Sand Rivers Selous is the base for some of Tanzania's best safari guides who are there to take you out for daily adventures; boating on the Rufiji, weaving past hippopotamus and crocodile; driving on the trail of lion or wild dog; an elephant bush walk; a night sleeping out under the stars, or fishing in solitude, barefoot on a river rock.

One of Sand Rivers most coveted trip’s is their Selous Walking Safari - a four day wilderness walk in the seriously remote parts of the park. Explore the remotest corners of the area over a set period, with fly-camps moving every night. Walk through magical and diverse landscapes, seeing things not always visible from a vehicle. Each day is designed to be different, and to offer unrivalled exposure to the area. Walks are concentrated around the early morning and late afternoons, with opportunities for fishing, and relaxing in the middle of the day.

The stone and thatch lodge is set under large Tamarind and Mahogany trees, on a rocky peninsula overlooking the wide expanse of the river. Sand Rivers Selous is small, but beautifully formed, with an imposing mess, swimming pool, excellent cooking and careful, at-your-whim service.

Accommodation
Accommodation at Sand Rivers Selous is in spacious open-fronted cottages made of stone and thatch, and raised up on the banks of the Rufiji with amazing views out across the river. There are:

5 Standard rooms: The bedrooms, with large and comfortable beds, are open fronted and the en-suite bathrooms are bush-deluxe and are surrounded by the soothing sounds of the river.

2 Suites  (Tagalala & Kipalala): They are separate from the standard rooms, and are within walking distance of the main mess/dining area and large swimming pool. Whilst all meals are eaten in the main mess, the suites have their own private lounge area, and plunge pools set into the main deck. The two Suites expand the space and luxury for the happy hippo in all of us, with big sofas and plunge pools for constant wallowing.

The Rhino House (A new one-bedroom private house): The Rhino House is a new private and exclusive one-bedroom 'house', located near to the main lodge. It is the perfect private hideaway; meals are served in your own dining area, and you have your own small pool for an afternoon of chilling out, with the fully stocked bar close by. The bedroom is deeply romantic, and has a wide open front looking down over the river and open woodlands. It is perched up on a hillside, providing the ultimate view. It is a hideaway home for two, offering total bush bliss, day and night, and the greatest luxury of all, a private piece of the great beyond.

The suites and the standard rooms all have spacious, open, en-suite bathrooms, with flush toilets and powerful showers.

Dining
The main mess and dining area is set close to the river, and is a generous space. It's grand yet cozy; the ambience is familiar, and the service at-your-whim.

Location
Sand Rivers Selous is located in the northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, on the banks of the Rufiji River – this is wilderness on a huge scale - the largest in Africa. Set on a wide curve of the mighty Rufiji River, Sand Rivers Selous was originally built by Richard Bonham in 1984 who used this area of the Selous for his famous portered walking safaris, when the area was all but unknown.

For sheer drama, the Selous Game Reserve is hard to beat. It's home to such a Noah's ark of wildlife that it's been made a World Heritage Site, and this huge reserve, at a massive 50,000 square kilometers, has given over 1000 square kilometers in the north, to wildlife and safaris. It is the second largest protected wilderness area in the world. It also forms part of the Selous - Niassa eco-system, which covers 155,000 square kilometers across southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique.

In the Selous, thick Miombo forests give way to grassy flood plains and skeletons of lead-wood trees. The river, in the northern part, changes course constantly, creating oxbow lakes fringed with palms, and the sand rivers after which the lodge was named. Surrounded by such diverse landscapes, unique to this northern area of the reserve, Sand Rivers lies in close proximity to Steigler's Gorge, Lake Tagalala and the Beho Beho hot springs.

Activities
It's not what you see; it's how you see it. In the Selous, game viewing takes on a very different and exciting pace. Whether its Game drives in open-sided 4WD vehicles, walking safaris, fishing, boating, or a combination of all of these, it never disappoints, and there is always something thrilling to see.

The Rufiji River provides an utterly unique view of life in the Selous. Upstream from the lodge, the river meanders its way past sand islands and lush forests. You can often see game on the banks as you slowly drift by.

Fly-Camping : For the more adventurous, fly-camping at Sand Rivers Selous offers the outdoor experience of a lifetime, and is one of the most raved about things to do. Mosquito net tents are set up on sandbanks, or near a busy waterhole.

Simple yet fully equipped, these small camps have comfortable bedrolls to curl up in, a short drop toilet and bucket shower just behind, great food, and ice cold drinks; it's the perfect combination of intrepid adventure and bush comfort.

Of course, you might just choose to stay in the lodge itself, and loll by the pool, play games in the mess with an iced cocktail in hand, read books on your own veranda; we wouldn't blame you in the slightest.

Selous Walking Safaris – Are available in a 4 night package (Contact us)

How to Get There - There are numerous daily flights to Kiba airstrip from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Ruaha, Mafia, Pemba and northern Tanzania.

Seasonal highlights - June to September; warm days and cool nights, best time of year for walking safaris. Great elephant and buffalo sightings. October-November: heavy concentration of game around the inland lakes, weather dry and hot. December-March: prolific bird life, many animals calving, weather starts to get humid, with possibility of rain.

Gratuities – Most people will leave around $10 per person per day, which then gets split amongst the general staff, with the guides being tipped separately. Obviously tipping is not taken for granted, but if you've had a fantastic safari and would like to leave something for the guys, then great. The Lodge asks however, that any tips should be left in cash.

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