The Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park
Inside the park the Rufiji splits into branching channels, with oxbow lakes and floodplains on either side. This water system shapes the habitats, which is why game drives, boat safaris and camps all follow the river. From the air the channels, sandbars and green islands show how the water moves through the landscape.
The easiest way onto the water is a boat safari on the Rufiji. For the animals you may meet there, see the Nyerere wildlife page.
Lake Manze, Lake Tagalala and Lake Nzerakera
Three lake names come up most often around the visitor areas: Lake Nzerakera in the north, and Lake Manze and Lake Tagalala in the east. Several camps sit along the river and at these lakes. Lake sizes and the links between lakes change with the seasons, so ask your operator which lakes are in use on your dates.
Hippos and crocodiles live in the river and the lakes. Walking near the shore is only possible with an authorised ranger.
Our pick: a Rufiji boat ride by fly-in safari
The boat safari on the Rufiji is part of this trip from Zanzibar.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Rufiji boat trips and Nyerere safaris
Boat trips, game drives and fly-in safaris to Nyerere National Park, with live prices and availability.
Boat safaris on the river and lakes
What to expect, and what to check.
Where boats go
TANAPA offers boat safaris on the Rufiji and on the lakes and channels linked to it. Which stretch you take depends on the water level and on your operator.
What you may see
Hippos, crocodiles and water birds are the usual sightings. None can be promised, and the length of a trip differs by operator.
Safety
Wear a life jacket, keep arms and legs inside the boat and follow the instructions of your ranger or guide. There is no designated swimming spot in the river or lakes, and hippos and crocodiles live there, so stay out of the water.
Rainy season
Check the river level and the state of the roads in the rains. A high or low river can change which routes are possible.
Flight strips
Flights use more than one airstrip, among them Mtemere. Agree your transfer from the strip with your camp or operator before you fly. More in getting to Nyerere.
Rufiji delta: on the coast, not in the park
The Rufiji delta is a coastal landscape of mangroves, seagrass and coral around Mafia Island and the river mouth, part of the Rufiji-Mafia-Kibiti-Kilwa biosphere area. It is not part of the lakes and channels inside Nyerere National Park. A boat safari in the park stays on the river and its lakes and does not reach the delta.
The Rufiji is also the river of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station at Stiegler's Gorge. For the wider landscape and the southern part of the old reserve, see Selous Game Reserve.
The river through the seasons
How water, weather and camps change through the year.
Dry months
The dry season runs from about June to October, and it can stretch to around November.
Short rains
Showers can come in November and December.
Long rains
The long rains run from mid-March to May. Some camps close then, so ask your operator. Roads and the river level need a check before you travel.
Weather page
The weather page has the monthly figures for the coast and explains how far they apply to the park.
Staying by the water
Camps along the river and lakes.
Camps and lodges
There are lodges and tented camps along the Rufiji and in the surrounding area, as well as public and special campsites inside the park. See the camps and lodges page for how locations differ.
What you pay
A camp stay adds the daily park fee and a concession fee. All amounts are on the park fees page.
More about Nyerere
Where the river fits into a trip.
Rufiji River: frequently asked questions
Is the Rufiji delta in Nyerere National Park?
No. The delta lies on the coast around the river mouth and Mafia Island. Inside the park you find the river, its channels and the lakes.
Where is Lake Manze?
Lake Manze is one of the lakes in the eastern visitor area of the park, together with Lake Tagalala. Lake Nzerakera lies in the north.
Can I swim in the Rufiji or the lakes?
No. Hippos and crocodiles live in the water, and there is no designated swimming spot.
Can I take a boat trip all year?
Not every route runs in every season. The river level and the roads need a check in the rainy season, so ask your operator.
Which airstrips serve the park?
Flights use more than one airstrip, among them Mtemere. Agree your transfer in advance.
When is the river best for a boat trip?
Boat trips are run in the dry months, but not every route runs every year. Ask your operator about the river level on your dates.