Tanzania · Safari

3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari from Dar es Salaam with Rufiji Boat Trip

3 Days Round trip from Dar es Salaam Easy pace

Lions in the wild at Selous Game Reserve

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Get up close with diverse savannah wildlife in Selous Game Reserve
02 Spot elephants, buffaloes, wild dogs, lions, crocodiles, and hippos
03 Enjoy a boat safari on the mighty Rufiji River
04 Take a morning walking safari in Tanzania's largest wildlife reserve

Go on exciting morning and evening game drives at Tanzania's most extensive protected area, Selous Game Reserve, and see large numbers of elephants, buffaloes, wild dogs, and lions. Also look out for crocodiles, hippos, and some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos as you enjoy a boat safari on the mighty Rufiji River during this 3-day safari.

Go on exciting morning and evening game drives at Tanzania's most extensive protected area, Selous Game Reserve, and see large numbers of elephants, buffaloes, wild dogs, and lions.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Selous Game Reserve

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Drive from Dar es Salaam and Boat Safari on the Rufiji River

You will be picked up by a guide from Selous Explorer at your hotel for a safari briefing, then drive south to Selous Game Reserve, which is approximately a six-hour drive from Dar es Salaam.
On arrival, you will start with an afternoon boat safari on the mighty Rufiji River. Overnight at Selous Hippo Tented Camp on a full-board basis.

Meal Plans: Lunch and Dinner

Main Destination: Selous Game Reserve

Accommodation: Hippo Camp (Budget tented camp bordering Selous GR without fences)

Meals & Drinks: Lunch & Drinks (Breakfast not included) Non-Alcoholic drink

Day 02

Full-Day Game Drives in Selous Game Reserve

After breakfast, you will go on full-day game drives with packed lunch boxes in Selous Game Reserve. At lunchtime, you will enjoy your picnic lunch at a picnic site selected by your guide.
After your picnic lunch and some relaxation, you will continue with your afternoon game drives.
After the game drives, you will return to Hippo Camp Selous for an overnight stay on a full-board basis.

Meal Plans: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Main Destination: Selous Game Reserve

Accommodation: Hippo Camp (Budget tented camp bordering Selous GR without fences)

Meals & Drinks: Lunch & Drinks (All meals included & Non-Alcoholic drink)

Day 03

Morning Walking Safari and Return to Dar es Salaam

Start the day with a morning walking safari.
After the walking safari, which takes around three hours, you will return to your camp to shower and have breakfast.
After breakfast, drive back to Dar es Salaam with packed lunch boxes.
On arrival in Dar es Salaam, you will be dropped off at your hotel, the ferry to Zanzibar, or the airport for your flight back home.

Meal Plans: Breakfast and Lunch

Main Destination: Dar es Salaam

Accommodation: No Accommodation

Meals & Drinks: Lunch & Drinks (Dinner not included & Non-Alcoholic drink)

Where this trip takes you

Rufiji River boat safari, Selous Game Reserve savannah, Selous Hippo Tented Camp

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Dar es Salaam 3 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Park fees (for non-residents)
All activities (unless labelled as optional)
All accommodation (unless listed as an upgrade)
Professional English-speaking Tanzanian guide/driver
All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
All taxes/VAT
Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)

What's Not Included

International flights (from/to home)
Roundtrip airport transfer
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (tipping guideline: US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Any government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees

Know before you go

This tour starts and ends in Dar es Salaam.
This operator can help you select your international flights, but you will need to book them yourself.
Fly to/from Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.
A transfer from and back to the airport or hotel can be arranged for an extra cost.
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost.
Selous Game Reserve covers 5% of Tanzania's total land area and is approximately 55,000 sq km. Selous is Africa's largest wildlife reserve and Tanzania's most extensive protected area. It provides shelter for large numbers of elephants, big populations of buffaloes, wild dogs, lions, crocodiles, and hippos in the mighty Rufiji River. It also has a rich variety of birdlife and some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos. The reserve is named after one of the famous British explorers, Frederick Courteney Selous, who was killed in the reserve during WWI.

Logistics