How to get to Selous Game Reserve : Selous Game Reserve is a fascinating Tanzania safari destination ideal for tourists who wish to experience the wilderness of Tanzania at its maximum and also escape from the large tourist crowds in the northern safari destinations, this reserve is the largest protected game reserve in Africa covering an area of 54,600 square kilometers comprising of a vast wilderness with forests, grassy plains, mountains and open woodlands.
Selous Game Reserve was established in 1922 and in 1982 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its rich diversity of wildlife and uninterrupted nature.
Selous Game Reserve is located in the southern part of Tanzania and lies in the Southern Tanzania, the reserve is approximately 219 kilometers from Dar es Salaam and takes approximately 5-6 hours.
Most Tanzania safaris start from Dar es Salaam with Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) being the point of entry into Tanzania, the airport is found on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.
Normally, you are picked from the airport by your safari guide – a representative of Focus East Africa Tours, we handle all the necessary aspects of the safari including ground transportation and domestic flights.
The park is normally visited as an extension to a beach holiday in Zanzibar Island and Dar es Salaam, from Dar es Salaam to Selous game reserve, there are connecting scheduled flights from the departure point to either Selous or Ruaha. Chartered flights connecting from Arusha Town which is the tourist town along the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania.
Another way to get to Selous game reserve is from Dar es Salaam – the capital city is using driving on a pretty bumpy road, this is a drive of approximately 6 to 7 hours.
By air transport
There are charter flights used to get to Selous Game Reserve from Dar es Salaam or Arusha, these flights land at several airstrips in Selous game reserve including Mtemere Airstrip., Beho Beho Airstrip, Siwandu Airstrip, Kiba Airstrip, Sumbazi airstrip among others.
Domestic flights are offered by a number of domestic flights such as Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Regional Air, ZanAir, Safari Air Link and Coastal Aviation.
By Railway system
Using railway means of transport is another way to get to Selous game reserve from Dar es Salaam, TAZARA (Tanzania Zambia Railway) is used and it begins from Dar es Salaam taking you on an adventure through the trails in the wilderness of Tanzania up to the Matambwe railway.
On this journey, you will enjoy the beautiful green countryside. The whole journey takes approximately 4 to 5 hours.
By road
Road means of transport is the most common means of transport used to get to Selous game reserve for a Tanzania safari, when traveling from Dar es Salaam there is a direct route covering a distance of 240 kilometers/149 miles following the eastern road, the drive is bumpy and long taking approximately 6 to 7 hours that is nearly half a day’s drive.
This route takes through Kibiti and Mloka and finally access the reserve through Mtemere gate.
In case you are on a Tanzania safari combing the Selous with other game parks found in the Southern Safari Circuit such as Ruaha National park and Mikumi national park then you can take an alternative route that takes you through Morogoro town via kisaki and Mkuyuni and enter the reserve through the Matembwe Gate.
The drive heading out of Morogoro Town offers you a chance to see the traditional way the native people live their lives and work within the rural villages of Tanzania. The unique thing about these areas is that they have not been washed by the urban famous lifestyle yet and they have upheld their way of living beside just a few shops selling a number of international brand name drinks.
A road from Morongoro can also lead you to the magnificent contours of Sable Mountain lodge as well as Uluguru Mountains at a distance.
