Life at Sand Rivers Selous is relaxed and while you’re with us we’ll work with you to plan your days as you go. This is an area we know and love, and it matters to us that you get to see the best of it.

But many of our guests quickly realise that a few hours spent relaxing on the verandahs of their open-fronted rooms, or cooling off in the pool, surrounded by Kingfishers and Bee Eaters, listening to the grunts of hippos on the river, can be time equally well spent.

Sand Rivers Selous Activity

At Sand Rivers our open-sided 4×4 vehicles are a great way of seeing things. For covering a bit of distance when that’s what’s needed. And of course there are times when they give you the best views, access and photographic opportunities.

But we like to retain spontaneity wherever we can. Often the best way to see things, to avoid scattering animals from the lakeshore, or spooking a herd of elephant as they feed their way through a stretch of lush grassland, is to hop down and quietly work our way into a good position on foot.

And the same goes for our boats. Just being on the river – never mind the game – is a fantastic contrast to time spent in a vehicle. Drifting silently down stream, gently spiraling in the current, watching the river banks unfold is hard to beat.

Vast flocks of great white pelicans fishing in dwindling pools, wallowing families of elephant socialising, prides of lion sleeping off a meal.

But here again we like to take time to stop. Creep carefully through paths in the thick riverine bush and you’ll emerge – unseen – in magical secluded flood plains. More often than not there are treats in store; vast flocks of great white pelicans fishing in dwindling pools, wallowing families of elephant socialising, prides of lion sleeping off a meal.

And sometimes the best way to see game is to let it come to you. Breakfast on a sand bank in Stigler’s Gorge watching elusive monkey-hunting crowned eagles, and listening to shrill cries of Hyraxes as you dangle a hook in the water.

Or lunch in the deep shade of palm trees, watching the comings and goings on at the lakeshore: half watching, half reading a book and perhaps even dozing off.

All in all, days at Sand Rivers aren’t about box ticking, or endless driving in search of the next animal. It’s a sense of gradual absorption in this corner of the natural world that we’d love you to feel.