Experience Selous Game Reserve Safari in Tanzania At Least Once
Many years after I considered volunteering for a UN mission in Africa, I was scrolling the internet when something caught my eye. It was an article about a Selous Game Reserve safari in Tanzania.
Naturally, I began to plan our holiday in Zanzibar, including a detour to mainland Tanzania for the safari.
Visiting the reserve is one of the best things to do in the country, whether you go there for a short holiday or spend three weeks in Tanzania. The other must-do is climbing Kilimanjaro. We haven’t done it…yet:).
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Table of Contents
- Top things to see and do at Selous Game Reserve Safari in Tanzania
- Where to stay in Selous Game Reserve Safari Tanzania
- Tips and tricks you need to have in mind when visiting Selous Game Reserve Safari Tanzania
- Similar Articles
Top things to see and do at Selous Game Reserve Safari in Tanzania
Africa and this place, in particular, will always hold a special part in my heart. The locals were hospitable, and nature was beautiful. Moreover, being a few inches away from a wild animal is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When you plan your holiday, be advised to pack accordingly. Check out what to wear on safari, or you might regret it.
We flew in from Zanzibar on a tiny plane, with the pilot and passengers in the same compartment. It was a kind of minivan with wings:)).
Landing on a dirt strip in the middle of the nature reserve was already an experience to remember.
Once there, you can do a few other things before the safari proper.
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Do a boat safari on the Rufiji River
Just floating on the lazy African river was something special in itself. Playful monkeys followed us from the river bank while exotic birds eyed us curiously. We saw other animals, too, including baby crocodiles. Luckily, their mama wasn’t around to greet us.
Yet, watching a herd of hippos enjoying the water feet away from us was the highlight of the trip. We floated there for minutes in dead silence, observing the chunky creatures in their natural habitat. It was WOW!
Take a village tour
It doesn’t get more authentic than visiting an African village 5 hours from the nearest city. Located in the middle of a vast nature reserve, the place is pretty isolated from outside influence.
We strolled the alleys and visited the local market and school. Being the foodies we are, we couldn’t leave without tasting the local dried fish.
Lastly, we browsed for souvenirs in a Masai store.
The Jewel of the Crown: The Safari Game Drive
The Safari Game drive is the very reason you got here in the first place. Be prepared for the experience of your life!
The adventure began very early the following morning (around 6 a.m.). It gets insufferably hot by lunchtime, and even the wild animals are hiding at that time of the day.
Read next: What to pack for Zanzibar
The national park covers a total area of 54,600 km2 (21,100 sq mi). In an open 4X4 Land Cruiser, we explored only a tiny part of it. However, we were lucky to meet all its famous inhabitants, from lions to elephants.
Coffee Break with Lake View
After a while, we stopped for a coffee break next to a lake.
While we savored our drinks on the jeep’s hud, herds of zebras, giraffes, and antelopes made an entrance. They came to drink from the lake.
A dozen meters from them, a pair of lions sated their thirst ever vigilant for an opportunity to grab something for lunch.
I tried to approach to take some pictures, but the guide immediately stopped me. He pointed out a group of crocodiles just under the water’s surface, waiting for their chance. I love taking pictures, but becoming a crocodile’s snack is not my kind of fun.
Above us, perched on the top of a tree, a bird of prey called out. We were told it was communicating, but to us, it sounded like it was laughing at us.
The Lions
Once we had our coffee and banana cake, we hopped in the car. The driver took us straight into the bush, where a group of lions lazed in the shade.
He stopped the engine, and everything went silent. We just sat in the open car (no doors or windows), surrounded by lions a dozen feet from us.
Mixed thoughts run through my mind. I experienced the entire spectrum of emotions, from fear and excitement to admiration and anxiety. At some point, when one of the large predators approached us, I was tempted to yell at the driver. “Start the engine, man!”
Whether you like animals or not, It is the kind of experience you’ll never forget.
Meeting the Elephant
Later, we met a whole range of majestic creatures, but the most exciting elephant story happened at the accommodation.
The camp had a restaurant and several cottages where the guests were accommodated. An electric fence circled the entire place to keep the wild animals out.
The rooms were super comfy and designed by combining traditional and modern elements. However, being in the middle of the wilds, the electricity was provided by a couple of gas-fueled generators. To save on fuel, these were deactivated during the night.
You can’t imagine darkness until you experience it miles away from any artificial light source. I mean, it was so dark I couldn’t tell the difference between having my eyes closed or open.
Imagine being awoken by growling and grating noises while you are totally blinded by pitch darkness. I was terrified, so I woke up Alex, urging him to check out the source. Initially reluctant, he somehow felt his way to the door and cracked it open for a peek.
All he could see was the shape of a massive elephant against the backdrop of the starry sky. The creature was so close that he blocked the exit—it was literally at arm’s length. We shut the door and hid in the bed, hoping the elephant wouldn’t barge in. After a while, we fell asleep.
In the morning, we found out that our midnight guest barged into the camp after ransacking a section of the fence. I can’t judge him; I would also be displeased if someone would invade my territory. Anyway, it left when we woke up, so we couldn’t say hello.
Where to stay in Selous Game Reserve Safari Tanzania
Since we bought the whole package from a travel agency, we got the hotel in Zanzibar and the accommodation in reserve from the same provider, Africa Safari Camp.
However, there are other places to choose from.
Prices might be high if you go there directly, but with a little bit of planning, you can find a good offer and choose from luxury hotels, lodges, tents, and campsites.
Tips and tricks you need to have in mind when visiting Selous Game Reserve Safari Tanzania
- Be careful what you wear: it might be hot outside but there are all kinds of insects and plants that might harm you, therefore be sure to have thin clothes that would cover most of your body. Closed shoes are also recommended.
- Bring high sunscreen protection – I chose 50 SPF especially for the hands and face
- Choose to cover your head with something, to avoid sunstroke
- Bring bathing suits, most of the hotels have swimming pools
- Don’t expect high-speed internet, after all, you are in the middle of nowhere
- Respect nature and don’t throw anything in the park, don’t call animals and don’t try to feed them either and most important of all respect the requests your travel guide has (he has been there longer than you and is trained for this job)
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This sounds amazing! Going on safari has been at the top of my bucket list for as long as I can remember. It’s so cool how close you can get to the animals, and the elephants coming up to your cottage sounds amazing!
I’d love to go on a safari one day! Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂 Xx, Eleonore
Great post! You make me want to go on Safari! I also really have to visit Africa. I loved the tips and tricks you shared too. Thank you so much.
Such a lovely post, I would love to go on safari one day – though admittedly, it’s not the first thing on my list. I wouldn’t say no to having coffee and watching zebras while being laughed at by vultures 😀 that sounds like way too much fun! If I may ask, was this an affordable experience? I’ve always thought of safaris as super expensive to be honest.
Well you are right, these kind of experiences could get really pricey, but since we had bought the whole holiday throughout one travel agency we managed to get a really affordable price, much less than what it would have costed directly on location