Selous
Game Reserve Tanzania
Selous
Game Reserve View
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Selous
Game Reserve; Selous Game Reserve is one of
the largest fauna reserves of the world, located in
the south of Tanzania.
It
was named after Englishman Sir 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 I. Selous Game
Reserve covers a total area of 54,600 km² (21,081
square miles).
Enter
Africa's largest protected area uninhabited by man,
where Tanzania's greatest population of elephants wander
in an area bigger than Switzerland! The Selous (pronounced
“Seloo”) is considered important enough
to be World Heritage Site, in which the lucky few can
experience a safari in absolutely wild and unspoiled
bush.
Selous
Game Reserve is named after Englishman, Frederick Courtney
Selous - conservationist, hunter, explorer and author,
whose adventure books on Africa became best sellers
in Victoria England.
The
park varies from rolling grassy woodlands and plains,
to rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River - the lifeblood
of the park, whose tributaries form a network of lakes,
lagoons and channels. Volcanic hot springs even burst
forth in places. The Rufiji offers a superb method of
game viewing especially during the dry season when animals
congregate.
Selous
Game Reserve Lodges offer walking safaris, game drives
and boat trips. The Rufiji River provides excellent
opportunities for sailing or rafting to view game.
Fishing
is allowed in the rivers of the Kilombero Game Controlled
area to the west of the reserve, where tiger fish and
catfish are plenty. Much of the reserve is available
for hunting.
Stiegler's
Gorge is one of the park's most striking features. This
gaping chasm channels the frothing confluence of the
Great Ruaha and Rufiji Rivers. After this bottle neck,
the Rufiji swells through the park down to the Indian
Ocean forming a series of small lakes that serve as
an important source of water for the multitude of the
plains game.
The
hinterland around Lake Tagalla and Beho Beho is some
of the most picturesque in area. Some distance from
Lake Tagalla, whose shape and size is in a constant
state of flux, hidden in a ravine surrounded by lush
vegetation, are the Maji Moto hot springs. In this fascinating
area, waterbuck, southern reed-buck and bushbuck are
common.
During
the dry season in Selous Game Reserve, rare sable antelope,
lion and greater kudu frequent the Lake. Lined with
Borassus palms, the muddy Rufiji is the Selous Game
Reserve's main artery.
During
the dry season between June and October the river banks
explode in a spectacular flood of the plains animals
quenching their thirst all under the opportunistic eye
of crocodile. The Selous Game Reserve is home to over
350 species of birdlife.
The
largest African reserve covers an area of 55,000 sq
km and is crossed by the Rufiji River full of hippos,
crocodiles, and fish. Its tributaries form a network
of lakes ideal for boat safaris, wildlife observation
and bird watching; over 350 species have been catalogued.
Selous
Animals & Aquatic Life
Selous
contains about one third of all the wild dogs (often
called painted dogs), in the world. Their need to roam
vast areas and their formidable hunting skills have
caused many to be shot by farmers, but here in Selous
they have boundless woodlands and savannahs in which
to roam.
If
you are looking for elephants, Selous Game Reserve is
the place to find them: there is a large population
of these giant mammals. The vast majority of Tanzania's
elephant herd live in one remote stretch of safari wilderness
- the Selous Game Reserve.
Other
species commonly seen are lions, wild dogs, buffaloes,
bushbucks, impalas, elands, baboons, zebras and greater
kudus.
The
Rufiji River system, the greatest in East Africa flows
through the reserve and is home to countless hippos
and crocodiles. Linked to the Rufiji is Lake Tagalla,
where waterbucks, reedbucks, bushbucks and the rare
sable antelope can be seen.
Elephants
in Selous Game
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Selous
Game Reserve Boat
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 Wild
Dog
Selous Game Reserve
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Migrating
Elephants
Along
the Rufiji River, an array of grazing antelopes, crocodiles
and hippos are commonly seen as well as black and white
colobus monkeys in the riverine forests. During the
dry season from June to October, the concentration of
animals along the river is astonishing.
