Selous is the largest game reserve, and second largest conservation area in africa. At 55000 km², it is four times the size of the Serengeti, and definitely one of the most remote and least visited parks in Africa… which makes a tanzania safari to this area that much more special.
The Selous Game Reserve was named after the Englishman Sir Frederick Selous, a famous early conservationist, who died at beho beho in this territory in 1917 in world war 2. Due to the unbelievable beauty and magnificent array of safari animals, selous game reserve was declared a world heritage site in 1982 by unesco.
Selous Game Reserve has a diverse landscape – from hot volcanic springs, to sporadic lakes and channels from the great rhaha and rufiji rivers. the rufiji river flows through the reserve attracting big herds of tanzanian elephants. Boat trips along the Rufiji River are very popular on Tanzania safaris… if you are looking for something very unique and different to do in the selous game reserve then a walking safari is a must. nothing can quite compare to the beauty and serenity that you will see and feel on a tanzania walking safari in the selous area.
Selous holds over 350 species of birds and reptiles, 2 000 species of plants, and a wide range of wildlife. This area was once home to the largest concentration of elephant on the continent (over 110,000)... The ‘Ivory Wars' of the late 70’s and early 80’s had a devastating effect on the herds, reducing numbers to an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 today. Today, despite the past in the Selous Game Reserve the numbers of these magnificent elephants are growing again!