Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve is named after Frederick Courtney Selous, the famous 19th century hunter and explorer whose books were bestsellers in Victorian England.
The Selous is the largest wildlife sanctuary on the African continent covering a staggering 54,600 square kilometres of southern Tanzania. It consists of vast tracts of archetypal east African wilderness containing perhaps the greatest concentration of big game left on earth. Only in its northern extremity in the area of forest, set around the mighty Rufiji River, has the Selous suffered the incursion of man, butit is still home to a bewildering array of birds and mammals.
This is the Africa experienced by many of its early explorers – raw and untouched. Your game-drives may take you to the lakes where, in the dry season, the herbivores gather to drink and the carnivores lie in wait. Walks accompanied by an armed guide offer the opportunity to see Cape buffalo, elephant and perhaps a lion and a boat safari provides you with the thrill of getting close to hippos and Nile crocodiles.
Although poaching affected the elephant population in the eighties, careful management and conservation schemes have brought their numbers back to a healthy level. There are also large numbers of wild dog, lion, leopard and many other species.
Lodges in Selous
If you can afford it then Beho Beho is the place to stay in Selous. Although not located along the banks of the river, it is still in a prime location in the Beho Beho’s mountains. There are just eight stone built and palm thatched cottages, The spacious suites are open sided with an enormous Read More
Situated on the banks of the Rufiji River amongst Borassa Palms and Tamarind trees, this stylish and relaxed tented camp has great views of the passing wildlife. The 8 spacious tents are set on wooden platforms and each has an open side for guests to view the ever changing scenes across the river. Each room has Read More
Lake Manze Tented Camp is situated about an hours drive from the Siwandu airstrip on the banks of Lake Manze. This area is one of the richest in the Selous with its assorted bird and wildlife available for viewing in both the wet and dry seasons. The 12 simply built tents are well spread out, Read More
Rufiji River Tented Camp is one of the newest and best equipped tented camps in the Selous. Located on the banks of the Rufiji River, its position is ideal for viewing the many different species of animal that gathers at this spot in the river. The camps aim is to provide a genuine safari experience Read More
Located approximately 1 kilometre outside the reserves western boundary is Sable Mountain Lodge. Built across 3 peaks of the Beho Beho hills, the lodge offers great views of the surrounding brachystegia forest. It is ideally situated to explore the northern reaches of Selous Game Reserve. There are 13 rooms in total, of which 8 are basic Read More
Sand Rivers is a small camp set on a rocky peninsula overlooking the magnificent sweep of the Rufiji River. This river is the lifeblood of the untamed Selous wilderness and is the largest waterway in East Africa. The exposed sandbanks of the camp are home to hippo, crocodile and fascinating birdlife. The camp consists of 8 Read More
Selous Luxury Camp (formerly known as Wildlife Lodge) is set amidst the indigenous forest on a seasonal tributary of the Rufiji River. It can be reached by a 30 minute drive from Stiegler’s airstrip. The camp consists of just 12 canvas sided tents, each of which is set on a wooden deck. The thatched grass Read More
Selous Safari Camp is situated within an open palm forest on the shores of Lake Nzerakera, a massive lake adjoining the Great Rufiji River in one of the most photogenic areas of Selous Game Reserve. It offers a small and intimate place to stay in Selous. The camp comprises 2 halves, north and south with Read More
Situated on the banks of the Rufiji River in a remote area of the Selous within a riverine forest, Selous Wilderness Camp offers a taste of a true wilderness experience. Here you can enjoy game viewing off the beaten track by foot, vehicle and boat. The camp is reached by flight to the Mtemere airstrip followed Read More
