TANZANIA TRAVEL INFORMATION

SELOUS GAME RESERVE

With an area of 54,600km, the Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest wildlife reserve and Tanzania’s most extensive protected area. It has an enormous game wealth sheltering   elephants, buffalos, the strongest herds of hippos on the continent, crocodiles, wild dogs, lions, leopards, wart pigs, gnus, zebras, Impalas, Elen, antelopes, some gepards, and 350 species of birds have been recorded in this place.
Established in 1922, the reserve was named after Captain Frederick Courtney Selous, a naturalist, explorer and hunter, who died there in action in 1917. In spite of the fact that for many years it was an important hunting area, Selous still contains the greatest concentration of big game left on earth. One of the reserve’s most striking features is the wide Rufiji River, which has one of the largest water catchment areas in East Africa, and offers some excellent opportunities for boat safaris.
The landscape is shaped by the Rufiji River and its tributaries, lined by Barrassus palms, and it is the heart of the park. The Rufiji swell through the park down to the Indian Ocean forming a series of small lakes that serve as an important source of water for the multitude of the plains game. The whole fascination of the African bush meets you direct. It is the Selous Game Reserve that one can combine game drive, boat tours and walking safaris. The hinterland around Lake Tagalala and Beho Beho is some of the most picturesque in area.

TANZANIA WILDLIFE TRAVEL - SELOUS GAME RESERVE
The Selous game reserve park supports enormous numbers of game with populations of buffalos, elephants, wildebeest, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, and black rhinos. A successful project is underway to nurture the Reserve’s population of black rhino back to health following their depletion by poachers in the 1970’s and 80s, with sightings now possible in the tourist area.
The greater part of the northern sector of the Selous is earmarked for photographic tourism, and it is one of the most beautiful and game-rich areas in the whole ecosystem. Three-quarters of the Reserve is woodland of various types, short grassy plains, with seasonally flooded pans. Impressive riverine forests and dense impenetrable thickets are important habitats within the Selous. The wide, meandering Rufigi River with its associated wetlands, lakes and swamps, is one of the most outstanding ecological systems in the whole of eastern Africa.
Although the Selous is best known for its spectacular large mammals, it is equally celebrated for its abundant and varied birds. The most conspicuous birdlife is to be found around the constantly changing pattern of sandbanks, oxbow lakes, lagoons and channels along the Rufigi River.

Getting to Selous:
Selous can be reached by Plane, train or road.

By plane: Flight services are normally available from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha into different airstrip in the reserve depend on which camp to be visited.

By Road: The drive from Dar es salaam to Selous via Kibiti village and cross Mtemere entrance gates takes up to seven hours covering 250 km on where the first 150 the road is well bituminized and the rest will be on earth road. The drive from Morogoro to Selous takes about 5 hours passing through beautiful landscapes and scenery. 4x4 vehicles would be highly recommended. 

By train: At a reasonable price, by Tazara Train would be the other way of reaching Selous. Tazara have now released a new schedule on where there will be train to Selous on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

TANZANIA TRAVEL ACTIVITIES
IN THE
SELOUS GAME RESERVE

Game drives: These are on offer to visitors to the Selous’ small and remote camps and lodges, with little chance of bumping into any sign of human life. During a game drive or walk one might be lucky enough to see a pack of African Wild Dog, disappearing throughout Africa but thriving in the Selous. These complex and fascinating mammals show little fear of vehicles, and it’s often possible to observe their intense social life from close proximity. In the tourist area the density of dogs is higher than anywhere else in Africa.

Boat Trip: Visitors are offered trips long the Rufiji River and the adjoining lakes where hippos, crocodile and a variety of bird species. Spot fishing facilities are also available.
Other activities include: Walking safaris, Spot fishing and Bird watching,

Best time to Visit:
The most pleasant time to visit the Selous is during the cool season from the end of June until October. The rainy season is from November to May. There is a dryer spell in January and February, and this is also a beautiful time to visit as the trees and flowers are blossoming and everywhere from the end of March to May, the reserve is inaccessible and the tourist camps are closed.

TANZANIA SAFARI LODGES AND CAMPSITES

Sable Mountain Lodge:
The lodge features 8 stone cottages and 4 luxury tented bandas, all spaced out across the hillside and it offers intimate and personal service in the midst of a vast wilderness.

Rufiji River Camp:
Rufiji River Camp is set on a wide bend in the mighty Rufiji River. The camp has 20 safari tents all with fantastic river views and guaranteed hippo wake-up calls. The Camp is comfortable, unpretentious, with a relaxing atmosphere.

Sand River Selous Lodge:
On the river south of Lake Tagalala, is the selous most exclusive option. The lodge is situated under large tamarind and pod mahogany trees, on a rocky peninsula overlooking a vast sweep of the Rufiji River.

Selous Impala Camp:
Beautifully situated on the shores of the great Rufiji River, Selous Impala Camp’s large guest tents are stylish furnished with imported linens and bedding. The spacious and airy guest area is furnished in out of Africa style.

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