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4-DAY SELOUS GAME RESERVE SAFARI
BOAT, WALKING & DRIVE SAFARIS

4-Day Selous Wilderness Adventure

Explore Africa’s largest game reserve – the untamed Selous (now Nyerere National Park) – on this immersive 4-day safari combining river cruises, walking safaris, and classic game drives. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers Tanzania’s most diverse safari experience, with the mighty Rufiji River ecosystem supporting incredible concentrations of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and over 440 bird species.

Unlike crowded northern parks, Selous delivers exclusive wilderness encounters. Your days alternate between thrilling boat safaris past bathing elephants, walking safaris tracking wildlife on foot, and 4x4 drives through palm groves and miombo woodlands. With fewer than 20 lodges across 50,000km², you’ll experience Africa as the early explorers did.

Selous Game Reserve Elephants

Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Selous | Sunset Boat Safari

Morning: Scenic drive/flight from Dar es Salaam to Selous (drive takes ~5-6 hours; flight ~1 hour). Arrive at your riverside lodge by midday.

Afternoon: Sunset boat safari on the Rufiji River. Glide past hippo pods and crocodile-lined banks while elephants bathe in golden light. Return for dinner under the stars.

Day 2: Full Day Selous Exploration

Dawn: Walking safari with armed ranger – track wildlife on foot, learning bush skills and smaller ecosystems missed on drives.

Midday: Lunch at lodge followed by leisure time to swim or siesta during the heat.

Afternoon: 4x4 game drive through the Beho Beho sector, searching for Selous’ famous wild dogs and rare sable antelope.

Day 3: Rufiji River & Lakes | Full Day Adventure

All Day: Combined boat safari and lakeside game drives. Cruise to Lake Tagalala where lions hunt waterbuck along the shores. Picnic lunch on a sandbank.

Evening: Optional night drive (seasonal) to spot genet cats, civets, and hyenas on the hunt.

Day 4: Final Game Drive | Return to Dar

Morning: Last game drive through acacia woodlands – final chances to spot giraffes, zebras, and the reserve’s 4,000+ elephants.

Afternoon: Return to Dar es Salaam by road/air. Drop-off at your hotel or airport.

Selous Unique Experiences

  • Boat safaris – Get eye-level with bathing elephants and hippos
  • Walking safaris – Track wildlife on foot with expert guides
  • Wild dog haven – Selous has Africa’s largest population
  • Exclusive wilderness – Less than 1,000 visitors/year in most sectors
  • Birding paradise – Fish eagles, kingfishers, and migratory species