Selous Explorer
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- Tanzania Tourist Board
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $135 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email Sarah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
8 amazing days full of animal sights, nice experiences and excellent food!
My boyfriend and I did an 8-day safari with Selous Explorer and can only recommend booking with them. Belonging to the group of spontaneous travellers, we didn't book neither our flights nor the actual safari 6 months in advance like - as we learned - other people seem to do. Nevertheless, we wanted to get a first quote before we started our trip and requested prices with several safari companies some days in advance. Selous Explorer was one of the quickest to reply and additionally one of the most responsive and competitive ones. They offered the exact trip we were looking for and unlike most others operators in the perfect and most efficient order to maximise game driving: Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve.
We decided to book with Selous and texted the owner, Norbert, one day before we arrived in Dar-es-Salaam. During the flight to Tanzania I was afraid maybe this was too short notice and we will have to wait in Dar until the start of the safari. Instead we were picked up at the airport by a friend of Norbert against no extra charge. But this was not the only positive surprise that day when also our driver, Nestor, stopped by at our hotel later that day in order to welcome us and introduce himself. The next morning, we were picked up a 100% in time by Nestor and our personal cook, Benson - a man full of smiles and good spirit!
We could realise on the first Game Drive that our driver guide Nestor is on of the better and experienced ones: While all the others decided to leave a scene after some minutes, we got to see a lion hunt exclusively by our own on 10 meters distance. We learned a lot from Nestor and got to see as many scenes and animal as possible. Unfortunately, as it turned out traveling in December Ruaha is not at its best as the is rainy season has already progressed and a lot of animals are spread throughout the park. But still, Nestor did his very best and showed a lot of endurance while driving us through the whole park from a to z in order to go to all animal’s territories. Wildlife highlights certainly include numerous lion hunts, lions and giraffe mating, baby lion cups, a group of 15 wild dogs and countless elephants, giraffes, zebras and hippos.
Benson, our cook, made sure that we gained 3 kilos during 8 days as he was preparing amazing food every day but thanks to him we got to know some traditional Tanzanian recipes. In Mikumi and in Ruaha we stayed within the Park sleeping with lions, elephants and giraffes. The bandas and camps were of good standard with own bath rooms and mosquito nets. Unfortunately, in Selous we stays outside of the park but the camp was really nice.
Only one small recommendation: Ask for both the Boat and Walking Safari in Selous to be swapped against extra game drive. Both our conducted outside of the actual Game Reserve and you cannot see much besides birds and lizards. This is not operator specific however.
Altogether we can only recommend to book with Selous Explorer.
FR
Email Sabrya & Valentin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip to Tanzania !
We spent 5 awesome days with Endrick, we could not imagine getting such a nice tour guide for our first safari. We saw a lot of animals, we had time to take the best pictures with the right angle. Amazing experience, thank you very much :)
RU
Email Evgheni | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome safari trip!
We was at 5-day safari in the southern national parks of Tanzania: Mikumi and Ruaha with Selous Explorer.
Everything was organized perfectly from the beginning to the end of the trip. Manager Asna quickly and efficiently answered all our many questions via email and chat. All agreements were fulfilled, everything was on time, for Tanzania it is rare)))
Accommodation and transport are in accordance with the declared.
The parks are very beautiful, we saw a lot of animals. Our guide Endrick is a very good driver and an excellent, experienced guide. It was evident that he was interested in seeing as many animals as possible.
I recommend the company - guys responsible, they can be trusted.
DK
Email Jens Østergaard | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amasing experience
We were picked up at our hotel right on time.
Our driver/guide, Apollo, was a very knowing person. It´s a good match as we are curious. On the road to Mikumi we asked a lot about Tanzanias culture, history, nature, invironment, politics etc. - and we became much wiser.
At the gate to Mikumi there was a minor misunderstanding about the number og persons (two), but it got solved.
The safari was a great succes. We saw lots of wild animals including lion, hippo, crocodile and elephants. Again Apollo was excellent to spot the animals and to tell us about them.
On the way back to Dar es Salaam we were delayed by a major car accident. Bad luck, as we were catching the ferry to
Zanzibar. But we reached it just seconds before departure.
All in all it was a great experience that we wil be happy to recomend to anyone interested not only in nature and wildlife but also in history and politics.
FR
Email Joana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great
First, we were worry regarding the price and what we will get, and then we were more than satisfy about it. Asna is a great organisator and reliable, she answered quickly to all my request. She welcomed us in person. Juma the driver from the taxi was great, and Endrick our guide for the safari is a great guide, really compétent and friendly. The lodge is fantastic, view on the river, with the hippo at few meter. Our private chef, Rachidi make us great meal, Wine and water included and the lunch box was really good.
