With an area of more than 45,000 sq km, larger than many European countries, Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa. It is part of an extensive 155,000sqkms Selous Niassa ecosystem of uninhabited miombo woodland that extends between southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique. The reserve and the greater ecosystem lie at the core of the greatest surviving African wilderness, which supports a healthy and large wildlife population.
Selous ranks as one of East Africas most alluring and satisfying safari destination. With a mere handful number of lodges in a vast 50,000sqkms wilderness, Selous offers one of Africas remotest, wildest and untrammeled wilderness.
The reserves natural vegetation mostly consists of miombo woodland and is bisected into two disproportionate parts by Tanzanias largest river- Rufiji, which runs through the reserve from west to east. Numerous narrow streams connect the Rufiji river to 5 pretty small lakes, and these are the areas that provide the best game viewing opportunities in the dry months.
Besides the normal species, Selous is also famous for offering the unique opportunity of viewing rare and endangered species in large numbers. Mammals such as the African wild dog and the black Rhinoceros, which are completely extinct in other parks and very few in some, are found in healthy numbers in Selous. Another interesting feature of Selous compared to other parks in Africa is about its lions. Not only they have darker coats and less hirsute manes compared to their counterparts elsewhere in East Africa, but they evidently rely on an unusual opportunistic diurnal hunting strategy making Selous the best place for witnessing a lion kill.
Game Concentration
Wildlife in Selous is abundant and the areas by the river and small lakes provide the best viewing opportunities in the dry months. With elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebras and other antelopes numbering in the thousands, game viewing activities are full of excitement and very rewarding.
Large predators include: lion, leopard, wild dog and spotted hyena. Other mammals include: elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, sable, roan, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, wildebeest, greater kudu, puku, hartebeest and eland. The rivers are full of hippo and crocodile.
Selous also supports an abundant birdlife population. Some prominent species include: yellow-billed stork, white-crowned and spur-winged plovers, various small waders, pied and malachite kingfishers, African skimmer, fish eagle, palm-nut vulture, carmine and white-throated bee-eater, trumpeter hornbill, purple-crested turaco, malgasy squacco heron and fishing owl.
Accessibility
Selous is very accessible nowadays from most of the tourist points in Tanzania. Though the most convenient and viable way is flying, one can also reach the reserve by driving or by using the Tazara railway line. There are a number of short airstrips in the different parts of the reserve where light aircrafts can land. A number of small aircraft operators provide daily schedules to Selous from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha and other national parks.
Recommendation
Selous definitely stands out amongst the game reserves that Africa has to offer in terms of abundant wildlife and untrammeled wilderness. And the fact that it is easily accessible from practically any tourist point in Tanzania, should make Selous a must place to visit in your Tanzania safari program. A few days in this reserve will give you a very different experience of what Africa, out of its unlimited natural resources, can offer. This is indeed one destination that will prove to be worth every penny you spent.
Besides the normal game drives in 4×4 vehicles, the most interesting and equally rewarding activity are the boat rides along the Rufiji river. The gigantic crocodiles, the conferences of grunting hippos, the characteristic water birds along the river and the herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe coming down for water together with a brilliant red sun setting behind the tall palm and baobab trees as a backdrop, makes these boat rides one of the most exciting experiences of your Selous safari.
Other activities include guided walks with armed rangers close to nature and fly camping, which gives you the unique experience of sleeping next to the river and lakes and where the only thing that separates you from the close by hippo, crocodile and lion- is a mosquito net!
Time to visit
Selous is practically impossible for game drives in the rainy season and some areas of the reserve are completely inaccessible. All the lodges close down their operations in the months of March and reopen in June. The best time to visit selous are in the dry season between June and February.
