Much of Selous is covered by miombo woodland and grass plains.
It has a strong elephant population, and a mixed wildlife including
classic safari animals such as lions, hyaenas, giraffes, zebras,
wildebeest, African buffalos and antelopes, for example Lichtenstein's
hartebeest and greater kudu. The beautiful sable antelope can
be found in the mountains on the northern park border.
African wild dogs
Selous is, together with Mikumi
and Ruaha, one of few areas in East Africa where you have a
fair chance to see the African wild dog. The park also has a
long bird list. Among the species we have seen are ostrich,
turacos, hornbills, carmine bee-eater and broad-billed roller.
Bush walks and night safaris
Selous is a game reserve,
which means that the park rules are less strict than in a national
parks. This allows for activities such as bush walks, game viewing
from boats on the Rufiji River, night game drives and even fishing
in the river.
Most of Selous south of the Rufiji River consists of concessions
open for controlled hunting. Hunting is not an option during
a normal tourist visit to the park, though; hunting requires
special permits, special safaris etc.
One concession, Lukula, in the southmost part of the park offers
photographic safaris. This is a scenic area where very few safari
tourists even come.
The southern circuit
The southern circuit, i.e. the
safari region in central/southern Tanzania, is situated in a
transition zone between two main vegetation zones: the acacia
zone to the north and the miombo zone to the south. Animal and
plant species from both zones may occur here, which means that
you may see species not found further north, for example in
Serengeti or Ngorongoro
in northern Tanzania or in Kenya.
Lodges and camps
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 Sable
Mountain Lodge is just outside the border of northern Selous. It's a
smallish lodge spread over a fairly large area on a hillside facing the
Uluguru Mountains to the north. The rooms are in stone bungalows and offer
fine views. The lodge has a swimming pool and a waterhole.
More about Sable Mountain Lodge
Web site: www.selouslodge.com
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 Sand
Rivers Selous is a small lodge with stone and thatch cottages, set next to the Rufiji River
and offering good quality. It has five spacious standard rooms, two suites with private plunge pools,
and a one-bedroom private house with private dining area, pool, bar, and private safari vehicle
with driver. There is a dining area, a swimming pool and overall high standard. The activities include
game drives, bush walks, fly camping, boat safaris and fishing.
Web site: www.sand-rivers-selous.com
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 Selous
Wilderness Camp is a new tented camp, opened in 2009, situated south of the Rufijij River outside
of eastern Selous Game Reserve. Acess to the camp is by boat from the northern shore of the river.
Selous Wilderness Camp has seven tents with ceiling fan and outdoor shower, a mess tent and a swimming
poool.
Web site: www.moivaro.com
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Selous Riverside Safari Camp is a good tented camp set by the Rufiji River just east of Selous,
outside the Mtemere Gate. It has ten tents with ensuite bathrooms and interiors in a fairly contemporary
safari style. There is a dining area and a swimming pool. The camp offers game drives, boat safaris,
bush walks and balloon safaris.
Web site: www.selousriversidecamp.com
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The Retreat is a luxury lodge in the remote south-western part of northern Selous, set on
a small hill along the Great Ruaha River and built around a fort. The lodge has six spacious tents
on the hill, and four luxury suites by the river. A river hideaway has two more tented suites with
private plunge pools, a swimming pool, and private staff, vehicle and boat. The lodge has a restaurant,
a swimming pool, an outdoor spa, and safari activities such as game drives, boat safaris, bush walks,
fly camping and fishing.
More about The Retreat
Web site: www.retreatsafaris.ch
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Rufiji River Camp is situated by the Rufiji River just inside the park border of north-eastern
Selous. It's a fairly small camp that has some 20 tents, a restaurant and a bar. The standard is
good tourist class.
More about Rufiji River Camp
Web site: www.rufijirivercamp.com
Selous Impala Camp is a small tented camp by the Rufiji River, offering
good quality, quiet atmosphere and a swimming pool. There are eight tents
with ensuite bathroom. The safari activities include game driving, bush
walks and fly camping (overnight stays in small tents out in the bush).
The camp also has basic fishing equipment.
Web site: www.adventurecamps.co.tz
Selous Safari Camp is a high quality tented camp set by Lake Nzerakera,
some 5 km/3 mi from the Rufiji River. It has nine spacious tents built on
platforms. All have ensuite bathroom and elegant old style interiors. The
camp has a swimming pool and offers various safari activities, including
game drives, boat tours, bush walks and fly camping.
Web site: www.selous.com
Selous Private Camp is a sister camp to Selous Safari Camp, situated
in the same area and facing Lake Nzerakera. It has four luxury tents with
ceiling fans and two verandas, swimming pool, and lounging and dining area.
The camp offers game drives, river safaris, bush walks, fly camping and
fishing.
Web site: www.selous.com
Lake Manze Tented Camp is a new camp situated on the shore of Lake
Manze. These are good surroundings for game viewing, although somewhat off
from the Rufiji River. The camp has 12 basic safari tents with ensuite bathrooms.
While most other camps in the area draw towards luxury, Lake Manze Tented
Camp draws towards a campfire safari atmosphere. The safari activities include
game drives, bush walks, boat safaris on the lake and fishing.
Web site: www.adventurecamps.co.tz
Kiba Point is a luxury private lodge set by the Rufiji River, and is a sister lodge to Sand
Rivers. It has four very spacious, light and stylish villas with private plunge pools and river
views, and is suitable for private groups of up to eight persons.
Web site: www.sand-rivers-selous.com
Beho Beho is, unlike most other lodges and camps in Selous, built
on a hillside in a good game area, inland from the Rufiji River and the
lakes. It is a high standard lodge with eight stone and thatch bungalows
with ensuite bathrooms and two verandas. There is a dining area and a swimming
pool. The lodge offers game walks, boat safaris, bush walks and fly camping,
and has a reputation for employing good guides.
Web site: www.behobeho.com
Mivumo Lodge is set by the Rufiji River in view of Stiegler's Gorge
(100 m/330 ft deep and wide). There are twelve rooms with ensuite bathroom,
air conditioning, satellite television, private sundeck and plunge pool.
The lodge has a restaurant, a library, an infinity swimming pool, and offers
game drives, boat safaris and bush walks.
Web site: www.malalaluxurylodges.com
Selous Wildlife Lodge is a tented lodge by the Simbazi River in the
south-western part of northern Selous. It has 12 permanently pitched tents
with ensuite bathrooms. The safari activities include offers game drives,
boat safaris and bush walks.
Web site: www.malalaluxurylodges.com
Selous Mbega Camp is a basic or budget lodge situated by the Rufiji
River just east of Selous, outside the Mtemere Gate. The camp has 12 tents
with ensuite bathrooms, and two stone bungalows. The lodge offers game drives
and bush walks.
Web site: www.selous-mbega-camp.com
Lukula Selous Camp is a camp in Lukula Selous, a 1,200 km2/470 sq
mi private photographic sanctuary in the park. Only one group of maximum
eight guests is allowed to stay in the sanctuary at a time. The camp is
a mobile tented camp, pitched in a scenic area on the banks of the Luwegu
River for dry seasons from July to November only. There are four tents with
stylish interiors and ensuite bathrooms with flush toilets, solar power
and a mess tent. The main safari activities are game drives, bush walks
and canoe safaris.
Web site: www.selousproject.com
Mbuyu Safari Camp is situated between Lake Manze and Lake Nzerakera
north of the Rufiji River. The camp has been in disrepair, but is meant
to reopen after renovations.
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