Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve as one of the world’s largest protected wildlife areas, larger than Belgium, should be on your destination list if you want to combine extraordinary wildlife, boat safari on the famous Rufiji River and a fantastic nature.

Selous can easily be combined with Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains and Ruaha National Park. This can form a varied and adventurous roundtrip in the southern circuit.

Located south in Tanzania, along the Indian Ocean, Selous are with its size of 50.000 square kilometres one of the largest wildlife protection areas in the world.

The history of the reserve is varied from the early trading routes passing the area, to the famous European explorers journeying through the Selous in the 19th century.

During the First World War, the area was involved in the fight for East Africa. It’s named after the British explorer Fredrick Courtney Selous, who was killed here during the war. The famous Selous Scouts were also named after him.

In 1982 the Selous was made to be World Heritage site by the UN, but still this is a wildlife destination without the largest tourist crowds. Those facts are giving you a unique opportunity for a stimulating and peaceful wildlife adventure.

Selous offer a magnitude of adventure possibilities, the most popular one will be the boat safari on one of the many lakes, or on the Rufiji River. From a “rolling” boat seat you’ll see simmering bird life and animal activities, with hippos, waterbucks, buffaloes and crocodiles along with all the bird species.

But if you really want to explore this enormous areas and its wildlife, you have to be in a good safari vehicle and you’ll get close to the most known animals of Eastern Africa.

All visitors hope to se the lions, which is spectacular, and if your one of the enduring viewers, you might be rewarded with a glance of the leopard, and extremely rare the cheetah.

Elephants and buffaloes can be seen in large quantities, and the elegant antelopes; impala, sable antelope, greater kudu, eland, wildebeest and hartebeest, a selection who reflects the richness and magnitude of wildlife in Selous Game Reserve.

Gallery

About the Park

Size:
54.600 sq km (21.081 sq miles)

Location:
South of Dar es Salaam, just east of the known Rufiji-delta

How to get there:
Plane from Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar. 240 km by car from Dar es Salaam, 7 to 8 hours drive. 4WD vehicle needed.

What to do:
Game drive, boat safari, walking safari and guided excursions. Visit the memorial site of Fredrick Courtney Selous or the hot springs close to Lake Tagalala.

When to go:
The dry season between June and November and January to March are best for big game viewing. Closer to the rainy season in April are fantastic if you want bird watching.

Accommodation:

Most lodges close between March and May.