Selous Game Reserve epitomises the Africa experienced by many of its early explorers – raw and untouched. Only in its northern extremity in the area of forest set around the mighty Rufiji River, has the Selous suffered the incursion of man, and it is still home to a vast range of birds and mammals.
Wildlife safaris may take you to the lakes where, in the dry season, herbivores gather to drink and the carnivores lie in wait. Walks accompanied by an armed guide offer the opportunity to see Cape buffalo, elephant and perhaps lion, and a boat safari provides you with the thrill of getting close to hippos and crocodiles. Although poaching affected the African elephant population in the 1980s, careful management and conservation schemes have brought their numbers back to a healthy level. There are also large numbers of Nile crocodile and African wild dog, lion, leopard and many species of plains game.
Covering some 54,600 square kilometres of southern Tanzania, the park is named after Frederick Courtney Selous, the famous 19th century hunter and explorer whose books were bestsellers in Victorian England.
View suggested itinerary