Linked
to the Rufiji is Lake Tagalala where waterbuck, reedbuck
and bushbuck gather at the water's edge. Magnificent
sickle-horned sable and curly-horned greater kudu tend
to keep to the longer grass and wooded shrubby areas.
In
the dry season an ancient migration of elephants takes
place between the Selous and Mozambique's Niassa Game
Reserves. This is one of the largest natural trans-boundary
eco-systems in Africa and at the last consensus it was
estimated that 64,400 elephants roam the two parks,
with 84% on the Tanzanian side.
Fierce
tiger fish and smooth slippery vandu catfish are caught
in the rivers. The latter is equipped with primitive
lungs allowing it to cross land for short distance in
an attempt to find water during the dry season.
Selous
Seasons
Dry
Season: The dry season sets in during
June to November and is the best time for game viewing
along the rivers. Elephants come out of the bush at
that time and predators are more commonly seen.
Rainy Season: January
to April is wonderful for bird life and it's lush and
green but many roads become impassable after heavy rains.
December to February is still good for game viewing
but can be rather hot and humid. The safari lodges are
usually closed from March to May.
Selous
Highlights
•
Thousands of migrating elephants
•
Rare and endangered Wild Dog
• Boat game viewing
• Huge wilderness
•
Walking safaris
•
Fishing
Selous
Game Reserve, Tanzania
|
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
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 Selous
Game Reserve, Tanzania
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Getting
to Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve can be reached by Plane, train or
road.
By
plane: Selous
Game Reserve flight services are
normally available from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and
Arusha into different airstrip in the reserve depend
on which camp to be visited.
By
Road: The drive to
Selous Game Reserve from Dar es
salaam is via Kibiti village and cross Mtemere entrance
gates takes up to seven hours covering 250 kilometers
on where the first 150 kilometers of the road is well
bituminized and the rest is on earth road.
The drive from Morogoro
to Selous Game
Reserve takes about 5 hours passing
through beautiful landscapes and scenery. 4x4 Safari
vehicles would be highly recommended.
By
train: At a reasonable
price, by Tazara Train would be the other way of reaching
Selous Game
Reserve. Tazara has now released
a new schedule on where there will be train to Selous
on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
Selous
Game Reserve Activities
Game Drives:
Selous
Game Reserve visitors can visit
the park through Safari packages with
African Spice Safaris to small and remote camps and
lodges, with little chance of bumping into any sign
of human life.
During a game drive
or walk one might be lucky enough to see a pack of African
Wild Dog, disappearing throughout Africa but thriving
in the Selous.
These complex and fascinating
mammals show little fear of vehicles, and it’s
often possible to observe their intense social life
from close proximity. In the tourist area the density
of dogs is higher than anywhere else in Africa.
Boat
Trip: Selous visitors
are offered trips long the Rufiji River and the adjoining
lakes where hippos, crocodile and a variety of bird
species. Spot fishing facilities are also available.
Other activities include: Walking safaris, Spot fishing
and Bird watching.
Best
time to Visit:
The most pleasant time to visit the Selous Game
Reserve
is during the cool season from the end of June until
October. The rainy season is from November to May.
There is a dryer spell
in January and February, and this is also a beautiful
time to visit as the trees and flowers are blossoming
and everywhere from the end of March to May, the reserve
is inaccessible and the tourist camps are closed.
Selous
Game Reserve Accommodation | Click
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Selous
Game Reserve Safaris & Tours | Click
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Booking
& Reservations for Selous Game Reserve is approximately
250 Kilometers (6 hours drive) from Dar-es-salaam -
Tanzania
Booking
Office Tel: + 254 (0)
20 2437871
Mobile : + 254 - 721242711 (Safaricom)
- Kenya
Email:
info@africanspicesafaris.com
