SELOUS GAME RESERVE/NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
The most varied safari experience in the south and in the country, is in the enormous, 50,000 square-kilometre Selous Game Reserve, which has been renamed Nyerere National Park (almost twice the size of Belgium and two and a half larger than the famous Serengeti in the North), making it the largest game reserves and one of the largest remaining wilderness areas in Africa. About 10% of the northern part of the reserve is used for photographic safari and hence where our focus is, as the rest of the reserve is occupied by hunting safari operators, which we do not engage with. The landscape here has remained almost as it was before tourism began and the massive park has only a few accommodation options and low visitor numbers, which creates a more authentic experience than safaris in the northern circuit.
How to get there
The best way to access them is by flying in from Dar es salaam or Zanzibar (via Dar es Salaam) in a light aircraft, landing on a bush strip, and being collected by the lodge. Flights are from US$150 per person each way. It is also possible to arrange drive-in safaris from Dar-es-Salaam, but we do recommend to fly, as the drive can take anything between 5 - 8 hours, depending on the road conditions.
Flora and Fauna
The reserve contains a great diversity of vegetation types, including rocky acacia-clad hills, gallery and ground water forests, swamps and lowland rain forest. The dominant vegetation of the reserve is deciduous Miombo woodlands and constitutes a globally important example of this vegetation type. Because of this fire-climax vegetation, soils are subject to erosion when there are heavy rains. The result is a network of normally dry rivers of sand that become raging torrents during the rains; these sand rivers are one of the most unique features of the Selous/Nyerere landscape. Large parts of the wooded grasslands of the northern Selous/Nyerere are seasonally flooded by the rising water of the Rufiji River, creating a very dynamic ecosystem. The reserve has a higher density and diversity of species than any other Miombo woodland area: more than 2,100 plants have been recorded and more are thought to exist in the remote forests in the south.
Similarly, the property protects an impressive large mammal fauna; it contains globally significant populations of African elephant, black rhinoceros, and an estimated 1,300 of the worlds’ roughly 4,000 remaining rare wild dogs, giving guests an opportunity to glimpse all of these exotic animals in true unspoilt wilderness. It also includes one of the world's largest known populations of hippopotamus (18,200) and buffalo (204,015). There are also important populations of ungulates including sable antelope (7000), Lichtenstein's hartebeest (52,150), greater kudu, eland and Nyassa wildebeest (80,815). In addition, there is a large number of Nile crocodile and 350 species of birds, including the endemic Udzungwa forest partridge and the rufous winged sunbird.
Activities
The extremely varied landscapes offer a greater range of ways to enjoy the wildlife than any other area in Tanzania, with walking safaris, vehicle safaris and boat safaris.
A safari to the Selous/Nyerere can also be combined with a trip to Ruaha National Park, another little-visited gem. To visit the Selous/Nyerere there are two types of camp. Those inside the reserve itself, and those just outside.
Should I stay inside or outside the reserve?
Lodges and camps inside are more expensive but better appointed and better located for access to prime game-viewing as you eat and sleep in the heart of park, amongst the wildlife. Literally.
Your vehicle safaris are conducted in the lodge game viewers by a lodge guide and are either shared with other guests, or you can pay a supplement to have private use of a vehicle and guide. You are right in the reserve, animals wander through the camps frequently, and you do not have to go through the main gate twice a day.
Those outside the reserve are of varying quality and size, but can be cost-effective for those with a smaller budget, but still allow guests to fly in and get a decent sense of adventure.
How to get there
The best way to access them is by flying in from Dar es salaam or Zanzibar (via Dar es Salaam) in a light aircraft, landing on a bush strip, and being collected by the lodge. Flights are from US$150 per person each way. It is also possible to arrange drive-in safaris from Dar-es-Salaam, but we do recommend to fly, as the drive can take anything between 5 - 8 hours, depending on the road conditions.
Flora and Fauna
The reserve contains a great diversity of vegetation types, including rocky acacia-clad hills, gallery and ground water forests, swamps and lowland rain forest. The dominant vegetation of the reserve is deciduous Miombo woodlands and constitutes a globally important example of this vegetation type. Because of this fire-climax vegetation, soils are subject to erosion when there are heavy rains. The result is a network of normally dry rivers of sand that become raging torrents during the rains; these sand rivers are one of the most unique features of the Selous/Nyerere landscape. Large parts of the wooded grasslands of the northern Selous/Nyerere are seasonally flooded by the rising water of the Rufiji River, creating a very dynamic ecosystem. The reserve has a higher density and diversity of species than any other Miombo woodland area: more than 2,100 plants have been recorded and more are thought to exist in the remote forests in the south.
Similarly, the property protects an impressive large mammal fauna; it contains globally significant populations of African elephant, black rhinoceros, and an estimated 1,300 of the worlds’ roughly 4,000 remaining rare wild dogs, giving guests an opportunity to glimpse all of these exotic animals in true unspoilt wilderness. It also includes one of the world's largest known populations of hippopotamus (18,200) and buffalo (204,015). There are also important populations of ungulates including sable antelope (7000), Lichtenstein's hartebeest (52,150), greater kudu, eland and Nyassa wildebeest (80,815). In addition, there is a large number of Nile crocodile and 350 species of birds, including the endemic Udzungwa forest partridge and the rufous winged sunbird.
Activities
The extremely varied landscapes offer a greater range of ways to enjoy the wildlife than any other area in Tanzania, with walking safaris, vehicle safaris and boat safaris.
A safari to the Selous/Nyerere can also be combined with a trip to Ruaha National Park, another little-visited gem. To visit the Selous/Nyerere there are two types of camp. Those inside the reserve itself, and those just outside.
Should I stay inside or outside the reserve?
Lodges and camps inside are more expensive but better appointed and better located for access to prime game-viewing as you eat and sleep in the heart of park, amongst the wildlife. Literally.
Your vehicle safaris are conducted in the lodge game viewers by a lodge guide and are either shared with other guests, or you can pay a supplement to have private use of a vehicle and guide. You are right in the reserve, animals wander through the camps frequently, and you do not have to go through the main gate twice a day.
Those outside the reserve are of varying quality and size, but can be cost-effective for those with a smaller budget, but still allow guests to fly in and get a decent sense of adventure.
where to stay
From our many visits to Selous/Nyerere, we have first-hand knowledge of the lodges and below you can find the ones we most commonly use. Those lodges include mainly our favourites sorted from low-key to deluxe, which are usually smaller lodges with very personalised service, but also some bigger ones, if they are the best or only option available in a certain area or price segment.
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outside the park |
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SELOUS JIMBIZA CAMP
A very simple but clean camp that offers accommodation in chalets and safari tents and has fantastic views of the Rufiji River.
SELOUS WILDERNESS CAMP
Another rather simple but colourful camp, located right on the banks of the Rufiji River.
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inside the park |
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RUFIJI RIVER CAMP
LAKE MANZE TENTED CAMP
SELOUS SERENA CAMP
MIVUMO RIVER CAMP
SIWANDU
ROHO YA SELOUS
SAND RIVER SELOUS
BEHO BEHO
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