Selous National Park

About Selous National Park, Africa’s Largest National Park, formerly (Selous Game Reserve), covers an area the size of Switzerland. Selous National Park, with a staggering size of 30,893km², hosts one of the world’s largest concentrations of wildlife. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has only a handful of high-end safari camps. The collection of wildlife, both in diversity and abundance, is just remarkable. Visitors to this vast sanctuary will be able to see astounding volumes of wildlife, including both rare and common species. Selous National Park hosts the famous “Big Five” and some rare species of antelopes like Roan Antelope, Brindled Gnu, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Roan, and Sable Antelopes, Kudu, and more.

Opportunities for foot safaris and game walks, boat explorations, and the classic 4WD safari add a further unique element to the Selous safari and ensure its reputation for pure bush adventure remains untarnished by volume.

The park stands unique amongst the major safari destinations of Africa in offering a wider range of safaris than the traditional 4WD-based vehicle safari. Boating explorations along the Rufiji River are a wild and adventurous safari experience as can be had, cruising amongst hippos, crocodiles, and a full checklist of water birds, and getting closer to the attendant wildlife that drinks from the bank, as any other method would allow. Elsewhere, the game walks with an armed ranger and guide allow a privileged viewpoint of the game that teems along the riverine areas of Selous National Park.

There are large populations of elephants in the park. Approximately 70% (60,000) of Tanzania’s elephants are found in this reserve. Other well-known animals include the hippo (40,000 inhabit the river systems), depleted numbers of the black rhino, large herds of buffalo (over 160,000), the area’s famous wild dogs, and 5,000 lions that patrol the Reserve. Also found here are Nyasaland Gnu, Brindled Gnu, Hartebeest, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Eland, Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Warthog, Zebras, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Leopard, and Cheetah, which are rare. There are over 350 species of birds, including African Snipe, Battler Eagle, Crested Lark, Green-headed Oriole, Knob-billed Duck, Herons, Kingfishers, Geese, and Southern Ground Hornbill. Reptiles such as crocodiles and various snakes and lizards are also found in Selous National Park.

Pros and Cons

• Top wildlife viewing in the dry season
• Guided walks and boat safaris available
• Lions are easily found at the lake shores
• One of the best places in East Africa to encounter wild dogs
• Excellent mid-range and luxury lodges and no large-scale accommodations
• Hunting concessions make animals skittish and more difficult to watch
• The wildlife viewing circuit is relatively small
• Animals are scattered during the wet season, and most lodges are closed from March to May

Wildlife
The Rufiji River is teeming with hippos and crocodiles, and the birdlife is fantastic. Lion sightings are very common as the opportunistic creatures tend to laze around the lakes waiting for animals coming to drink. One of the main attractions of the park is its large population of wild dogs.

Scenery
The part of Selous, north of the Rufiji River, open to the public, is particularly scenic. The main wildlife viewing circuit follows a string of 5 lakes connected to each other and the Rufiji River by small streams. The Rufiji is one of Africa’s great rivers, with palm-fringed channels and swampy islets.

Best Time to Visit:

June – September
Elephant and buffalo abound in dry riverbeds to the east of camp. Wild dogs start to den this time of year. Best time for walking safaris. Warm, comfortable days with cool nights. Dry.

October – November
Heavy concentrations of game around inland lakes and rivers. Elephants and buffalo are often seen wallowing in the water. Lions and leopards move close by, waiting for game to drink. Hyenas and wild dogs lie in the shallow water. Migrant birds start to arrive, and the trees start to sprout leaves. Crocodiles are at their most active, and the weather becomes dry and hot.

December – March
Miombo is in leaf, and pans have started to fill with water. Lots of elephants and general game in the woodland. Prolific birdlife, especially waders and water birds. Most animals calve, so there are lots of newborns and youngsters. Hot with the possibility of rain, and increasingly humid.

Activities

• Safari game drives within the park with 4×4 vehicles
• Boat safaris on the Great Rufiji River
• Guided walking safaris in selected areas
• Cultural tourism exploring Mloka village lifestyle
• Photographic activities

Properties:

• Selous Mapumziko Lodge
• Selous Ngalawa Camp
• Rufiji River Camp
• Selous Impala Camp
• Lake Manze
• Selous River Camp
• Selous Jimbiza Camp
• Selous Kinga Lodge
• Serena Camp
• Mivumo Camp
• Sand River
• Sable Mountain Lodge
• Selous Ndovu Lodge
• Azura Retreat Selous
• Beho Beho
• Zarafa Tented Camp
• Nje Bush Camp
• Roho ya Selous
• Selous Kulinda (formerly Selous Riverside Camp)
• Siwandu Camp (formerly Selous Safari Camp)