Selous Game Reserve

The Selous game reserve is the largest game reserve in Africa (50,000 sq.km) and one of the largest in the world. This was Coastal’s first destination and remains one of the most popular for flying safaris. This is a rough territory, long distances, and frequently flooded roads. The Rufiji River and its tributaries form a large network of lakes and rivers, making it ideal for boat safaris and for observing wildlife from a different perspective.

How to get here:

Fly to the Selous Game Reserve The best way to get to the Selous Game Reserve is to fly. The two main airstrips for the Selous Game Reserve are Siwandu and Mtemere (also sometimes called Selous Lower). Both have scheduled flights arriving and departing daily, including from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha. They are right in the game reserve and it won’t take long from your airstrip to reach your accommodation.
Drive from Dar es Salaam To Kibiti Other best way to get to the Selous Game Reserve is to Transfers from Dar es Salaam Airport

Main Attractions

Wild dogs in the Selous Game Reserve

A chance to meet these incredibly successful predators is a good reason to come to the Selous. Although not seen every day, they are regularly spotted and once they have been spotted by one lucky vehicle, others have an easy job to find them as they usually rest during the day.

Boat cruise in the Selous Game Reserve

Don’t miss out on a boat cruise in the Selous. Getting close to the many hippos and crocs as well as seeing the huge variety of waterbirds is a relaxing and different way to go on safari. Other animals come to the shores for a drink. If you do an evening boat cruise, don’t forget to bring a drink for yourself and enjoy a peaceful sundowner whilst the African sun provides the most spectacular sunset.

Going on a walking safari in the Selous Game Reserve

As the Selous is not a national park, guided walks are an option here. All lodges offer them and you will go out with an armed ranger. The chance of spotting animals is high, including elephant or other bigger animals. It makes walking safaris in the Selous very exciting.

Bird watching in the Selous Game Reserve

Bird watchers can spot many of the hundreds of species that call the Selous home, including water lovers such as the Pel’s fishing owl, the African skimmer, white-backed night-heron, black heron white-headed lapwing, and the African spoonbill.

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Information for visitors

How To Get There ?

Fly to the Selous Game Reserve

The best way to get to the Selous Game Reserve is to fly. The two main airstrips for the Selous Game Reserve are Siwandu and Mtemere (also sometimes called Selous Lower). Both have scheduled flights arriving and departing daily, including from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Arusha. They are right in the game reserve and it won’t take long from your airstrip to reach your accommodation.

Drive to the Selous Game Reserve

It is possible to drive to the Selous Game Reserve, but this takes nearly a full day and some of it is on rough tracks.

Best Time To Visit

The cool, dry months of spring from June to October and the hot and dry summer months of December to February are the best times to visit.

High season

For wildlife viewing the dry season from June to October is best, but the period from November to March also still gives plenty of options to see a huge variety of wildlife. Depending on the rains the Selous might either be very wet during this time, and boat trips are the best way to get around, or it is very dry and a lot of animals can be seen around the remaining water sources.

Low season

Most camps close for the long rains in April and May, opening up again in June.

Best time to see the wild dogs in the Selous Game Reserve

Although the wild dogs are also seen regularly in other times of the year, it is easiest to locate them during their denning period from June to August. This time they will not roam too far from the den and the area to search for them is smaller. This is no guarantee to see them, but it definitely increases your chances.

Best time to see birds in the Selous Game Reserve

The Selous is an excellent birding destination with more than 440 bird species recorded in the area. From November to April migrant birds are also around and the resident birds mate and nest during this time. You will see many in their colorful breeding plumage.

From December to February the colorful northern carmine bee-eaters are in the Selous Game Reserve and if there has been enough rain they will swoop around your safari vehicle as it drives through the grass. Picking up the insects disturbed by the vehicle straight from the air. A truly remarkable and aerobatic sight.

Popular Activities

The Selous Game Reserve is a spectacular piece of nature with lots of rivers, creeks, lakes, and other waterways surrounding the bush. Its main attractions are:
- The chance to see the wild dog, also sometimes called the African painted dog
- Going for a boat safari on one of the many lakes and waterways
- Taking things slowly and more intimate on a walking safari
- Great bird watching with many waterbirds and migrants at different times

The 1982 hit song ‘Africa’ by Toto features the lyrics ‘Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus over the Serengeti’. As Mount Kilimanjaro is over 200 miles away, it would actually be difficult to see whilst on safari in the Serengeti!
Parts of Taylor Swift’s ‘Wildest Dreams’ music video were filmed in the Serengeti.
The Serengeti National Park is large, it is half the size of Belgium or Lesotho.

Are You Aware?

- Stiegler’s Gorge is named after a Swiss explorer who was killed by an elephant in 1907. It is 100 meters high, 100 meters wide, and 8 kilometers long. It is possible to visit on a boat cruise from some of the lodges and is a truly spectacular sight.

- Your best chance to see a lion kill a prey during the day is in the Selous as many of the lions just sleep and wait near a water source. Striking when the opportunity arises.