Selous Game Reserve – Tanzania
Make sure you don’t miss Africa’s largest Game Reserve, the Selous. This huge undisturbed wilderness area has a wonderful mix of habitats, from grasslands, Acacia trees and Miombo woodlands to swamps, palm trees, and riverine forests. It’s no wonder it is home to a great variety of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
The reserve is quiet in terms of human visitors, despite the large numbers of elephant, lion, giraffe, hippo, buffalo and crocodiles and the chance to finally see the wild dogs up close. Walking safaris are a cool way to get intimate with the bush and glimpse the animals from a different angle. You will also learn more about tracks, poos and the smaller things you might miss when driving past in a vehicle. The elusive eland also lives here, as well as the equally shy sable antelope.
The mighty Rufiji River flows through the Selous Game Reserve, and in the dry season this becomes a lifeline for many species. Whilst in the rainy season large parts of the reserve become impassable by car.
At this point boat safaris become the best transport in the reserve, but also at other times a boat safari is a must. A different experience and a wonderful way to get up and close with the colossal hippo, the ancient crocs, as well as seeing a huge variety of birds.
About the Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve is situated in the south of Tanzania, and with 54,600 square kilometres is the largest in Africa and one of the largest in the world. It is three times bigger than the Serengeti. It was established in 1922 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.
The Selous is named after the big game hunter and conservationist, Sir Frederick Selous. An Englishman who died whilst fighting the Germans during World War I in the area. The majority of the reserve is not open for tourism, apart from the area north of the Rufiji River which has been designated as a tourist area.
