The Selous National Reserve, Tanzania
The largest wildlife reserve in Africa: one of the most unique East African Safari destinations
The Selous Safari Camp is delightfully situated within an open palm forest on the shores of Lake Nzerakera, a massive lake adjoining the Great Rufiji River. A well planned tented camp, Selous Safari Camp blends in superbly with its natural surroundings in what is one of the most photogenic areas of the Selous Game Reserve. All Selous Safari Camp safari tents are widely spaced along the lake shore ensuring maximum privacy and wonderful views. Each tent sits atop its own raised timber platform with two large verandahs on either side.
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 Selous Safari Camp 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
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).
Selous Safari Camp 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 Selous Safari Camp 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
There are two parts to Selous Safari Camp, north and south with a total of 13 tents in all. All Selous Safari Camp tents have king-size beds, ceiling fans, private verandahs to front and back and an ensuite bathroom (hot and cold running water, shower, and flushed WC). Both parts of the camp have their own swimming pool and dining area.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: dining and bars
Each camp has its own dining area and bar on a raised viewing platform. The bar and lounge offer large comfortable sofas, and wildlife reference library. Table d'hote dining makes the most of African influences and local fresh fruit, vegetables & spices.
Conference and event facilities at Selous Safari Camp
Selous Safari Camp does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings.
Weddings and honeymoons at Selous Safari Camp
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
Selous Safari Camp welcomes children. Children over 15 only are permitted to walk in the Selous.
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.
Selous Safari Camp 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 Selous Safari Camp 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 Selous Safari Camp 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.
Selous Safari Camp 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.
Selous Safari Camp • Selous National Reserve • Tanzania Safari Tented Camps
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