Boat Safaris
Nyerere National Park is one of the very few places in Tanzania where it's possible to view wildlife from the water. After the dusty and bumpy roads of a game drive, there's nothing more relaxing that drifting along the river, watching the wildlife and the changing light on the water. A boat safari is not only an opportunity to observe wildlife from a different perspective.
We have a number of boat safaris available from Selous River Camp; A short boat safari, a half day boat safari, a full day boat safari and our ‘Slow Selous’ safari.
Short Boat Safari (dawn or sunset)
$45 per person
Departs camp at 7:00am or 4:00pm, 2 hours safari - Outside Nyerere National Park (no park fees)
This short boat safari along the Rufiji River is ideal for spotting Hippos, Crocodiles and plenty of different bird species (including the African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Goliath Heron, African Skimmer and Boehm's Bee-Eater... as well as many more). You may spy a number of monkeys (Blue Monkey, Savannah Baboon and Black and White Colobus Monkey), as well as Nile Monitor Lizards basking in the sunshine. At sunset you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy an ice cold drink on a sandbank.
Half Day Boat Safari
$75 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 6:30am or 1:00pm, 4-5 hours safari - Inside Nyerere National Park
A half day boat safari is ideal if you don’t want to spend too much time out on the water, but would like the chance of seeing more wildlife than is possible on a short boat safari. Departing from camp either at dawn or after an early lunch, you will spend 5 hours exploring the Rufiji River.
It is a birders paradise, heaps of hippos and crocodiles lazing on the sandbanks, and if you are lucky, perhaps elephant or buffalo having a wallow, or giraffe having a drink along the shoreline. Viewing the bush from the water, you can really take in the vastness of this wild national park. It truly is a unique perspective.
If you take the dawn safari you will be back in camp for lunch, and the afternoon safari drops you back to back just before sundown.
Full Day Boat Safari
$110 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 10:00am, 7-8 hours safari - Inside Nyerere National Park
The Selous is renowned for its serene lakes and the vast Rufiji River, the full day gives you the opportunity for a more in depth exploration than the half day boat safari. You will cruise gently along the meandering water while your skilled boat guide shares their knowledge, pointing out the myriad of birdlife along the riverbanks; graceful herons, colourful kingfishers and bee-eaters. With more time out on the water comes greater chances of encountering more varied wildlife, and venturing deeper into the park and its many lake systems.
In the heat of the day the boat will pull up onto shore near a secluded shady tree where you can enjoy your bush lunch and an ice cold drink. After a relaxed lunch and quick stretch of the legs you will return to the boat to enjoy the afternoon drift back towards camp, if time permits enjoy a dramatic sunset on one of the sandbanks, the perfect way to finish the perfect day.
The Slow Selous - A morning game drive and afternoon boat safari back to camp.
$145 per person + Park Fees
Departs camp at 6:30am, 11-12 hours safari.
Unique to Selous River Camp. The best of the Selous in a day without rush.
The Slow Selous is something truly special. A day combining both a half day game drive and a half day boat safari. Starting on land, your safari vehicle sets out early in the morning, accompanied by a dawn chorus of wildlife. This is a time when predators are still highly active and the light is beautiful. The morning is spent exploring the inland areas of the Selous, weaving your way along bush tracks, discovering flora and fauna and enjoying the changing bush scenery.
During the hottest part of the day, when the sun is high in the sky and the animals are least active, your guide will park under a large shady tree and set up table and chairs for you. Here you can relax and enjoy some lunch.
After lunch, you’ll meet our boat and step aboard our boat - enjoy a lazy meander back to camp, flowing with the river past countless hippos, crocodiles soaking up the sun. Perhaps you’ll see elephants or buffalo bathing, or giraffes gracefully bowing to sip from the water. As the sun sets the African sky transforms into a canvas of vivid colours - a breathtaking end to a serene day.
