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Here’s one of the best opportunities to get face-to-face with African wildlife! Our sixth annual entry in our popular Sobek Signature Series—in which each year we bring back one of our classic river trips—is this incredible float on the Rufiji River, a gentle meandering waterway bisecting Tanzania’s legendary Selous Game Reserve. The Selous is Africa’s largest wildlife haven, abounding in all the classic game species as well as wonderful riverine scenery, and our navigation on East Africa’s greatest waterway is an opportunity to experience this wild country in the spirit it deserves. And as a bonus, morning and evening game walks allow you to explore the hinterlands beyond the river! A caveat: this is not a whitewater adventure (though everyone paddles and there’s a slim stretch of rapids through Steigler’s Gorge). Rather, it is a silent passage to places safari vehicles can never reach—and we’ll have it all to ourselves!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy fantastic wildlife viewing by raft and on foot—and without the crowds—an MTS exclusive
  
• Gently raft past hippos, crocs, elephants, and storks and hike into the riverine forests in search of more of the African menagerie
  
• Experience leisurely rafting by day and camping on pristine riverine beaches in the Selous Game Reserve at night

The Sobek Signature Series
Every year we feature a Sobek river classic from the past featuring the expertise of Sobek co-founder John Yost, plus your other favorite river guides! In 2008, we continue the tradition with runs on the Naryn (Kyrgyzstan) and Rufiji (Tanzania) Rivers. In 2009, we'll celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Mountain Travel Sobek with trips down the Franklin River as well as our International Whitewater Rafting Adventure: 6 Continents, 9 Rivers, 25 Days. Upcoming Signature Series trips include the Sala Sadang/Lariang (Sulawesi, Indonesia) in 2010, the Brahmaputra (India) in 2011, the Tuichi (Bolivia) in 2011, and the Yarkand (Xinjiang, China) in 2012!

Day 1 - Arrive in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and transfer to a hotel on the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Day 2 - Enjoy perhaps the world’s best wildlife viewing from a train as you ride on the railway that cuts through the northern part of the Selous, a park-like paradise of grassland with scattered trees and thickets. Meet with 4-wheel-drive vehicles and drive to a beautiful shady campsite.

Day 3 - Game drives and walks from our safari camp on the Kilombero River, the main tributary of the Rufiji.

Days 4-12 - Begin rafting the wide, slow waters of the Kilombero, taking plenty of time for bush walks away from the river corridor in search of the abundant wildlife, which includes impalas, waterbucks, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, lions, hyenas, and wild dogs. You’ll soon learn some of the secrets of the bush, examining the scraping of a rhino or the tracks of a leopard, or hearing about the medicinal use of plants. Downriver we portage around Shiguri Falls, then get back on the Rufiji for an exhilarating run through 300-foot-deep Stiegler’s Gorge, where a few lively rapids challenge our skills. The river then enters a labyrinth of channels, swamps, and lakes that’s rich in birdlife. Tall borassus palms rise out of the waters, some drowned, some still flourishing, a phantom forest forming a superb tableau backlit by the glowing sunset.

Day 13 - Our final destination is the tented Rufiji River Camp, where cold Safari Lager, excellent food, and a friendly staff await us in an ambiance of comfort and informality.

Day 14 - Fly to Dar es Salaam and transfer to a beachfront hotel.

Day 15 - Fly home or join us on one of our extensions in East Africa.

Photo Credits
©Liz Leyden