Selous Safaris: Boat Safaris
Glide through the waterways, enjoying close-up views of a vast array of vibrant birds and wildlife.
Boat Safaris
Nyerere National Park is one of the very few places in Africa where it's possible to view wildlife from the water. After the dusty and bumpy roads of a game drive, there's nothing more relaxing that drifting along the river serenely, watching the wildlife and the changing light on the water.
A boat safari is not only an opportunity to observe wildlife from a different perspective but also a chance to soak in the tranquility of the natural surroundings. Towering ebony, baobab and mahogany trees line the riverbanks, their foliage providing a habitat for various creatures, both large and small.
Selous River Camp offers four different types of boat safari:
A sunset / dawn boat safari outside the National Park, or you can choose to go inside the park and enjoy a half day boat safari, full day boat safari, or the ultimate safari expedition: The Slow Selous.
Short Boat Safari (dawn or sunset)
USD 45 per person
Departs camp at 7:00am or 4:00pm, 2 hours safari
Outside Nyerere National Park (no park fees)
This short boat safari along the Rufiji River is ideal for spotting Hippos, Crocodiles and plentiful different bird species (including commonly the African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Goliath Heron, African Skimmer and Boehm's Bee-Eater ... as well as many more). You may spy Monkeys (Blue Monkey, Savannah Baboon and Black and White Colobus Monkey) crashing and leaping between branches in the trees along the banks of the river, as well as Nile Monitor Lizards basking in the sunshine. At sunset you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a cool drink on a sandbank. Watching the sky’s colours intensify as the sun dips below the horizon, surrounded by the calls of birdlife and honking hippos can be a magical end to the day.
Read on for Half Day Boat Safari …
Half Day Boat Safari
USD 75 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 6:30am or 1:00pm, 4-5 hours safari
Inside Nyerere National Park
A half day boat safari is ideal if you don’t want to spend much time out on the water, but would like the chance of seeing more wildlife than is possible on a short boat safari. Departing from camp either at dawn or after an early lunch, you’ll spend 5 hours exploring the Rufiji River and discovering its wildlife.
You’ll see plentiful birdlife flitting among the vegetation and birds of prey soaring above, semi-submerged pods of grunting hippos and golden-green crocodiles lazing on the shores. Perhaps you’ll enjoy watching a tower of giraffes (yes, that’s what they’re collectively called!) daintily tip-toe through the shallows, see impala or waterbuck carefully drinking from the edges of a lake, or be stared down by a majestic greater kudu. If you’re lucky, you may get to experience sightings of raucous Elephants bathing or crossing the river in front of your boat - an unforgettable experience.
Read on for Full Day Boat Safari…
Full Day Boat Safari
USD 110 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 10:00am, 7-8 hours safari
Inside Nyerere National Park
The Selous is renowned for its serene lakes and the vast Rufiji River, and a full day gives you the opportunity for a more in depth exploration than a half day boat safari. You’ll glide gently along the meandering water while your skilled boat guide shares their knowledge, adding depth to the experience by pointing out the myriad of birdlife along the riverbanks. Graceful herons and storks stand tall, while colourful kingfishers and bee-eaters dart with astonishing agility to catch their prey.
With more time out on the water comes greater chances of encountering more varied wildlife - perhaps elephants coming to quench their thirst, a big cat strolling languidly along the water’s edge or a crocodile hunting their prey. Every sighting offers an intimate glimpse into the complex dynamics of life in the Selous. It's a chance to witness the harmony of life on the riverbanks, where each creature plays a crucial role in the delicate balance of this pristine ecosystem.
As the sun begins its descent, painting the sky with vibrant hues, the boat safari culminates with a stop off on a sandbank to enjoy the dramatic sunset - often a picture-perfect moment that lingers in your memory long after the safari concludes.
Read on for The Slow Selous…
“The Slow Selous”
USD 145 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 6:30am, 11-12 hours safari.
Inside Nyerere National Park
New, and unique to Selous River Camp. The best of the Selous in a day without rush. Subject to availability.
The Slow Selous is something truly special. A day combining both a half day game drive and a half day boat safari. Starting on land, your safari vehicle sets out early in the morning, accompanied by a dawn chorus of wildlife. This is a time when predators are still highly active and the light is beautiful. The morning is spent exploring the inland areas of the Selous, weaving your way along bush tracks, discovering flora and fauna and enjoying the changing bush scenery. Perhaps you’ll come across a leopard feasting on a kill, be amazed by an impala’s high flying leaps over vegetation or watch hyenas and vultures fighting over a carcass.
During the hottest part of the day, when the sun is high in the sky and the animals are least active, your guide will park under a large shady tree and set up table and chairs for you. Here you can relax and enjoy some lunch. Awe-inspiring landscapes form the perfect backdrop for this opportunity to truly slow down and take in your surroundings.
After lunch, you’ll meet your boat and step aboard for a boat safari - a lazy meander back to camp, flowing with the river past countless hippos bobbing in the shallows or submerging themselves, revealing only their nostrils above the waterline and crocodiles soaking up the sun. Perhaps you’ll see elephants or buffalo bathing, or giraffes gracefully bowing to sip from the water. At the sun sets the African sky transform into a canvas of vivid colours - a breathtaking end to an indulgently serene day of seeing the best of the Selous from both land and water.
