SELOUS GAME RESERVE
Overview
The Selous Game Reserve, named after Frederick Selous Courtney, is the largest protected game reserve in Africa, covering 54,600 square kilometers. Established in 1922, it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982. In 2019, the Tanzanian National Park Authority proposed renaming the northern sector of the reserve as The Nyerere National Park, honoring President Julius Nyerere. The park's boundaries are currently being established.
Nyerere National Park offers a variety of attractions, including the Big Five, elephant and hippos concentrations, the Rufiji River, and the largest African wild dog population. The park also boasts beautiful and scenic landscapes, adding to its majestic beauty. Visitors can also enjoy the Rufiji River's abundant wildlife.
Selous Game Reserve, located at an altitude between 100 and 400 meters, experiences bimodal rainfall with short rains in November and December, partial drying out in January and February, and long rains ending in early May. Accessible via road or air, it is accessible via Kibiti from Dar es Salaam and regular flights from Kilimanjaro and Arusha to several airstrips.
Size
54,600 square kilometers
Weather
Equatorial Climate Prevails
Wildlife
Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo, Elephant, Wild Dogs...
Best Time to Visit
July to October
Flora and Fauna
Diverse Ecosystems Thrive
Conservation
Commitment to Preservation
Some of the activities that give visitors opportunities to enjoy its beauty. The Park will give opportunities to do walking safaris, Game Viewing by vehicles as well as Unforgettable boat trips along the mighty Rufiji.
YOU'LL NEVER FORGET
Accommodation Options Near Selous Game Reserve
We have selected cozy lodges and camps in Selous for your visit, offering top-notch safari activities, excellent accommodations, and comfort. We specialize in creating customized experiences, focusing on your personal preferences and helping you create the unique Selous safari you’ve always dreamed of.
The reserve is located in the southern part of Tanzania along the southern Tanzania safari circuit and offers the best escape from the large tourist crowds in the northern safari destinations like Serengeti while offering you a remarkable wildlife experience. It is considered to be among the hidden gems in the county and offers a wide range of Selous Game Reserve Camps for accommodation. The reserve is located about 219 kilometers from the busy city of Dar es salaam and may take about 4 hours drive.
There are a number of wildlife mammals found within this national reserve among which are: approximately 145,000 buffalos, 4,000 Lions, 100,000 wildebeests, large hands of giraffes, 35000 zebras, 40000 hippos, 250,000 impalas, large numbers of Lichtenstein’s hartebeests, waterbucks, elands and bushbucks, in addition to leopards, crocodiles and hyenas. Furthermore this is among the few wildlife sanctuaries on the African continent where you will find the puku antelopes the African wild dogs as well as the sable antelope. Previously the Selous was home to a very large number of elephants but because of excessive poaching these numbers have greatly reduced and all these can be seen during the game drives on the Selous Safari Holidays.
There are a number of types of accommodations offered with the Selous varying from the budget safari Tanzania, to, mid-range and then the luxury safari facilities. Below we have highlighted some of the best Accommodations you can stay at.
Siwandu Camp
Formerly known as the Selous Safari Camp, this was the very first safari camp in the Selous to offer luxury accommodations in this part of the reserve. It offers a accommodation in 13 rooms and its great location offers its guest an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape to the fullest. Its an ideal location for a photo safari in Tanzania. This beautiful facility offers value for money and will surely satisfy every desires of a traveler will to spend some extra dollars on their accommodation.
Lake Manze Camp
Comprised of 12 well furnished beautiful tenets, the mid-range Lake Manze Camp is situated within the prim areas for wildlife viewing the Selous Game reserves along the shores of Lake Manze after which it was named. It will offer you comfort and exclusive service
Beho Beho
Located within the cooler Selous highland in the northern part of the Game reserve, this facility was the very first luxury facility to be established in this part of the Selous. It offers accommodation in 8 permanent bandas constructed using stone and each cottage has a thatched roof to offer its guest a true African ambience.
Sand River Selous
The Luxury Sand River Camp is located on the banks of River Rufiji the lifeline of Selous Reserve. Guests here will enjoy an idyllic ambience from where they can base to explore this vast wilderness. All its rooms are built with stone and have a thatched roof. It offers a variety of accommodation options including 5 standard cottages, 2 suites and a honeymoon cottage (the Rhino House) It also has great options for a family safari in Tanzania.
Sable Mountain Lodge
This budget lodge is found just outside Matambwe Gate in the northern region of the Selous Game Reserve, it is a good base for safaris continuing to Mikumi as well as Morogoro as well as those arriving in the park by train. This intimate camp offers good hospitality and it offers 8 stone cottages, 3 tented bandas that are raised in high wooden platforms offering sweeping views of the neighboring area.
By air transport: Selous Game Reserve can easily be accessed by air transport with any of the local aircrafts connecting from Ruaha as well as Dar es Salaam. It is about a 90 minutes flight from Ruaha and 45 minutes flight from Dar es salaam City.
By road transport: Can also be accessed by road with a trip connecting from Dar es salaam which made follow the normal safari route through Mikumi National Park and then you can reach the park through Matambwe Gate. This journey which could take about 4 hours covering a distance of 220 km is another option.
By railway transport: on a railway system using the Tanzania Zambia railway AZARA begins from the Dar Es Salaam and takes you across the wilderness all the way to Matambwe
The park entrance fees to the Selous where revised for both adults and children and currently adults pay $50 per day from $30 per day while children pay $30 over day for children. On the other hand, an extra $25 per day has been introduced in addition to the present concession fee.
