Selous River Camp Location

Get to Selous River Camp

Selous River Camp is located on the very edge of Africa's largest protected wilderness area - the Nyerere National Park (part of the Selous Game Reserve).

The camp is set overlooking the spectacular Rufiji river, within woodland commonly visited by (among other wildlife) three different species of monkey, herds of elephant and a huge variety of birdlife.

Being the closest camp to the park, located right on the border, means you benefit by avoiding long drives to the entrance gate and save money on entry fees.

Our Advice: The Best Way To Get To The Selous

If your budget and time allow, we advise arriving by road and departing by air. Although the car journey is longer and less comfortable than flying, it does give you the change to see some of "real" Tanzania, and also leaves you with a sense of how far from civilisation you are. The road to Selous from Dar es Salaam is not just a means of transport, but an integral part of the adventure itself. It serves as a gateway to experiencing the diverse landscapes and warm culture that Tanzania has to offer. Once your safari is over, flying out gives you a final opportunity to see the vastness of the reserve from above, which can be an incredible experience - especially when you may recognise some of the landmarks from your safaris.

Fly to the Selous

Flights can be booked online with several airlines which fly to the Selous, including Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Safari Air Link. Our partner company, Wild Things, can also book flights for you. Email them on enquiries@wildthingsafaris.com

The closest airstrip to Selous River Camp is Mtemere. We can collect you from the airstrip and drive you the short 10 minutes back to camp. A one way airstrip transfer is $55 per vehicle, a return is $90 per vehicle.

Flights last around 45 minutes from Dar es Salaam and it's also possible to fly to/from Zanzibar and other areas in Tanzania. Expect to pay in the region of US$ 200/250 per person from Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar. The airstrip is inside the National Park, so entry fees do apply ($82.60 per adult, $23.60 per child), though if you’re both arriving and departing by flight, the park only charge for the permit once and waive the second permit fee. We have plenty of safari packages which include safaris on the arrival day to make good use of that valid entry permit, so you can arrive in camp and head out on your first safari the same day, or book a later departing flight and enjoy a safari in the morning before departing.

Drive to the Selous

Drive Yourself

There are two driving routes from Dar es Salaam to Selous River Camp:

Dar es Salaam via Kisarawe - 200km driving time 3-4 hours

Around 15km of hilly, winding road then two hours of firm, straight, dirt road. One or two patches of soft sand to look out for. At the T-junction at the end of the road, turn right. When you reach the National Park boundary, turn left down the Selous River Camp road.

Dar es Salaam via Kibiti - 235km driving time 5-6 hours.

There's good tarmac up to Kibiti and then from Kibiti to the camp (100km) is bush road which winds through several villages.

It is also possible to reach us via Morogoro, Kisaki and Matambwe.

Check out Road Trip Africa or Shaw Safaris for 4x4 car hire.

Transfer Car

If you want to come by road, we can organise transport for you with our transfer car. The car and driver can collect you from anywhere in Dar es Salaam at anytime between 6am and 12pm, including picking you up from Dar es Salaam airport. Please contact us for up to date details and pricing.

Public Transport

By Bus:

There are several daily buses from Dar es Salaam to Mloka village. The bus is not the most reliable source of transport and is uncomfortable - and as a result we don't recommend it unless you are an adventurous traveller or are on a very tight budget! Please contact us if you’re interested in travelling by bus for the most up to date information.

By Train:

Sadly, we cannot offer pick up from any of the train stations. The timetable of the train means that the train arrives in the evening. As we are not permitted to drive in the park after 6.30pm, and the train stations are on the other side of the park to Selous River Camp, we are unable to bring you back to camp until the next day.