Nyerere is located in the southern part of the country and although it is found in a remote area, it is one of the few Parks that you should put on your list of destinations while in Tanzania. The name Nyerere has of recent been changed and now the largest Game Reserve in Tanzania and the African continent is known as the Nyerere National Park.
The Park is not as famous as the other National Parks that are found in the Northern Circuit Tanzania but it also has quite a number of animals that are worth watching and taking the long ride to the south to view. There are a number of ways that one can get to Nyerere that is you can drive from Dar es salaam, take the railroad or use a chartered plane to get you there but note that whichever mode of transport you use, an experienced tour guide will be there to make sure that you get to the National Park safely and with ample time to enjoy all that it has to offer.
Railway system
The railway system is the cheapest mode of transportation that you can use to get to Nyerere National Park. The Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) is what you will use to get to the Reserve and the ride will take you roughly 4 to 5 hours. The railway trip will start in Dar es Salaam and will make the last stop at Matabwe where you will alight before getting into a van to take you to Selous. The train will take you through some of the best views of southern Tanzania, that is Mountains and numerous villages where you get to enjoy the scenery created by the beautiful landscape.
Road transport
Road transport is the commonly used mode by tourists who visit Nyerere National Park. There are not so many routes that you can take once you decide to take a drive safari to the park and they will all start in Dar es Salaam. This is a lovely experience and you will get to see the landscapes of southern Tanzania while driving by like the Ulugulu Mountains. You can also make a stopover at some villages along the way and get to take as many photos of the village and get to taste some of the local food before continuing with your journey.
The first route that you can take is from Dar es Salaam through Mikumi National Park and then to the Matambwe gate and this is the main route to the Reserve. When you get to the gate, it will take you a few minutes and then you will be able to explore the Nyerere National Park.
There are several offbeat roads that you can use to enjoy the scenery and one of them is through the Morogoro where you have a clear view of the Mountain slopes and the villages around it and as you drive along, you might see some wild animals crossing the road. This route is best taken if you are combining your safari to Nyerere with other National Parks that are found in the southern circuit. The drive will start from Dar es Salaam through the two towns of Mkuyuni and Kisaki, Morogoro and then you will finally get to the Matambwe gate which will take you to the Game Reserve.
The other road starts from Dar es Salaam and it will take you through Mloka and Kibiti leading you to the Mtemere gate which will get you inside the Nyerere National Park. This route will take you about 7 hours for you to get to the Reserve. For your road trips, we recommend Self Drive Tanzania.
Air transport
Air transport by far is the easiest and most expensive way to get to Nyerere National Park. Currently there are many flights that one can use to get to the Reserve and these can easily be organized at the different airports around Tanzania. The quickest airport to use is the Julius Nyerere International Airport although you can also get in from Arusha and Zanzibar. These flights have different airstrips near the Park where you will find a van waiting to take you inside the national Park.
