Tanzania Selous Walking Safari

Nyerere National Park · Tanzania

Moderate7 daysAfrica~£4,000 est.

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Overview

The Selous -- its photographic north now gazetted as Nyerere National Park -- is Africa's largest wilderness, and the Rufiji River is its bloodstream: palm-lined channels and oxbow lakes holding one of the continent's densest hippo and crocodile populations, with African wild dogs denning in the miombo woodland behind. What sets it apart is how you meet the game: on foot behind an armed ranger, reading tracks and wind rather than watching from a vehicle, and by boat at sunset as elephants swim between islands metres from your bow. Fly-camping -- a bedroll, a net and a fire on a sandbar -- is the full version of the experience. Fly in by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam (about 45 minutes) in the June-October dry season, when game concentrates on the river; much of the park is inaccessible in the April-May rains. This is premium safari country: expect 3,500-4,500 pounds per person for a week in mid-range camps with park fees. Walking safaris carry a minimum age of 12 and demand quiet feet rather than fitness.