The Selous Game Reserve Tanzania

Home > Tanzania > Selous Game Reserve

The Selous Game Reserve is an immense sanctuary, which measures 50,000 km2, which is larger than Switzerland and covers over 5% of Tanzania's total land area. It has been left largely undisturbed by human impact. It is home to large numbers of elephants, black rhinoceroses, cheetahs, giraffes, hippo and crocodiles, this is Safari Tanzania!

I think it is a very different game reserve than the others found in Eastern Africa, It has a much slower pace than all the rushing about done in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. Because of its massive proportions the density of game is in my experience much less and you may see less game over a short period of time. Don't let this put you off as it has unique advantages in that you may just find a place to escape those maddening crowds. Lazy afternoon bird watching on the Rufiji river or a peaceful early morning game drive, this is the unhurried life of the African bush and that of the Selous Game Reserve.

Some History...
Selous gets it's name from Frederick Courtney Selous (1851-), a british soldier explorer, hunter and naturalist who's love for nature led him to study the ways of wild animals in their natural environment. He was awarded the Founder's medal of the Royal Geographical Society in December 1892, in recognition of his extensive explorations and surveys.

What About the Wildlife?
As I mentioned earlier the figures are almost unbelievable as there are said to be about 50 000 African elephants, 110 000 buffalo, almost 4000 lion, 1300 Wild dogs and a huge amount of giraffe but do remember that these are spread out in a massive area and as a tourist you will only ever view a tiny part of this great reserve.

Of the African cats there are lion, leopard, caracal wildcat and serval in fact the only big cat not found in the Selous is the cheetah. It should be noted that all of these apart from the lion are rare sightings.

In the rivers like the Rufiji river you will find large populations of hippo and crocodile.

Other mammals include the yellow baboon, black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey and the vervet monkey. Black Rhinoceros, Sable antelope, Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Bushpig, Eland, Grysbok, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Klipspringer, Kudu, Spotted Hyaena and many many more.

Going on a Selous Safari?

One of the great features of Selous is the variety of different ways you can go on safari.

Safari Game Drives
Pretty much all the camps offer game drives in a 4x4 vehicle and because the lodges are so far apart, they each have their own routes, so who knows you may find the sighting of a lifetime and be able to enjoy it all by yourselves for me this is one of the huge advantages over the far more crowded reserves like the Masai Mara and the Kruger National Park for examples.

Walking Safaris
Walking safaris are also possible which offer a totally different experience to game drives, to approach animals on foot is a completely different experience than doing it in a vehicle. It is also a chance to get close and personal with some of the finer details of the African bush, things like birds, trees and plants. You can also extend your walking safari into a multi day walking safari and walk from point to point, camping along the way, for me this is the ultimate in a Safari adventure.

Boating Safaris
If your lodge is along one of the rivers of the Selous you will have the chance of taking one of their shallow draft boats on the river. This is a great way to see hippo and crocodile, but also a coomon sight it elephant, waterbuck and buffalo an the river banks.

The best time to go to tanzania on safari?
The best time to visit the Selous Game reserve are the months from July to November. March, April and May are probably the worst months.

---

Places to Stay

The Rufiji River Camp

This tented camp lies on a superb location on a bend of the Rufiji river it is environmentally friendly and each tent is equipped with private bathroom and a veranda facing the river. With a constant flow of animals coming down to drink at the riverthis offers almost a permanent wildlife show for any visitor staying at the Rufiji Camp.

The accomodation comprises twenty tents all with en-suite facilities and a private veranda under a roof of local straw.

---

Selous Mbega Camp

The Selous Mbenga Camp has thirteen tents along the Rufiji River and just 500 metres away from the border of the Selous Game Reserve, in its own private 60 ha riverine forest reserve.

Activities include game viewing in 4x4 vehicles, by foot on walking safaris and on the Rufiji River as a boat safari. You can also go on cultural trips to the local villages surrounding the Selous Game Reserve or go Fly- Camping.

All the tents have en- suite bathrooms and their own verandah's and most of the tents have a view over the Rufiji River. One overlooks at a dry waterhole at the rear of the camp and has the advantage of plenty animal and bird activity during day and especially at night.

Price Guide for fullboard accomodation:
Double Occupancy US $ 95 per night, per person.
Single Occupancy US $ 135 per night, per person.

Game Drives, Walking Safaris, Boat Safaris, Village Trip.

US $ 35 per person, per trip, average 3hours, shared vehicle or boat.

Note: The camp is situated outside the Selous Game Reserve border. On any safaris entering the Game Reserve a charge of US$ 30/24 hrs will have to be paid at the gate.

Contact Details
Telephone: +255 22 2650250
Fax/ Telephone: +255 22 2650251
Mobile: +255 (0)78 4624664 or +255 (0)78 4748888
E-Mail: info@selous-mbega-camp.com
or: baobabvillage@raha.com
Mail: P.O. Box 23443, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania