Tanzania guide
Tanzania plays host to some of Africa's most iconic sights: the plains of the Serengeti and the Wildebeest Migration.
Best time to visit Nyerere National Park
June-Oct is the cool, dry season here. Pleasant temperatures coincide with drying waterholes – and high concentrations of game.![]()
The rains fall in southern Tanzania from Nov-May, dispersing wildlife and blocking access, which means that most accommodation closes for this season. If you do fancy an out of season exploration, keep the short dry season (Jan-Feb) in mind; the landscape is still lush and green with blooming flowers – it’s a wonderful time for photography. Whenever you travel to Selous, though, you won’t be battling with crowds – its sheer size and remoteness gives it a wilderness feel year-round.
Tanzania Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
23
32
143
FEB
23
32
139
MAR
22
32
219
APR
22
31
311
MAY
20
30
123
JUN
18
29
23
JUL
17
29
15
AUG
17
29
12
SEP
19
31
33
OCT
20
32
38
NOV
22
33
110
DEC
23
32
131
Nyerere National Park travel advice
It’s more than just the Serengeti…
Roman Biondic:
“Tanzania is huge, and the southern parks are still to be discovered. It is a jewel, it’s a treasure that is still hidden. It’s actually a bit expensive to go there; there is no mass tourism as the only way is to fly. But if you have a small group of travellers, you can travel around the south overland. A maximum of six people which is perfect for one car, and it makes it relatively cheap per person.”
“Tanzania is huge, and the southern parks are still to be discovered. It is a jewel, it’s a treasure that is still hidden. It’s actually a bit expensive to go there; there is no mass tourism as the only way is to fly. But if you have a small group of travellers, you can travel around the south overland. A maximum of six people which is perfect for one car, and it makes it relatively cheap per person.”
Amanda Marks:
“In northern Tanzania, it makes sense to drive rather than fly, but southern Tanzania is not like that as the distances there, on the whole, are too great. So you fly in and that’s it. There is a far lower density of visitors in the southern parks. In the Selous, which is far bigger than the Serengeti, there are something like 15 camps as opposed to 50-odd. So that’s what you’re getting – privacy, far fewer visitors, much less traffic… The other things you get in Selous that you don’t get in the north are walks and boat safaris. You just don’t get boat safaris in the Serengeti.”
“In northern Tanzania, it makes sense to drive rather than fly, but southern Tanzania is not like that as the distances there, on the whole, are too great. So you fly in and that’s it. There is a far lower density of visitors in the southern parks. In the Selous, which is far bigger than the Serengeti, there are something like 15 camps as opposed to 50-odd. So that’s what you’re getting – privacy, far fewer visitors, much less traffic… The other things you get in Selous that you don’t get in the north are walks and boat safaris. You just don’t get boat safaris in the Serengeti.”
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Tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Selous National Park travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Selous National Park travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We went in December and the scenery was really beautiful because it rain a bit once in a while. It was nice and green, but it was extremely humid and hot...![]()
- Natalie Lefevre
We went in December and the scenery was really beautiful because it rained a bit once in a while. It was nice and green, but it was extremely humid and hot. If you cannot stand this very well, it's probably better to go in another season. - Natalie Lefevre
Bring lots of US dollars (you can use US dollars everywhere - even in the tribal communities); Buy on the local market (if you plan to donate to a school or community, buy the supplies locally to support the community rather than bringing them from home) - Teresa VandenBosch
Aim to enjoy every part of the holiday, whether it is the flight in a prop plane and landing on an air strip with elephants and giraffes standing to on either side (or in the middle), or hundreds of hairy caterpillars in procession. Big or small, take it all in... The animals will be doing something different every time you see them and remember that it is a privilege to be in their environment. Don't worry about dressing up for travel or evening meals, and forget make-up and hair styling too. I would also recommend taking a travel washing line and biodegradable washing liquid… the clothes dry quickly. - Joanne Davenport Read itinerary carefully and be prepared for long, dusty truck journeys fondly referred to as having an "African massage" as roads are very bumpy and more craters than hard road. Perhaps choose a holiday which centres at one place for 2-3 days and journey out from that centre. - Lesley Halliday
Bring lots of US dollars (you can use US dollars everywhere - even in the tribal communities); Buy on the local market (if you plan to donate to a school or community, buy the supplies locally to support the community rather than bringing them from home) - Teresa VandenBosch
Aim to enjoy every part of the holiday, whether it is the flight in a prop plane and landing on an air strip with elephants and giraffes standing to on either side (or in the middle), or hundreds of hairy caterpillars in procession. Big or small, take it all in... The animals will be doing something different every time you see them and remember that it is a privilege to be in their environment. Don't worry about dressing up for travel or evening meals, and forget make-up and hair styling too. I would also recommend taking a travel washing line and biodegradable washing liquid… the clothes dry quickly. - Joanne Davenport Read itinerary carefully and be prepared for long, dusty truck journeys fondly referred to as having an "African massage" as roads are very bumpy and more craters than hard road. Perhaps choose a holiday which centres at one place for 2-3 days and journey out from that centre. - Lesley Halliday
Our children (13 & 15) got as much out of meeting the local people in towns and villages as they did from seeing the vast array of wildlife.![]()
- Graham Botwright
It's a different world and if you want total relaxation and comfort, safaris aren't for you. However if you can put up with insect bites and a sore bottom then you will see some truly awesome sights. We think our holiday was well worth the money as we knew we were supporting local people and eco projects. That's what makes this holiday unique. - Clare Hewitt
If you go during the dry season be prepared for dust on a grand scale! Having said that what you are seeing and doing overrides any discomfort. Don’t forget your lipsalve and hair conditioner as the air is very dry! - Linda de Zilva
Our children (13 and 15) got as much out of meeting the local people in towns and villages as they did from seeing the vast array of wildlife. Now they realise you really can make do on a minimum of possessions and things can be fixed (in very inventive ways), not thrown away when they break; a life changing experience for them. - Graham Botwright
If you go during the dry season be prepared for dust on a grand scale! Having said that what you are seeing and doing overrides any discomfort. Don’t forget your lipsalve and hair conditioner as the air is very dry! - Linda de Zilva
Our children (13 and 15) got as much out of meeting the local people in towns and villages as they did from seeing the vast array of wildlife. Now they realise you really can make do on a minimum of possessions and things can be fixed (in very inventive ways), not thrown away when they break; a life changing experience for them. - Graham Botwright
More Nyerere National Park (Selous) articles
In Tanzania's remote south, there is a game reserve larger than Switzerland with just a fraction of the visitors in the north, but all the wildlife...
Responsible Travel's Anna Rice headed to Nyerere to find the elusive and highly endangered African wild dogs. Here, she recounts her story...
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