Selous game reserve
The Selous Game Reserve is a protected area in southern Tanzania that covers a total area of 50,000 km2 and was established in 1922. The southern area is a forbidden zone that is undeveloped, heavily forested, and contains a series of steep cliffs. Travelers are limited to the area north of the Rufiji River. This area of the Selous Game Reserve has large open grassland, woodlands, rivers, hills and plains. The best time to visit is July through October.
The reserve was named after Frederick Selous, a famous big game hunter and early conservationist, who died at Beho Beho in this territory in 1917 while fighting against the Germans during World War 1.
Interesting places in the park include the Rufiji River, which flows into the Indian Ocean opposite Mafia Island and a section of the northern park along the Rufiji River has been designated a photographic zone and is a popular tourist destination and boat trips on the Rufiji are a popular activity. The river is an important feature of the reserve providing the opportunity to watch the diverse water-based wildlife. A broad range of game can be found including elephants, hippos and rhinos as well as buffalo, antelope, giraffe, warthog, wildebeest, lion, leopard and cheetah. The diversity of bird life and over 350 recorded species.
It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to its wildlife diversity and undisturbed nature. Some of the typical wildlife of the miombo inhabits the reserve, such as African bush elephant, black rhino, hippopotamus, lion, East African wild dog, Cape buffaloes, Masai giraffe, Plains zebra, and Nile crocodile. All human entry and exit is controlled by the Wildlife Division of the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Activities in Selous national park
Selous National Park boasts of all kinds of attractions and there’s just so much to keep you occupied, this wondrous park has something to offer irrespective of when you’re visiting. From Bird watching, Nature guided walks and Boat riding, these are the top things to do in Selous National Park.
Game drives
Selous national park harbors very large numbers of animals some of which are African bush elephants, black rhinos, cape buffalos, hippos, water bucks, hartebeests, reed bucks, zebras, giraffes, greater kudu, elands, warthogs, spotted hyenas, lions, leopards and crocodiles. River Rufigi attracts large herds of elephants that drink from there
Bird watching
Selous game reserve is a birders Paradise blessed with over 350 bird species, Selous game reserve harbors both residential and migratory birds some of which are included here, purple crested turaco, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, palmnut vulture, white fronted bee eater, ibises, Malagasy squaco heron, yellow billed stork, African skimmers and sour winged plovers.
Nature guided walks
Guided nature walks can be taken using various walking trails at Selous game reserve this will reward you with a lot if plant life and wildlife encounter as well as the parks endless scenic views
Boat riding
Boat riding at Selous national game reserve can be done at the lakes and water channels, tourists will views animals like hippos and crocodiles just a few meters from their boats and also enjoy the lakes great Flora and fauna.
Hunting
Selous game reserve provides hunting blocks for visitors who would love to explore the wilderness on hunting however tourists must not exceed the number of animals to be hunted or hunt for animals their not permitted to, every tourist who would love to engage in this activity must acquire a permit before hunting. Hunting is mostly done in the southern sector of the park south of Rufiji River.