Selous Game Reserve

Located in south east Tanzania, the Selous Game Reserve covers an area of around 50,000sq km making it one of the largest wildlife preservation areas in the world. UNESCO designated Selous Game Reserve a World Heritage Site in 1982 for its natural diversity and the abundance of wildlife to be found there. Selous Game Reserve is also home to the largest concentration of the endangered Wild Dog in Africa. The reserve takes its name from the British explorer, Fredrick Selous who was killed by a German sniper in 1917. He lies buried in Selous near the Beho Beho hills in the northern part of the reserve..

The lifeline of Selous is the Rufiji River which flows through the game reserve to the Indian Ocean and is fed by a network of channels, lakes, lagoons, sandbanks and swamps. Many of the safari camps in Selous are located either near or on the banks of the Rufiji River giving visitors the opportunity for boat trips as well as vehicle safaris. The boat trips let you get close to the amazing bird life of the Selous and you will almost certainly see crocodiles and hippos too.

Short walking safaris from the camps are also usually available with some offering overnight options. Escorted by an armed ranger, you’ll take an early morning walk before breakfast where you get the opportunity to get a closer look at the nature of Selous.

Despite its size, Selous Game Reserve has relatively few safari camps making for an unforgettably wild safari experience.

Getting There & Getting Around

Although it is possible to drive to Selous Game Reserve from Dar-es-Salaam, most visitors fly in by light aircraft as there are a number of airstrips near the various camps. Flying time from Dar-es-Salaam is usually around 45 minutes. You will normally be met at the airstrip by staff from the camp where you are staying. From there, you will be taken to your safari camp and travelling time can be anything up to an hour depending on safari camp.

Weather

In Selous Game Reserve, it is either the Wet Season or the Dry Season. The Dry Season usually starts in June and lasts until November. It is the best time of year for game viewing as animals will come out of the bush to the lakes for water and there is less foliage making wildlife easier to spot. Predators are also more commonly seen.

The Wet Season covers the rest of the year. Between December and February, game viewing can still be very good although it does get hot and humid. January to April is the best time for birdlife but the rains can make the roads impassable so many lodges are closed between March and May.

Selous Game Reserve is an ideal part of a safari and beach holiday. You experience the Selous and Zanzibar in as little as a week with 3 nights in each place. For more information call 0208 816 8789 or email using the 'Contact Us' form.