Selous Game Reserve is one of the rawest and untouched wilderness Areas of Tanzania, teeming with jaw-dropping array of wildlife, landscapes and bird species. This reserve is a region of laid-back waterways and forests with playful blue monkeys and colored beauties, an area of hot springs, deeply-incised valleys, stunning palm-fringed lakes and sweeping savannah plains.
Location
Selous Game Reserve is a beautiful Protected Area within the southern side of Tanzania along the southern Tanzania Safari circuit with different habitats that include thick shrubs with thorns, wetlands, savannah grassland, Rock outcrops, vast Miombo woodlands as well as typical Acacia savannah.
Size
Selous covers an area of 54,600 square kilometers (21,100 square miles), three times the size of Serengeti National Park. This Reserve also includes additional buffer zones.
History of Selous Game Reserve
This blissfully secluded and untouched Tanzanian Game Reserve was first gazetted as a Protected Area in 1896 by then German Governor of Tanganyika, Hermann Von Wissmann and became a hunting reserve in 1905.
Its name originated from Frederick Selous, a popular big game hunter and early conservationist who passed away in 1917 at Beho Beho within the area. He is said to have lost his life during the First World War against Germans. The area became a Game Reserve in 1922 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 because of its spectacular landscapes, rich wildlife diversity as well as raw nature.
ATTRACTIONS IN SELOUS GAME RESERVE.
Wildlife.
Selous Game Reserve is occupied by numerous wildlife species, that are typical of the Miombo vegetation and these include the highest concentration of Plains Zebras, African bush elephants, Cape buffaloes, Black rhinos, East African wild dogs, African lions, Hippos, Masai giraffes, Nile crocodiles, impalas, Defassa waterbucks, Brindled gnu, common warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeests, spotted hyenas, Sable antelopes, Puku antelopes, Nyasaland gnu, Reedbucks, the elusive leopards, common elands, Great kudu, Kobs and many others. This makes Selous Game Reserve one of the best safari destinations to enjoy game viewing in Africa.
Birdlife.
Selous Game Reserve is haven to more than 440 bird species that mainly occupy the banks of rivers and Lakeshores. A plethora of migratory bird species flock this vast Protected Area from November to March, making these months the most ideal for birding tours in this Reserve. Some of the incredibly beautiful bird species to encounter in this Reserve include the Bohm’s bee-eaters, Brown-necked parrots, Thick-billed cuckoo, Mangrove kingfishers, Racket-tailed roller, Pel’s fishing owls, red-throated twin spot, Palm-nut vultures, green-capped eremomela, white-backed night herons, Pearl-spotted owlet, Black-winged stilt, white-headed lapwing, long-tailed fiscal, Spur-winged lapwing, white-fronted plovers, African spoonbill, African wattled lapwing, Broad-billed rollers, Racket-tailed roller, African skimmer, yellow-billed storks, Rock pratincoles, yellow-bellied bulbul, white-crowned lapwing, southern ground hornbills, black cuckoo-shrike, Northern carmine bee-eater, Carmine bee-eaters, Dickinson’s kestrel, Thick-billed cuckoo, Layard’s black-headed weavers, Mosque swallow, Bennett’s woodpeckers, Decken’s hornbills, Grey-hooded kingfishers, green-billed Coucal, Freckled nightjars, red-faced Crombec, Sterling’s barred warblers and many others.
Lake Tagalala.
Lake Tagalala is a stunning trees-fringed oxbow Lake that is frequently visited by impalas, elephants, zebras, buffaloes, Defassa waterbucks and common warthogs that also attract numerous predators like lions. The Lake is surrounded by dying-out tree that usually drown during the rainy season when water levels increase.
Rufiji River.
When you talk of beautiful places in Selous Game Reserve, Rufiji River cannot be under looked. This spectacular River is the biggest in the country, drains through this Reserve into the Indian Ocean opposite to Mafia Island as well as Stiegler Gorge, a canyon extending for 100 meters wide and 100 meters deep.
It is characterized by a network of water channels, wetlands and small lakes which attract a diversity of animals and bird species.
Frederick Selous Gravesite.
This Reserve was named after Frederick Courteney Selous, an early British Explorer and conservationist who was murdered and laid to rest within the Reserve’s area during the First World War. His gravesite (beneath a tamarind tree) is one of the outstanding tourist sites you will find in this game reserve. Frederick Selous was said to have worked as Cecil John Rhode’s right hand man during his operation to take over present – day Zimbabwe under the British Empire. He was made Captain of the 25th Royal Fusiliers at 60 years old and pioneered the pursue of German Guerilla army that was in control of southern Tanzania.
