Selous Safaris: Game Drives
Explore Nyerere National Park. This haven for wildlife is one of the most magnificent natural spectacles you can experience.
Discover the wilderness of the Selous Game Reserve on a game drive
Game Drives are often the highlight of a safari. They are the quintessential African adventure, allowing you to see a wide variety of safari wildlife from the comfort of your 4x4 safari vehicle. During a game drive in Nyerere National Park, there are moments when you feel like the only people in the world, exploring the untouched wilderness of Tanzania’s largest and wildest national park.
Named in honour of Tanzania’s founding president, Julius Nyerere, this vast park is part of the legendary Selous Game Reserve. Wildlife-viewing experiences in the Nyerere National Park are superb - there are so many giraffes, that the park is known affectionately as “giraffic park”. Among many other safari animals, large numbers of Hippo, Crocodile, Impala and Elephant can be seen, as well as the world's largest population of the endangered African Wild Dog.
A Selous River Camp safari is different: intimate, unhurried and wild
A game drive with Selous River Camp is unusual. We think it’s important to make the most of both your time and your park entry permit; so our game drives are tailored to your interests, slow-paced and authentic ... off-the-beaten-track wilderness where you can luxuriate in, for example, taking the time to switch off your car engine and sit by yourselves, quietly watching lion cubs play. An exclusivity which is a world away from more commercial, less guest-experience-based safari tours.
The vehicles we use are custom-built 4WD vehicles. All are open-sided, allowing for panoramic views (and better photos!), with a canvas roof overhead to protect you from the sun. Each has two or three rows of raised seats, and are equipped for the bush, with a cool box of refreshments to keep you cool during the day. All of our safaris may be shared with other guests, but as much as possible, we avoid having huge groups of guests sharing all together - we like for everyone to have their own "window" seat wherever possible.
Selous River Camp offers three different game drives:
A half day game drive, a full day game drive, or the ultimate safari expedition: The Slow Selous. All of our game drives are inside the Nyerere National Park. We do have recommended departure times, but these can be discussed with us the day before.
Read on for Half Day Game Drive …
Half Day Game Drive
USD 75 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 6:30am or 1:00pm, 4-5 hours safari
Half day drives, which are 5 hours long, depart camp at dawn and return to camp for lunch; or depart after an early lunch and return to camp just before sunset - giving you the chance to explore the park during the cooler hours of the day when the wildlife most active.
Exploring the Selous Nyerere National Park accompanied by your expert driver guide, you'll discover the outstanding abundance of wildlife and the beauty of an ever-changing landscape. Imagine watching the wildlife, taking photos, listening to your guide share fascinating insights into the behaviours, habitats, and ecological importance of the animals you encounter, fostering a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of life in the Selous.
Plenty of wildlife can be seen on a half day drive, with the most common sightings including impala, giraffe, warthog, hippo and crocodile. You may spot herds of zebra or wildebeest, as well as the powerful buffalos and curious waterbuck grazing. The park's predators, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas, also roam these territories, offering opportunities for wildlife sightings.
Read on for Full Day Game Drive…
Full Day Game Drive
USD 110 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 7:00am, 8-10 hours safari
A full day of exploration allows you to venture deeper into the park, with your experienced safari guide using their expert knowledge to ensure that you have the best chances of encountering wildlife up close. Your guide will tailor your game drive around your preferences – whether it’s tracking a particular species or spending extra time at each sighting – as you explore the game-rich landscapes of the Selous, ranging from open plains to dense woodlands and the shores of huge lakes - an ideal habitat for a wide array of animal and bird species.
A huge variety of wildlife can be seen. Perhaps you’ll watch elephants parade past your car, close enough for you to see every dust-crusted wrinkle. You may spend time in the shade of a large tree, gazing up at a leopard; or enjoying the playful antics of a pack of African wild dogs.
As the sun rises higher into the sky, and the wildlife retreats into the shade and is less active, your guide will find a picturesque spot to stop for lunch, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness. This intimate lunch stop allows you to savour the moment, absorbing the serenity of the Selous while reflecting on the incredible wildlife sightings of the morning.
After your lunch break, your adventure continues with more encounters and discoveries. There may even be time for a short dip in the Behobeho hot springs before returning to camp for a sundowner.
We provide a Selous wildlife checklist for our guests as well as list of the different species of birds which can be found in the Selous - from the iconic African fish eagle to the vibrant lilac-breasted roller, the park's diverse habitats attract a wide variety of bird species, making it a haven for birdwatchers.
Read on for The Slow Selous…
“The Slow Selous” - Inside Nyerere National Park
USD 145 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 6:30am, 11-12 hours safari.
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 our 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.
