Tanzania · Safari

6-Day Selous Wildlife Safari from Dar es Salaam with Rufiji Boat Safari

6 Days Round trip from Dar es Salaam Easy pace
Cheetahs at Selous Game Reserve
Elephants walking around in Selous Game Reserve
Wildlife at Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve Aeroview
Wildlife at Selous Game Reserve

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Selous Game Reserve, one of Africa's largest protected wildlife areas
  • 02 Cruise along the mighty Rufiji River on a boat safari
  • 03 Spot elephants, lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles
  • 04 Enjoy game drives across a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • 05 Discover a renowned bird-viewing sanctuary with around 350 species

Visit Selous Game Reserve, the biggest game reserve in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this 6-day wildlife safari from Dar es Salaam. Explore this vast protected area through game drives, animal spotting, bird watching, and a boat safari along the mighty Rufiji River. Look out for elephants, lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species while admiring the beauty of the African wilderness.

Visit Selous Game Reserve, the biggest game reserve in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this 6-day wildlife safari from Dar es Salaam.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Dar es Salaam, Selous Game Reserve
Languages English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Dar es Salaam

  • Get picked up from Dar es Salaam International Airport and drive to the city center.

Overnight stay at Peacock Hotel.

2
Day 02

Transfer to Selous and Rufiji River Boat Safari

  • Get picked up and drive to Selous Game Reserve, with a picnic lunch served on the way.

  • Arrive at the camp in the early afternoon and settle in.

  • Head for a boat safari along the mighty Rufiji River. The river is formed by the confluence of the Kilombero and Luwegu rivers and is approximately 600 kilometres (370 miles) long. Here, you will see hippopotamuses and crocodiles. Big herds of Tanzanian elephants are also attracted by the Rufiji River as it flows through the reserve. Around 350 bird species can also be found in the Selous Game Reserve.

End the day with dinner and an overnight stay at the campsite.

3
Day 03

Full-Day Game Drives in Selous Game Reserve

  • Leave for game drives after breakfast.

  • Game drives continue at the Selous Game Reserve throughout the afternoon. Selous Game Reserve is the largest in Africa, covering 54,600 square kilometres. Selous is famous for elephants. Other species commonly seen are lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, bushbuck, impalas, elands, baboons, zebras, and greater kudus. It was originally set aside as a hunting area, where animals are abundant but shyer than in the Northern Parks.

Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the campsite.

4
Day 04

Game Viewing and Walking Safari near Lake Tagalala

  • Have breakfast, followed by another full day of game viewing and a walking safari near Lake Tagalala.

  • Relish a picnic lunch near the Hot Springs. One of the main attractions of Selous is the variety of game-viewing activities available here. The reserve offers trips by boat, fueled vehicle, or on foot. Boat safaris allow you to drift on the lakes and channels, approaching birds and animals closely, including crocodiles. The lodges also offer guided game walks for those aged 12 and over, or 16 at Lake Manze and Impala. Game drives are reliably rewarding, especially after the dry season, when large mammals concentrate around five lakes.

  • Take a late evening drive to reach the campsite in time for dinner.

5
Day 05

Morning Game Drive in Selous

  • Have an early breakfast, break camp, and drive around Selous Game Reserve.

Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

6
Day 06

Departure to Dar es Salaam

  • Have a morning meal and drive or fly from Selous to Dar es Salaam.

Selous Game Reserve, Rufiji River, Lake Tagalala

Where this trip takes you

Selous Game Reserve, Rufiji River, Lake Tagalala

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Dar es Salaam 2 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Meet and greet services with assistance at the airport or hotel

  • All transport and game drives on road safaris in a modern 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with seven window seats

  • English-speaking Selous driver-guide

  • All drives and flights in Tanzania

  • Extra lunch at Carnivore restaurant

  • Meals and accommodation as specified

  • All park fees and government taxes

  • 2 bottles of ½ litre mineral water per person per day on game drives

What's Not Included

  • Tips & gratuities

  • Personal expenses

Know before you go

  • This safari tour will take you to the largest game reserve and second-largest conservation area in Africa, spanning 5,000 square kilometres. This reserve is four times bigger than the Serengeti.

  • It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers about 5% of Tanzania.

  • Huge populations of elephants, wild dogs, hippos, lions, and buffalo inhabit this reserve.

  • It is also a bird-viewing sanctuary.

  • It is an incredible reserve for walking and boat safaris.

  • This tour is also offered in Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tour start
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 6 days finish where they began, in Dar es Salaam.

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Starting from

USD 3,790 /person
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