Selous Game Reserve

The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected tract of wilderness in Africa, home to the continent’s greatest populations of elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile. There are also more than 450 bird and 2,000 plant species to be found here. This 52,000 sq. km of stunning natural diversity has also been designated a World Heritage Site.

• Wild Africa on an epic scale – the continent’s largest game reserve
• Excellent big game viewing by open 4×4 vehicle, on foot and by boat
• Remote, luxury camps situated well away from ‘civilisation’
• Easy access by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar

The landscape of the Selous is stunningly varied with grassy plains, open woodland and thick forest, whilst stemming from the mighty Rufiji River are myriad channels, lakes and swamps that form one of the most outstanding ecological habitats in East Africa.

The many intricate waterways and tributaries attract large herds of elephant and plains game, as well as a mass of water birds. Crocodile and hippo pack the waterways, whilst the reserve boasts Africa’s largest buffalo population, as well as many zebra, impala, Nyassa wildebeest and Liechtenstein’s hartebeest. There are also greater kudu, sable, eland and numerous Masai giraffe, whose southernmost border is the Rufiji River. Lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog are all present in the reserve in varying numbers.

On safari in the Selous you enjoy bush walks, game drives by open 4×4 vehicles & boat trips on the Rufiji River.

The Selous, like Ruaha National Park, is a remote area with poor accessibility by road, which has inevitably helped to maintain both the area as a pristine wilderness. Encouraged by the authorities, the emphasis is on low density/high income tourism that has meant that the few camps that have been built are relatively expensive to visit, but generally of a high standard, and by flying in and out you maximize time game viewing on the ground. This allows you to experience a wild world that is fast disappearing and few ever see…wild Tanzania at its finest.