You may have already heard of Kruger National Park, Maasai Mara, and the Serengeti. Yet hidden among these popular wildlife sanctuaries is one of Africa's largest, the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania.
Drawing less attention due to its remote location in Southern Tanzania, lack of accessibility, and being completely off the ordinary path of many travelers, the Selous Game Reserve attracts a small adventurous crowd that is fully rewarded for making the extra trip.
My Experience
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Selous with a few family members and relatives who came to Tanzania for a visit.
Throughout my eight years as a resident in Kenya, I had the opportunity to go on numerous safaris at various reserves across East Africa. Selous was different, an environment that was less developed. It provided that feeling of truly being in the African wild.
For travelers seeking authentic Tanzania safari tours, the Selous Game Reserve has opportunities for boat safaris, walking excursions, and traditional game drives that are far from the crowds.
Getting There
We started the trip in Dar Es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania, and made the five-hour bumpy journey by safari truck to the entrance of the reserve. The drive on the dirt road to get there is only possible during the dry season (June to November), another reason why the park is so isolated.
Visiting Selous doesn't come cheap, due to its remote location and limited options for transportation and accommodation.
Yet, even though it can be pricy, there are some ways to save on a safari, like driving yourself, visiting in the low season, and adventurously pitching your own tent at a campground like Beho Beho Bridge.
After arriving in the late afternoon, we settled into our tented camp, located on the banks of the mighty Rufiji River.
Rivers in Africa differ from those in other parts of the world. You don't just take a quick dip in the water. A leisurely swim in a river could make you the next snack for a hippo or crocodile.
Boat Ride
We boarded a small, metal boat that felt like it was made of tin foil and set off to view the gorgeous sunset from the middle of the Rufiji River.
In the distance, I could see air bubbles rising to the surface of the water from hippos. And the guide pointed out a few crocs basking in the final evening rays of the sun.
Before getting into the boat, I already knew that the roly-poly hippopotamus was one of the biggest human killers in Africa. Play it wrong, and a hippo can effortlessly capsize your boat.
While we gazed into the unadulterated sunset, the guide suddenly jumped and frantically powered up the tiny outboard motor. There was a territorial hippo bull on our trail.
I started to sweat, contemplating what we would do if a giant beast came up in the middle of our boat and tossed us to our deaths in the swirling, muddy, hippo-infested waters.
I could see the boat driver panting, but covering it up with a calm smile. He drove the boat in a zigzag, reassuring me that hippos get confused by the random motions. After escaping the adrenaline-filled hippo boat ride, I was happy to be back on solid ground.
Game Drives
We spent the next day cruising around the park, seeing an abundance of wildlife, without being surrounded by other tourists (as is the case in Serengeti).
We had the privilege of seeing lions, giraffes, elephants, and buffalo up close and personal, with views that allowed us to look into their eyes and even see the twitching of their skin.
Facts About the Selous Game Reserve
- It's a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Africa's largest conservation wildlife reserve, covering approximately 5% of Tanzania.
- Huge populations of elephant, wild dog, hippo, lion, and buffalo.
- Bird viewing sanctuary.
- Incredible reserve for walking and boat safaris.
If you ever have the chance to visit Tanzania, a safari to Selous Game Reserve is an adventure worth the effort.