However on 4th January 1917 during the bush war along the banks of Rufiji River against Schutztruppen – a popular German Colonialist, he was defeated and shot dead on the head by a German sniper. He was laid to rest at a place called “Beho”, within the northern boundary of Selous Game Reserve.
TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN SELOUS GAME RESERVE.
Boat rides.
Boat rides in Selous Game Reserve are enjoyed within Rufiji River. While on this activity, be prepared to ride with a boat calmly on the River and water channels, rewarding you with views of birds and animal habitats. This brings you closer to the Hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes.
Guided bush walks.
Guided bush walks in Selous Game Reserve offer chances of getting up-close and interfacing with big game species such as elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, Hippos and many others. You will appreciate Mother Nature during your visit to Selous Game Reserve.
Game Drives.
Game drives in Selous Game Reserve are undertaken early in the morning, afternoon and in the evening. They are conducted in open-roof vehicles to reward visitors with the best wildlife views and visitors are advised to have a Park ranger on-board to identify the different wildlife and bird species. Expect to see big five animals-elephants, Black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, lions and leopards, Masai giraffes and Defassa waterbucks among others.
Birding.
With a checklist of over 440 species of birds, travellers interested in birding tours can surely enjoy the beauty of Selous Game Reserve ecosystems. The Spur-winged lapwing, white-fronted plovers, African spoonbill, African wattled lapwing, Broad-billed rollers, Racket-tailed roller, African skimmer, yellow-billed storks, Rock pratincoles and giant kingfishers are some of the bird species to expect during birding tours in Selous Game Reserve.
Hot air balloon safaris.
In Tanzania, hot air balloon safaris are conducted in only two places-Serengeti National Park and Selous Game Reserve. Expect 360-degree views over the sweeping plains while marveling at the animal diversity and admiring the beauty of Mother Nature.
Other interesting tourist activities in Selous Game Reserve are photography, cultural tours, fly-camping Safaris and many others.
BEST TIME TO VISIT SELOUS GAME RESERVE.
The best time to visit Selous Game Reserve is towards the end of the dry season-months of June, July, August and September as well as December, January and February because many large animals converge around surviving water sources of the Reserve such as the five lakes, rivers and water channels.
WHERE TO STAY?
Selous Game Reserve boasts of a number of wilderness places to stay during safaris and they include;
Lake Manze Camp.
Lake Manze Camp is a midrange Camp set within the prim areas and features 12 beautifully furnished along the shores of Lake Manze.
Beho Beho Camp.
Beho Beho Camp is an intimate Safari retreat with 8 spacious stone and thatch Bandas offering guests with cool breezes and open-air experiences. Guests are offered comfort with cozy king-sized beds, Persian carpets, deep chairs and mouth-watering meals. Expect bush means and sundowners, private dining, elegant swimming pool, spacious bar area and adventurous activities.
Siwandu Camp
Siwandu Camp is an elegant luxurious Camp set within the shady grove of palm trees within the shores of Lake Nzerakera, just few meters from River Rufiji. Its spacious Canvas Tents with thatch roofs and private verandas are scattered along the Lakeshores, with accommodation in 13 rooms. While here, you can unwind at the swimming pool overlooking the River while soaked in the sun and sipping your glass of wine.
Other elegant accommodation facilities within Selous Game Reserve include the luxurious Selous Kinga Lodge, the stunning Sand River Camp on the pristine banks of Rufiji River, Rufiji River Camp, Selous Serena Camp, Sands Rivers Selous, the Sable Mountain Lodge outside Matambwe Gate, Retreat Selous, Amaras Selous, Selous Mapumziko Lodge, Selous Great Water Lodge, Selous Wilderness Camp along the palm edges of the broad twisting Rufiji River, Kiba Point Safari Lodge, Selous Riverside Safari Camp, Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp, Jimbiza Lodge, Mivumo River Lodge and Selous Impala Camp among others.
How to get to Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve is located in southern Tanzania, about 219 kilometers/4 hours’ drive from the bustling City of Dar es Salaam. There are three outstanding ways to get to Selous Game Reserve and they include air transport where flights are organized from Dar es Salaam Airport to the Reserve and this takes about 45 minutes. Flights can also be arranged from Ruaha and these take one and a half hours.
The second option of reaching Selous Game Reserve is by road. Road trips from Dar es Salaam City pass through the normal safari route via Mikumi National Park to Selous Game Reserve’s Matambwe Gate. The journey is only 4 hours.
The third option of reaching this Reserve is rail through the Tanzania-Zambia railway AZARA starting from Dar es Salaam through the remote southern Tanzania to Matambwe.
