Tanzania : The Selous

The Selous is the largest and wildest game reserve in Africa with 54,600 square km of untamed bush and teeming with game. Its size and location means this remote and beautiful area hasn't opened up to tourism in the same way as much of the rest of Africa. The animals are not used to seeing many people and are therefore quite wild but you are seeing them in a totally natural and unspoilt environment. There are 2 camps which are set on the banks of the Rufiji River and you can view game by boat or vehicle but the best way is on foot with an armed professional guide who will teach you about the habitat and flora and fauna of this incredible wilderness. Elephant and giraffe are commonly seen as well as lion, kudu sable and wild-dog.

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sunset	game viewing	elephant

Quick links:
Selous Safari Camp	Beho Beho
Sand Rivers Lodge	Sable Mountain Lodge

Selous Safari Camp
Set on the banks of Lake Nzerekera, the camp is in the heart of the northern Selous Game Reserve, an area of the highest density of game in the park. Visitors can head off into the wilderness on foot, drift down river in a boat or watch the wildlife from the vantage point of a vehicle. For those who want to enjoy a real sense of timelessness you can spend the night far out in the African bush in a specially set up camp. Selous Safari Camp aims to offer visitors the experience of sleeping "under canvas" in the African bush but with all the comfort of a modern hotel. The 12 large tents are built on wooden platforms with verandas facing the water. Even from your bed the game viewing can be spectacular as animals come down to drink at the water's edge. A small swimming pool is the ideal place to cool off in the heat of the day.

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elephant	fly camping	pool

shower	sitting area	tented room

Sand Rivers Lodge
The site for Sand Rivers Selous was carefully chosen for its isolation, diversity of game, ecosystems and landscapes. The lodge is built entirely from local materials, with spectacular views over the magnificent Rufiji River.
Sand Rivers was renovated in 2007 and there are now 3 types of accommodation: four standard cottages, two suites and the Rhino House.
At Sand Rivers your days can be spent learning about the local flora and fauna with a guide on foot, or on a game drive. You can go game viewing from a boat on the Rufiji River or just relax around the pool. The Rufiji is home to a variety of fish, most common being catfish and tiger fish, the lodge has a small selection of rods and fishing tackle.
Fly camping is for those who want to explore deeper into the reserve, walking during the day and spending the nights camped in the bush along your route. This is called flycamping since accommodation is in cleverly designed mosquito-net tents that offer protection but give an uninterrupted panoramic view of the night sky from your soft linen pillow.

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flycamp	lounge	pool

standard bedroom	suite bedroom	suite pool

Beho Beho
Beho Beho is the first camp in the Northern sector of the Selous game reserve, its stone cottages, perched on the lower slopes of Namikwera Hills offer panoramic views over the Rufiji river flood plain and make best use of the cooling breeze.
Beho Beho has 8 individual very spacious and comfortable Bandas, (stone built and palm thatched cottages) ensuite with a dressing room and open air shower. The front of the banda is totally open and extends on to a spacious veranda which has a telescope so you can view the game on the plains below.
The main lodge is furnished in the style of a private house (it has been in the Bailey family for almost thirty years) but is open and breezy as it has very few walls. Shaded and protected by a huge palm thatched roof there is also a full sized billiards table, the Eagle's nest for private dining and lots of cosy nooks. There are several lookouts where breakfast and lunch are served and of course areas for dining under the stars. The lodge also has a pool for cooling down in the heat of the day.
Your guides will introduce to the local area which has much to offer. Game drives and walks are a speciality but you can also go on trips to natural hot springs, boating on the lakes or a trip to see Fredrick Courtney Selous grave which is only 3 miles from the lodge.

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Beho Beho	outside room	pool

bedroom	sitting room	view

Sable Mountain Lodge
Sable Mountain Lodge is located just outside Selous Game Reserve and is spread over two hillsides in the Beho Beho Mountains surrounded by forest. There are eight stone cottages and 4 luxury tented rooms, all with 24 hour solar powered lighting, spacious bathrooms and tremendous views of the Uluguru Mountains. On top of the hill is the restaurant, and 'the Cup'n'Bucket' bar and a new natural spring water swimming pool. There is a newly built tree house over looking a waterhole. After a short drive you will find yourself deep in the bush, in an area of riverine forest dominated by spectacular Sterculia trees, and home to Lions, buffalo, elephants, leopards, wild dogs and the rare Roosevelt sable antelope. While game drives will always provide a greater diversity of animals to view, foot safaris have the habit of producing the unexpected such as dens and resting nocturnal animals. To explore deep into the Selous you will take a picnic lunch and stay out for most of the day but there are shorter drives nearer to the lodge. Boat trips on Lake Tagalala are also very rewarding.
Sable Mountain though out of the park has plenty of resident game in the area and is unusual in the Selous for it s lovely views over the forest. It is also very close to the rail way line if you wish to arrive by train.

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cottage	pool	tented room