Located 490 km southwest of Dar es Salaam, the magnificent Selous Game Reserve is one of Africa’s largest and most unspoiled wildlife sanctuaries. A short 40-minute flight from Dar es Salaam or a scenic 4-hour journey by TAZARA railway will transport you into this vast and untamed wilderness. Selous is home to some of Africa’s largest and most vital populations of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, and the rare African wild dogs. Other remarkable species roaming these plains include Roosevelt’s sable antelope (seldom seen elsewhere), black rhinos, hippos, giraffes, elands, waterbucks, white-faced wildebeests, warthogs, leopards, and an impressive lion population.

What makes Selous lions unique is their distinctive appearance — the males have shorter, punk-like manes, and their coats are darker than their northern circuit counterparts. It’s one of the few places in Africa where you can witness such distinctive lion traits in the wild. Selous offers a truly off-the-beaten-path safari experience, combining rich biodiversity, vast landscapes, and fewer crowds, making it a perfect destination for adventurous travelers seeking authentic encounters with nature.