Sand Rivers Selous

One of Tanzania’s classiest independent bush lodges, combining luxury and wildlife expertise in lavish quantities

How wild would you like your game? When it comes to going on safari, it doesn’t get much wilder than the Selous Game Reserve. Covering an area slightly larger than Switzerland, the Selous is a vast paradise of untamed bush, untouched forests, crocodile-filled lakes and emerald green floodplains in the little-visited south of Tanzania.

In the midst of all this sits a small luxury lodge, built from stone and ebony and set on a cliff. Its 8 open-fronted cottages overlook the great muddy sweep of the Rufiji river with its pods of honking hippos. Forget about queuing behind 10 other vehicles for a peek at a lion kill - Sand Rivers has a vast tract of wilderness all to itself, with expert guides to show you around it on foot, boat or by Land Rover. It's a birder’s paradise, with carmine bee-eaters swooping low across the grass of the plains, and fish eagles perched on palm trunks like totem poles. Walking safaris are a speciality here, as is fly-camping - sleeping out under the stars amid the sounds of the African night.

Highs

• No other vehicles in sight on game drives
• Lagoon swimming pool and stunning river views
• Walking or boating through the wilderness
• Fly-camping under the stars
• Lively conversation around the dinner table at night

Lows

• It can get very hot at certain times of the year
• Game can be harder to see than in the northern parks
• Availability is limited, book ahead