Tanzania: An Unforgettable Experience Part II Selous

Selous was an hour and a bit in a small plane from Ikuka.  Its game reserve  is even larger than Ruaha at 50,000 square kilometres. It’s at lower elevation than Ruaha and has much more greenery along the dry bush areas. The morning drives are also not as cold. 

The camp we stayed at had 7/8 rooms which are again individual units (stone) with an open wall looking over the hillside. They have electric wiring under the open wall so the wild animals don’t clamber in. Each room had a plunge pool and again owned by Brits (Welsh family who uses it every now and then). The style feels more colonial but is managed by local staff and guides who dine with you at night. 

It was a completely different experience!  Meals were varied in different parts of the hotel each night. Again, it was quite quiet and we felt we had the place more or less to ourselves. The most interesting dinner was near the hippos, hyeanas, buffalo at the end of our garden. 

On the first day we arrived we came across 11 lions sleeping right next to the airfield. These big cats sleep an awful lot and they weren’t bothered in the least when we came up close. We even had drinks down the airfield from them to watch the sunset. They blend in well with the bush but look closely,  they’re in the photo!

There were many close ups with elephants, more lions, worthogs, buffalo, wildebeest, eagles, hippos and crocodiles. 

We did a few walking safaris with our armed guide and a forest ranger. We also did a boat safari in a lake packed with hippos (who are really scary in my opinion) and crocodiles. At the end of the boat safari we had brunch at the edge of the lake. 

 All I remember from the lake was being in this small boats surrounded by submerged hippos and crocodile but you could see their eyes. What an enjoyable (and a little scary) experience! 

Ruaha and Selous are magical, in my opinion. The locals were friendly and warm, the hotels well organised and managed. Of course the highlight is always going to be the wild animals in their habitat. Fabulous!