Visit Selous Game Reserve, Southern Tanzania

The Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest game reserve, yet visited by few. As well as abundant game, it is ideal for boat trips. Some of the camps in the Selous offer overnight 'fly-camping' trips.

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Playful hippo in the Selous Game Reserve

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The Selous stretches for over 45,000 square kilometres.

It is Africa’s largest game reserve, yet visited by few. Meandering through the plains and woodlands, the Rufiji River gives rise to a labyrinth of streams, channels and pretty lakes in a delicate water paradise.

Skeletal leadwood trees stand in glassy lagoons where terrapins ripple the surface. There are perfect pods of hippo, rainbow coloured birds and flitting butterflies on yellow cassia flowers. It is a vast wilderness area and superb for photography.

Wildlife of the Selous Game Reserve

There is abundant game in the reserve, with Africa’s largest buffalo and lion populations, numerous leopard and thriving packs of wild dog. Wildebeest, zebra, impala, hartebeest, greater kudu and eland are all common. In the heat of the afternoon, herds of over fifty giraffe drink from the lakes, whilst elephant herds cross the channels to the lush islands.

Boat trips in the Selous

Boat trips are a speciality in the Selous and floating quietly along on the water is magical. You will see yellow-billed storks nesting in borassus palms, baboon at the waters edge and white-crowned plovers cleaning the teeth of crocodiles. The riverine forest is perfect for gentle rambles in search of blue samango monkeys and black and white colobus.

Driving in open 4WDs, you will see plenty of game but no other vehicles, as the Selous is a very peaceful park with only a handful of small camps.

Fly-camping in the Selous

Some of the camps in the Selous offer overnight 'fly-camping' trips. Taking a maximum of eight guests, tiny mobile camps are set up in remote areas with no roads. The day’s activities tend to focus on walking or travelling by boat, with overnight accommodation in simple dome tents, with hot bucket showers rigged in trees and lavish bush dinners set out at the water’s edge.

At most camps these trips last for one to three days but Sand Rivers organises extended trips.

Other places within Southern Tanzania

Mikumi National Park

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• {85D69EEF-8284-4CFB-8794-7DC2A4B2A86F}
• Mikumi borders the Selous Game Reserve and game migrates between the two. On the floodplain there is ample opportunity to see game of all sizes. The park is easily accessible and recommended before you visit the Selous.
• -7.495919588801483
• 37.2271728515625

Ruaha National Park

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• {326CC438-7A93-40FC-9E51-12DB13BC397A}
• Ruaha National Park has a hot, dry climate and dramatic scenery. Game is prolific with large prides of lion, often twenty or more strong. As well as game drives, early morning walks are also possible.
• -7.43090049381701
• 34.6853828430176

Selous Game Reserve

View place

• {444D7C3B-CB52-42C5-9415-C903661FF80C}
• The Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest game reserve, yet visited by few. As well as abundant game, it is ideal for boat trips. Some of the camps in the Selous offer overnight 'fly-camping' trips.
• -8.73519830522146
• 37.6385593414307

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