SELOUS GAME RESERVE
The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected wildlife area in Africa. A UN World Heritage site, this pristine, uninhabited area is larger than Switzerland. Only in the Serengeti will visitors see a greater concentration of wildlife. Yet Selous boasts Tanzania’s largest population of elephant as well as large numbers of buffalo, hippo and wild dog. Other species commonly seen are lion, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, eland, baboon, zebra and greater kudu. The topography of the park varies from rolling savannah woodland, grassland plains and rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries, the
Kilombero and Luwegu, which together cover the greatest
catchment area in East Africa. The Rufiji, which flows from north to south, provides the life-blood of the Selous and sailing or rafting down the river is a superb method of seeing ame,especially during the dry season between June and October. Crocodiles, hippo and an array of grazing ntelope can be seen. Linked to the Rufiji is Lake Tagalala, where waterbuck, reedbuck and bushbuck gather at the water’s edge. In the long grassland, safari enthusiasts may get a chance to see rare sable antelope, greater kudu - or lion.

The park gets its name from the hunter-explorer Frederick Courtney Selous, whose books about his exploits were best sellers in ictorian England. Walking safaris, game drives and boat trips are organised. The best time to visit is during the dry season, when game is forced from hiding places to the river to rink. The waters of the Kilombero Game Controlled Area are home to the ferocious tiger fish and vandu catfish, the latter equipped with a primitive set of lungs which allows it to migrate from one landlocked pool to another.

Getting there: Between a seven
and nine hour drive, but only in
the dry season, or a one and a half
hour flight from Dar es Salaam.