Information
City: Selous Game ReserveCountry: Tanzania
Continent: Africa
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania, Africa
Overview
Once called the Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park ranks among Tanzania’s biggest and most vital protected lands, stretching farther than the eye can see across golden, sunlit plains.You’ll find it in the country’s south, stretching across more than 50,000 square kilometers-about the size of a broad plain fading into the horizon.This vast reserve is famous for its rich mix of wildlife, winding rivers, and untouched wilderness, all set against sweeping views where the air smells of pine after rain.It’s also among East Africa’s most important wildlife sanctuaries, where lions prowl the tall golden grass.In southern Tanzania, the Selous Game Reserve stretches across the Rufiji River Basin, spilling into Morogoro, Lindi, and Ruvuma.Named for British explorer Frederick Selous, it’s defined by the wide, slow-moving Rufiji River and dotted with wetlands, lakes, and reed-filled swamps.The Rufiji River keeps the region alive, spilling into the reserve’s wetlands where hippos wallow and birds crowd the reeds.The Selous stretches beyond, shifting from open savannah to dense woodlands and the dry, fragrant miombo forests.The reserve’s landscape remains untouched and far from the bustle, with stretches so rugged you can only reach them on foot, keeping its wild spirit alive.The Selous Game Reserve, now Nyerere National Park, teems with life-elephants, fish eagles, and sunbathing crocodiles among its remarkable array of mammals, birds, and reptiles.In Africa, few spots match this one for wildlife-lions padding through tall grass, elephants moving in the distance-set in a landscape that still feels untouched.In the Selous, you’ll find an incredible range of wildlife-towering elephants, stealthy lions, cheetahs streaking across the grass, leopards melting into the shadows, along with buffalo, hippos, giraffes, and zebras.African painted wolves, with their mottled coats, are a rare sight here, one of the few places left to watch these endangered hunters roam free.Herds of impala, eland, greater kudu, and waterbuck graze the plains, while above, more than 400 bird species fill the air with wings and song.You’ll spot raptors, waterfowl, and waders here-African fish eagles slicing through the sky, hornbills flashing their bright bills, herons stalking the shallows, pelicans gliding low over the water, and kingfishers darting in a blur of color.Crocodiles lurk in the rivers, tortoises plod through the dust, and snakes of many kinds slip silently through the grass.The Selous itself spreads out in a patchwork of miombo woodlands, cool riverine forests, and wide, sunlit savannahs.You’ll find baobabs with thick, bottle-shaped trunks, graceful acacias, marula trees, and a patchwork of grasses and shrubs that feed and shelter the wildlife.In the Selous Game Reserve, visitors can set out on game drives, boat safaris, or walking tours to experience its untouched wilderness.Game Drives: This reserve ranks among Tanzania’s top spots for game drives, where you might spot a lion stretching in the early morning sun.Visitors can take the wheel and wind through wide, golden savannahs, then slip into the cool shade of dense woodlands, spotting wildlife along the way.In the dry season, animals crowd around shrinking waterholes, making wildlife sightings common.A boat safari on the Rufiji River lets you drift past hippos snorting in the shallows, crocodiles sunning on the banks, and flashes of bright wings overhead.From the river, you can watch kingfishers flash past and glimpse wildlife in its natural rhythm.On foot, walking safaris let you feel the dust under your boots as skilled guides lead you deeper into the heart of the reserve.It gives visitors a chance to spot tiny creatures, delicate plants, and faint animal tracks that vehicles often miss.Fly-in safaris, reached by light aircraft, offer yet another way to experience the vast Selous.These safaris lift visitors high above the sweeping wilderness, then touch down on dusty, out-of-the-way airstrips for rare, close-up encounters in the reserve.For the night, you can choose from plush lodges, canvas tented camps, or simple campsites scattered in and around Selous.Fly-camps let you sleep under canvas with the night sounds all around, while some lodges sit right on the Rufiji River, where you can watch the water glint in the sun and set out easily on boat safaris.With more than 400 bird species, the Selous is a dream for anyone who loves spotting rare wings in the wild.Go birdwatching in the soft light of early morning or the golden glow before sunset, and you might spot water birds skimming the surface, raptors circling high, and a host of other species.In the Selous Game Reserve, sweeping plains and the flicker of wildlife through tall grass make for unforgettable photographs.Far from the crowds, the region’s raw, untouched wilderness carries a wildness you can almost hear in the rustle of dry grass-something now scarce in much of Africa.Nyerere National Park, also known as the Selous Game Reserve, stands among East Africa’s most vital conservation strongholds.Work to safeguard the reserve’s wildlife and landscapes never stops, especially since it shelters endangered species like wild dogs and African elephants.The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) manages its protection, and UNESCO has named it a World Heritage Site for its remarkable biodiversity and fragile habitats.Still, poaching-especially the brutal killing of elephants for ivory-remains a serious threat.Authorities have stepped up anti-poaching patrols and tightened law enforcement, while the growing number of people nearby has led to more clashes with wildlife, especially when elephants wander into maize fields; shifting rainfall and rising heat threaten Selous’ water sources, and visitors can fly straight into Selous Airport (SEU) from Dar es Salaam or other Tanzanian cities.Several tour companies run charter flights into the reserve from Tanzania’s main airports, while those who prefer the ground route can drive from Dar es Salaam-a long, dusty 6- to 7-hour journey.You can usually reach the reserve without trouble in the dry season, when some travelers either drive themselves along the dusty tracks or hop on a guided safari.In Selous, luxury lodges like Selous River Camp and Siwandu Camp provide plush rooms, river safaris, game drives, and even walking tours.For a closer connection to the wild, tented camps sit tucked away in the park’s quieter corners.Zeru-Zeru Ten, sharp as a bell at midnight.
Landmarks in selous-game-reserve
