Selous Game Reserve Verified listing

Selous Game Reserve

Hermann Von Wissmann started the Selous Game Reserve in 1896. He was a German who served as Tanganyika's governor then. Later in 1905, Selous was made a hunting reserve and was given the name Selous Game Reserve in 1922. They gave the reserve that name to honor Frederic Courtney Selous, a hunter, and friend of Cecil Rodes, who a German sniper shot dead in 1917. His remains were buried in Beho Beho Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wildlife found in Selous Game Reserve

The wildlife in Selous is among the best if you compare it with other parks in Tanzania. 

• Hippos(40,000), Buffalos(150,000), Zebras(35,000), Wildebeest(100,000), and Lions(4000) 

With that large herd of animals, predators like leopards, crocodiles, and hyenas hang around to search for prey. Additionally, 50% of African wild dogs live in Selous Park. Puku antelopes, black rhinos, more than 440 species of birds, and sable, also inhabit Selous.

How to Get To Selous Game Reserve

The easiest ways to Selous are by Air, Train, or Road. 

• By Air - 45minutes if you opt from the Dar Es Salaam route
• By Air - 90 minutes if you opt for the Ruaha route
• By Car - 4 - 6 hours, the advantage of going by road is the breathtaking scene passing through the Mikumi National Park
• By train. The ideal train line is TAZARA which uses the Dar Es Salaam, Zambia route. Here you meet with wildlife on your way, making the trip memorable.

Best Time To Visit Selous

June to October 

• Dry season in Tanzania, and most wildlife flock to the park to search for food. 
• For bird watching, mid-December to March is the perfect season. 
• The Denning period is June to August for those who want to see the wild dog. 
• Rainy seasons, mostly occur in October to December.

Activities You Can Do in Selous

• Walking, Hot air balloons, River rafting safaris, Game drives, Fishing, and Bird watching.
• Alternatively, you can watch the hippos and crocodiles as they chill, waiting to catch their prey.

Accommodation Available

The park has lodges everywhere. Some eco-hotels bring out the African bush experience. Congestion is not allowed; thus, you can’t get more than 300 visitors in a 50,000-square-kilometer radius in Selous Park.

Cheaper Options

There are cheaper options you can consider. These are;

Selous Kulinda Camp: It is close to the river and has around fourteen tents, a pool, and a dining deck. 

Lake Manze Tented Camp: It is next to the lake and has twelve tents.

Mid-range Lodges

The mid-range lodges available are;

Rufiji River Camp: Around the Rufiji River Camp It has 14 tents and suites.

Selous Impala: The amenities are good, and it offers a fly camping option to its visitors.

Luxury Accommodation

Here are some of the high-end accommodations available in Selous.

Siwandu: It is close to Lake Siwanda. It has ten luxurious tents and a pool.

Roho ya Selous: Roho is a Swahili name meaning heart, has eight tents plus a pool.

Beho Beho: It is one of the oldest in the Selous game reserve. It doesn’t have any tents but huts.

Kiba Point: It is a fantastic lodge with four different rooms, and each has a pool.

Sand Rivers: It has eight cottages, making it a perfect place to enjoy privacy.