The Selous National Reserve, Tanzania
The largest wildlife reserve in Africa: one of the most unique East African Safari destinations
Set on a wide curve of the mighty Rufiji River, Sand Rivers Selous lodge was originally built by Richard Bonham in 1984 who used this area of the Selous for his famous portered walking safaris, when the area was all but unknown. The lodge is both expedition base, and safari retreat; offering five tents, two suites and one house. There is also a central dining and bar area and swimming pool.
Sand Rivers Selous is the base for some of Tanzania's best safari guides who are there to take you out for daily adventures; boating on the Rufiji, weaving past hippopotamus and crocodile; driving on the trail of lion or wild dog; an elephant bush walk; a night sleeping out under the stars, or fishing in solitude, barefoot on a river rock.
One of Sand Rivers most coveted trip is our Selous Walking Safari - a four day wilderness walk in the seriously remote parts of the park. Explore the remotest corners of the area over a set period, with fly-camps moving every night. Walk through magical and diverse landscapes, seeing things not always visible from a vehicle. Each day is designed to be different, and to offer unrivalled exposure to the area. Walks are concentrated around the early morning and late afternoons, with opportunities for fishing, and relaxing in the middle of the day.
The Selous National Reserve
The spectacular Selous Reserve, a World Heritage Site and the largest expanse of game reserve in Africa, covers a massive 55,000 square kilometres of rolling savannah. About four times the size of Serengeti and larger than Switzerland, this East African Safari destination is home to the largest concentration of elephants in the world. The Selous is named after Frederick Courtenay Selous, naturalist, conservationist and hunter, who was killed in World War 1 in the Beho region of the Selous.
Despite its abundant array of hippo, buffalo, crocodile, lion and rhino, this magnificent East African Safari reserve remains virtually untouched by man. Irrigated by the meandering network of lakes and tributaries that make up the Rufiji River, the Selous also offers some unique boating safaris. One of Tanzania's most glorious East African Safari destinations, the Selous is renowned for its bird-watching, game drive opportunities, Tanzania safari lodges and wide range of East African Safari wildlife and ornithology.
East African safari location: name of lodge
The luxury Sand Rivers Selous stands at the heart of the Selous National Reserve. The reserve lies in south-east Tanzania, south of Mikumi National Park.
By air: the flight takes around 45 minutes from Dar es Salaam International Airport and most tented camps have their own airstrips.
By road: the reserve is 145km from Dar es Salaam via the Kibiti-Mkongo road (which is only partially surfaced), a usual journey of 7-8 hours to the tented camp. The reserve is 350km from Dar es Salaam via the Morogoro-Matombo-Kisaki road, which enters the northern section of the reserve (4WD required): a usual journey of 8-9 hours to the tented camp.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: background
One of the last untouched gems of Tanzania's reserves, the Selous offers a unique opportunity to see Africa the way the early East Africa Safari explorers found it - pristine, alive with game, empty of tourists and utterly awe inspiring. By virtue of its immense size, the Selous protects vast numbers of animals: it contains the largest buffalo concentration in Africa (more than 110,000) and over half of Tanzania's elephants (57,000).
Sand Rivers Selous luxury Safari: East Africa safari wildlife highlights:
This East African Safari reserve offers most representatives of East African safari wildlife, including 200,000 buffalo, 57,000 African elephant, 100,000 impala, 80,000 wildebeest and the country's largest populations of crocodile and hippopotamus. 440 species of birds have been recorded.
When to visit this East African Safari tented camp
The best time to visit Sand Rivers Selous is in July-October. The East African Safari camps and lodges are often closed in this East African Safari reserve at the peak of the Tanzania wet season from Easter-June, when the rains render many of the roads impassable.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: accommodation
Accommodation at Sand Rivers Selous is in spacious open-fronted cottages made of stone and thatch, and raised up on the banks of the Rufiji with amazing views out across the river. There are five standard rooms, and two suites, and now we have the new one-bedroom private house - The Rhino House (see below).The suites and the standard rooms all have spacious, open, en-suite bathrooms, with flush toilets and powerful showers.
The Suites - Tagalala and Kipalala
There are two Suites at Sand Rivers, and although separate from the standard rooms, they are within walking distance of the main mess/dining area and large swimming pool. Whilst all meals are eaten in the main mess, the suites have their own private lounge area, and plunge pools set into the main deck. The bedrooms, with large and comfortable beds, are open fronted and the en-suite bathrooms are bush-deluxe.
The Rhino House
The Rhino House is our new private and exclusive one-bedroom 'house', located near to the main lodge. It's the perfect private hideaway; meals are served in your own dining area, and you have your own small pool for an afternoon of chilling out, with the fully stocked bar close by.
The bedroom is deeply romantic, and has a wide open front looking down over the river and open woodlands. Its perched up on a hillside, providing the ultimate view.
As well as this you, have your own private car and guide to take you out for game drives when you wish
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: dining and bars
Sand Rivers Selous has a central bar and dining area and also operates a mobile camp, which is used to stage meals in the bush.
Conference and event facilities at Sand Rivers Selous
Sand Rivers Selous does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings.
Weddings and honeymoons at Sand Rivers Selous
This Tanzania tented camp makes an ideal Tanzania honeymoon destination. The Selous makes the ideal honeymoon choice. Pristine, undiscovered and the last of the great safari frontiers, it offers a multitude of unique experiences ranging from river safaris to wilderness picnics.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: Child-friendly
Child Policy - We are delighted to accept children of 8 and over at Sand Rivers Selous, but please note that only children of 12 and over can participate in walking and fly-camping activities.
What to see and do on your Tanzania luxury tented camp safari
The Selous is unique among Tanzania's game areas because it is a game reserve, and not a national park. This means that a wider range of activities are permitted such as; luxury boating, walking and camping safaris. More controversially, large parts of the south of the reserve (90% of the total) are reserved for professional game hunting.
Sand Rivers Selous offers skilled and knowledgeable guides who lead the game drives, boat trips, walking excursions and fly camping. Fly fishing is also offered.
The choice of things to do and see at Sand Rivers Selous includes:
• Spectacular game drives around the stunning Selous ecosystem
• Boating safaris down the Rufiji River
• A full safari breakfast, cooked in the bush
• Bush dinners overlooking the river
• Atmospheric ‘Sundowners' in the wilderness
The boating safari
Utterly unique, the Rufiji River game-viewing experience promises abundant sightings of hippos (both in and out of the water), basking crocodiles and elephants. It also offers the rare chance of seeing a lion come down to the river and drink. Offering a profusion of water birds, the river is typically lined with thousands of African skimmers and is one of the few places in Africa where one can spot the rare Pel's fishing owl. In the dense Borassus palms that line the banks, huge numbers of African palm swifts whirl, while the dense tree cover offers sanctuary to black and white colobus monkeys, vultures and African fish eagles.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari experiences in the Selous
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at Sand Rivers Selous include: safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides), safari bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; cocktails around the tented camp safari campfire and guided safari walks through the reserve. Sand Rivers Selous also offers East African Safari ornithological tours, cultural performances and visits to the local Maasai people of Tanzania. In the Selous, a particular feature of the East African Safari tented camp experience are the boat safaris down the Rufiji River, offering a unique opportunity to see elephants, lions, and the entire East African Safari wildlife cast at very close quarters.
Sand Rivers Selous - Selous National Reserve • Tanzania Safari Lodges
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