Largest Game Reserve in Tanzania
The Selous Game Reserve is the largest in Tanzania, although only 10% is open to tourists, the rest of the park is private open only to hunters. Despite or because of this it is an important conservation area with over half the population of Tanzanian elephants found here. It also has one of the largest populations of African hunting dogs.
We stayed at the Sand River Lodge. This offers the usual welcoming camp hosts, great food, game drives and sundowners but also has a number of unique features.
The main restaurant area is on the river so the daily hippo show can be enjoyed over lunch. Boat safaris are also part of the standard package, a breakfast of bacon and egg sandwich whilst watching the crocodiles on the opposite beach is hard to beat. Evening fishing is also great fun, I caught a squeaker but the tiger fish got away. There are natural hot springs nearby and a dip can be included as part of a game drive. The accommodation is in open-fronted Bandas allowing a bedroom safari with sunbirds attaching mirrors, squirrels in the bathroom, geckos on the walls, the calls of the bush babies and monkeys after biscuits. The lodge also has plunge pools which can be enjoyed during the afternoon siesta.