I recommand to all, it's a great value regarding the price of it, it's defenatly worth it and the team is more than friendly and professional. Thanks all
RO
Email Sinziana Fotache | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour
We have been very pleased with the 3 days tour to Selous NP operated by Selous Explorer. The accommodation at the Hippocamp has exceeded our expectations - we tought we would sleep in a tent, but there was actually a room with proper bed, toilet and shower. Although I forgot to inform Norbert and his team that we are vegetarians, our cook Benson has made good meals and snacks for us.
The car used for the safari was in really good shape. Although the road to the reserve was flooded and full of mud, our driver and guide (Nesto) has done a great job, getting us there safely. He was also pretty knowledgeable and provided a great drive through the park - we got to see loads of animals (from vultures to lions and elephants).
Thank you again for a wonderful experience!
Short 3 day safari to Mikumi Tanzania.
Whilst spending a couple of weeks in Zanzibar we decided to book up a in-expensive Safari. We found Selous Explorer on Safari Bookings after typing in a search for a 3 day, 2 night safari. 2 companies caught my eye as they were both the same price. We have 2 children aged 7 & 9 so didn't want to go for a really expensive option as we just wanted to them to see Africa's large animals in the wild.
The itinerary that Norbert came back to us with was just about right as we had booked flights from Zan into Dar. It was a 5hr journey though from the airport to Mikumi (made worse by the poor quality road surface) but broken up with a meal part way at a local buffet place. Our driver Nestor was spot on with information on every aspect of our 3 days. When he said that he would pick us up at our lodge at a certain time he was there to the second. We felt that he tried his very best to make sure that we packed the most into the Safari. Mikumi is one of the least recognised parks & thus was not busy at all. It does not have the wealth of animals that other parks do & the main road running through the middle is a crazy situation as this does lead to fatalities as there are many lorries that go thundering past.
I would suggest that like us if you want a non expensive way of seeing some of Africa's finest animals & you are in Dar or Zanzibar then this is the one for you.
SE
Email Hanna and Dominic | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
8-day safari trip which exceeded our expectations
We did an 8-day safari trip to the south of Tanzania (Mikumi, Ruaha, Selous). We really enjoyed the safari trip and it exceeded our expectations. Everything was taken care of by our guide and our personal chef (which we did not expect to have). The only thing that we had to think about was taking photos and watching the animals. You really come up close to the animals. We had a private safari, just the two of us.
We recommend to visit the southern parks for those of you which do not like to see many other tourists. The whole area feels really authentic and genuine. All the accomodations were clean and very fine. In Mikumi and Ruaha we stayed within the parks which we recommend to do - in order to get the early morning and the late afternoon safaris. In Selous we stayed right outside of the park entrance. We also did a boat and a walking safari. If you are short of time, we recommend to skip the walking safari and instead do a classic car safari.
The guide was really experienced and had great knowledge about the animals and their behaviour. The guide was very motivated and happily shared his knowledge with us, also about the local people. We had a lot of questions and not a single one was unanswered! The guide had great English skills.
The chef cocked really nice food and managed to make meals with high variation each day using locally bought ingredients. We further liked the fact that Selous explorer thought a little bit extra about the local people and the environment - e.g. we bought fresh fruits directly from farms next to the road, we ate lunch in a restaurant where disabled people were working and fabricated crafts etc.
We can highly recommend to travel to Tanzania and to do your safari trip with Selous explorer.
//Hanna and Dominic
FR
Email Francois Malterre | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great time in Mikumi and Zaanali National Parks
Me and my daughter had a great great great experience with Selous for our 3 day safari tour in Mikumi and Zaanali, from DES
Selous very fast on responding to emaisl when organizing the trip.
Everything as described: driver on time at DES Airport when we landed. Brought us to the Airport Hotel. Safari guide on time the day after to bring us to Mikumi. Very knowledgeable about the region, the people, locations and anmals. Was lucky enough to find 8 lions starting a hunt and we were right in the middle. Great time in Zaanali too, including the river boat and the hippos And our luck: nobody else in none of the 2 parks, felt like in a private safari, with private driver and chef. Back safe on time in DES, a great gerat experience. Thanks again to the 3 of you, Nestor, Norbert and the Chef.
ES
Email Iraide | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best experience!
simply perfect
We have spent a very special weekend and it has all been thanks to Nestor!
a very attentive, professional guide and willing to help in everything
The tour of the boat very well as a first contact. The second day with Nestor was incredible. He tried his best to get us to see a family of lions very very close. We enjoyed seeing giraffes, hippos, hyenas, crocodiles, and even a herd of running buffalo.
We will never forget him
the third day brought us closer to the culture and wisdom of the place, it was a magical excursion
We would repeat and if you have the opportunity, do not hesitate
