Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve Safaris

Selous Game Reserve, now included in Nyerere National Park, is one of the largest and most spectacular in Africa. Located in the southern part of Tanzania and comprising an area of more than 50,000 square kilometres, it is almost four times larger than the Serengeti, and it is among the least visited safari destinations. It is named after Frederick Selous, a renowned hunter and conservationist, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its abundant biodiversity and beautiful scenery. Selous is an ideal Tanzania safari destination that combines wilderness, wildlife and exclusive experiences that few other destinations in Africa can offer.

Why Selous Safari Tour?

The Selous Game Reserve is a quieter park and provides an immersive safari in comparison to the busier parks in northern Tanzania, like the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater. Its huge scenery of forests, rivers, wetlands and grass plains harbours some of the largest populations of elephants, buffaloes and hippos in Africa. Animals that can be found here include lions, leopards, African wild dogs, crocodiles and over 440 bird species. Due to its remoteness, Selous safaris are considered real and adventurous, which attracts tourists who want to experience a real African wilderness far off the beaten track.

Wildlife Highlights in Selous

Selous is also very well known because of its thriving population of African wild dogs, a rare and endangered species not easily found elsewhere. The Rufiji River is the lifeline of the reserve, and it has countless numbers of hippos and crocodiles and elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and birds flock to the banks of the river.

Game drives expose prides of lions hunting their prey in the open plains, and leopards are usually found resting in trees. Boat safaris offer a different view as one gets to be close to herds of elephants as they cross the river or to fish eagles hunting along the shores. To the avian enthusiast, Selous is heaven with its colourful birds like carmine bee-eaters, kingfishers and African skimmers.

Special Safari activities in Selous

What is unique about Selous is that it is the variety of activities that it offers, which most other safari destinations do not offer. Game drives are the traditional means to explore; however, there is also the option of a guided walking safari, where you can be led by an expert ranger through the bush on foot to have a close-up experience with the wildlife.

The reserve is also one of the rare places in Tanzania in which boat safaris can be undertaken, where one can sail along the Rufiji River and its network of channels and lakes. To the more adventurous travellers, there is the possibility of fly-camping safaris that can last several days to allow one to spend nights in the middle of the wilderness with the stars for company. The variety of activities in Selous makes it a major destination of choice for safari lovers.

Best Time to Visit Selous Game Reserve

The best period for going on a Selous safari is during the dry season, June to October. At this time of the year, animals congregate around streams and waterholes, thus increasing the chances of wildlife viewing. The weather is also good, as the days are warm and the nights are cool. The wet season between November and May changes the landscape into a lush green, giving a beautiful scenery and good birdwatching. Some roads can be impassable through flooding, and a few of the camps may be closed in the height of the rains. Budget travellers may like the green season because the rates of accommodation and tours are usually lower.

Lodging in Selous

There is a great variety of accommodation in Selous, which can be luxurious tented camps or simple lodges. Luxury safari camps like the Siwandu, Sand Rivers Selous and Beho Beho offer luxury tented accommodation with spectacular views of the river or the bush, fine dining and personal services. Mid-range lodges and tented camps are spread throughout the Rufiji River and surrounding regions and are a mix of comfort and a more natural safari experience.

Fly-camping is a rustic and memorable experience that adventurous travellers can use to get in touch with the wilderness. Accommodations offer all-inclusive packages that include meals, game drives, boat trips, and guided walks.

How to Get to Selous Game Reserve

There are two ways of reaching Selous, and those are by road and by aeroplane. By road, the reserve can take about six to seven hours by road through beautiful countryside and small settlements. There are a lot of bumpy roads that can be long, but to the traveller who likes road trips, it is worth it to see more of rural Tanzania.

Otherwise, within the country, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Arusha host domestic flights to airstrips located within the reserve. Most of the safari packages will involve charter flights, which are time-saving and allow maximum time to see the game.

Selous and Other Safari Destinations

Selous is typically combined with the neighbouring Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park to form a varied southern Tanzania safari circuit. Whereas Selous is renowned as the land of waterways and wild dogs, Ruaha is famous due to its huge herds of elephants and predator action. It is also common to add a beach holiday in Zanzibar at the end of a Selous safari, to provide the right combination of adventure and rest. Tour operators will make customised tours that integrate these experiences.

Tips for Selous Safari Tours

Travellers are advised to take along lightweight breathable fabric in neutral colours, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent, binoculars, camera with extra batteries. It is also recommended that you book safaris with reputable tour operators who have experienced guides and safe vehicles. Yellow fever vaccination is necessary to enter Tanzania, and malaria prevention is highly advised. Bring enough drinking water and be ready to encounter poor network coverage in isolated areas of the reserve.

Conclusion

The Selous Game Reserve, or Nyerere National Park, is one of the most authentic safari experiences in Africa. Whether it is boat trips on the Rufiji River, walking safaris in the bush or an exciting game drive, the experiences here are memorable. Selous is wilder and more intimate than the northern circuit parks, with its huge size and abundant biodiversity and exclusive camps. Selous Game Reserve safari tours are a wonderful option for travellers interested in getting close to nature and exploring an unseen side of Tanzania.