Selous Game Reserve

• Natural World Heritage Site
• One of the world’s largest game reserve

The Selous ecosystem is one of the biggest wilderness sanctuaries in Africa and includes the Selous Game Reserve, of which the Mikumi National Park and Kilomberi Game Controlled Area, forms part. It hosts a large number of undisturbed vegetation zones, which are home to huge populations of wildlife and birds.

The Selous Game Reserve was named after Captain Frederick Courteney Selous, a famous hunter, naturalist and soldier of the last century. It is one of Africa’s largest game reserves with some areas being so remote that only those on fly-in safaris can reach them. The 55000km² reserve is four times the size of the Serengeti and twice as big as Denmark.

It is criss-crossed by the Rufiji and Great Ruaha Rivers as well as a multitude of smaller rivers, channels and lakes fed by them. The vegetation consists mostly of miombo woodland and grasslands, but there are also wetlands, gorges and dense riverine forests. More than 2000 plant species have been recorded. Walking with an armed ranger is a fantastic way of seeing the huge numbers of wildlife, while game viewing from boats is also very popular. It is also popular to go on 4x4 drives. Adding to the diversity, there are hot volcanic springs in the reserve as well.

Special features include:

• Wildlife
  The Selous boasts some of the biggest elephant herds on the African continent and contains all of the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion).  There is a range of antelope, giraffe, wild dog, crocodile, cheetah and hippo. The birdlife is rich and varied, with over 350 recorded species among which are the knob-billed duck, southern ground hornbill and bateleur eagle
  
• Hot springs
  Within the reserve are a number of hot springs or “Maji Moto” where hot, sulphurous water flows from rocks and little springs. Most people head to Lake Tagalala to see the hot springs, but swimming here is forbidden due to the crocodiles