope

Hippotragus niger

Ogrefaced SpiderNot Evaluated

Ogrefaced Spider

Deinopis spinosa

Whip-spiderNot Evaluated

Whip-spider

Damon variegatus

HamerkopLeast Concern

Hamerkop

Scopus umbretta

Yellow BaboonLeast Concern

Yellow Baboon

Papio cynocephalus

BoomslangLeast Concern

Boomslang

Dispholidus typus

African BuffaloNear Threatened

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

Lappet-faced VultureEndangered

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Giant African SnailNot Evaluated

Giant African Snail

Lissachatina fulica

See all 74 species found here

Tanzania · East Africa
what the IUCN categories mean
See on the interactive map→

Mafia Island (whale shark)

Plains ZebraLeast Concern

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

Common WildebeestLeast Concern

Common Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Lesser FlamingoNear Threatened

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Mahale Mountains
National Park

Mahale Mountains

Tanzania

Chimpanzee · Red Colobus

June to September

See park
National Park

Saadani

Tanzania

African Savanna Elephant · Green Turtle

June to September

See park
National Park

Arusha

Tanzania

Guereza · Masai giraffe

June to September

See park
KilimanjaroUNESCO
National Park

Kilimanjaro

Tanzania

African elephant · buffalo

June to September

See park
DivingMafia Island (whale shark)249 km away
CountryTanzania

AI-generated image: an illustration, not a photograph.

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Savannah
World Heritage
Biosphere Reserve