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Selous game reserve Tanzania safaris


Selous Game Reserve

 

Selous Game Reserve is one of World Heritage Sites in Tanzania. 

The Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest fauna reserves of the world, located in the south of Tanzania. Selous game reserve is main wildlife safari destination in southern circuit in Tanzania. Tourists can make a wildlife tour of 3 days to explore wildlife species and scenery in Selous game reserve. 

 Selous Game Reserve safari, wildlife protected areas in the world, offers Rufiji River Boat Safari viewing elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, e.t.c In typical 10 days southern circuit safaris Tanzania, Selous is include as main Tanzania safari place. 

Selous Game Reserve - Enjoy a safari to the unique Selous Game Reserve, a World Heritage Site and has 430 species of birds and plentiful large game animals. For best African safaris, Selous is first choice because of real wild habitat of wildlife.

 

Selous is located in south-east Tanzania in a remote and little-visited part of the country, the Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest protected wildlife reserve and covers more than 5% of Tanzania’s total area. It’s rivers, hills, and plains are home to roaming elephant populations, the area’s famous wild dogs, and some of the last black rhino left in the region. 

Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa and contains some of the greatest concentrations of big game left on earth.

Large numbers of elephants, black rhinoceroses, cheetahs, giraffes, hippopotamuses and crocodiles live in this immense sanctuary, which measures 50,000 km2 and is relatively undisturbed by human impact. The park has a variety of vegetation zones, ranging from dense thickets to open wooded grasslands.

Selous is almost twice the size of Belgium and four times larger than the famous Serengeti, covering 5% of Tanzania’s land area. The reserve contains the largest concentrations of wildlife of any park in Africa, Tanzania's largest population of elephant as well as large numbers of hippopotamus, buffalo and wild dog. Other species commonly seen are lion, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, eland, baboon, zebra, greater kudu, cheetah, and crocodile live in this immense sanctuary. The number and variety of game is largely due to its diverse vegetation that includes dense thicket, forest and open wooded grasslands. Safaris include game drive, walking, bird watching, crocodile trekking etc....

Accommodation in Selous Game Reserve and Dar es salaam, varies from budget to luxury. Make sure you book in advance.

 

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.

The park is named after Englishman, Frederick Courtney Selous - conservationist, hunter, explorer and author, whose adventure books on Africa became best sellers in Victorian England.

The Rufiji River Delta is a striking feature of the game reserve. It connects the Great Ruaha River with the Rufiji River and not far from the park boundaries empties out into the Indian Ocean along the Tanzanian Coast. The Rufiji River is the largest water catchment locations in the region, and as such, is home to a plethora of varied water and bird life. Along its shores, oppulent hippos sleep languidly in the mud and sun themselves, mouths wide open, as the river passes by. Crocodiles are also common along the Rufijii’s riverbanks, their armour plated skins the only rough edges in the rivers incessant flow. Stiggler’s Gorge, where the Great Ruaha River meets the Rufiji River, is a breathtaking example of the diversity and spectacular scenery along the game reserve's waterways.

The Selous is unique among Tanzania’s more renowned preserved areas because it is a game reserve, not a national park, and therefore a larger range of activities are permitted. Boating safaris are becoming a popular alternative to vehicle-based trips, and offer visitors a chance to see the diverse life along the Rufiji River up close in all its splendour. Hiking safaris and fly camping are also ideal ways to explore the country and add a bit of adventure to your African experience.

Wildlife – Wild animals.

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.

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 Rufii 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 water during the dry season.

 

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 birdlife ad lush scenery 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 SPECIALITIES

• Rare and endangered Wild Dog
 
• Boat game viewing
• Fishing
• Thousands of migrating elephants
• Walking safaris
 
• Huge wilderness

Selous Accomodation:

Accommodation in Selous Game Reserve

There are number of lodges, normal camps and luxury tented camps inside and outside the reserve, mostly overlooking the river or ox-bow lakes.

Getting to selous game reserve

Fly to Selous game reserve with Coastal Aviation - Tanzania's Leading Flying Safari Company.

By Air: There are daily schedule flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar to the Selous Game Reserve and return.
Charter flights can be arranged as well at the Charter Airline Offices, although at much higher prices.
 Rufiji River near the Eastern entrance to the Selous Game Reserve is called MTEMERE AIRSTRIP.

By Vehicle: An 6 to 8 hour trip from Dar es Salaam via Kibiti to Mloka and the SELOUS. A 4WD vehicle is a must.

By Train: A 5 to 6 hour trip from Dar es Salaam TAZARA (Tanzania Zambia Railroad) station to the Kisaki station near the Selous Game Reserve where you will be picked up by a vehicle:

More information: info@kili-tanzanitesafaris.com


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