National Parks Africa » Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve is the largest in Africa, covering some 51,200 square kilometres (19,763 square miles). Its immense size and remoteness from populated areas make it particularly attractive both to wildlife and adventurers who can explore on foot or in a boat.

The varied terrain is undulating with rocky outcrops cut by many, usually dry, watercourses. Altitude varies between 110 metres (361 feet) and 1,250 metres (4,100 feet).

It is best to visit Selous between July and March, out of the rainy season. An average of 600 mm to 1,000 mm. (24 inches to 39 inches) of rain falls yearly, most of it from March to June.

The pristine landscape is dominated by the great Rufiji River system, the largest in East Africa. Three huge sand rivers, the Great Ruaha, Kilombero and Luwegu flow through the reserveand meet before being channelled through the spectacular Stiegler’s Gorge. Named after a German explorer who was killed by an elephant there in 1907, the gorge can be traversed by a swaying footbridge over the raging waters.

Selous was originally established as a hunting preserve by the Germans just after the turn of the 20th century. It is still visited by occasional hunters who pay dearly for the privilege.

Selous was named in 1922 after the naturalist, elephant-hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous who, as captain of a British unit, was killed in action during the advance against the Germans at the end of the First World War 1. His grave is north along a tributary of the Behobeho River.

Over 1,700 species of plants have been identified in Selous, along with hundreds of bird species. Since the area is relatively well watered, there is an abundance of trees and bush, providing excellent shelter for the wildlife.

Large and lesser game:
Selous is most famous for its huge herds of elephants, although their numbers have been reduced by poachers. Huge buffalo herds come to drink at the river in dry season. A boat trip on the Rufiji will reveal hippos and crocodiles in abundance, and you may also see waterbuck, the southern reedbuck and bushbuck. The beautiful sable antelope with its long curved horns and the slightly larger roan antelope and greater kudu like to hide in the tall grass while lesser kudu are more often seen among the rocky hills and dry bush. Impalas and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest are common as are zebras and the southern race of wildebeest, which is marked with a distinctive white chevron on its long face. Rhinos have been almost exterminated by poachers but small numbers may still exist.

Selous is of great scientific importance because it has a history of research and a wildlife station in the reserve. At Kingupira in the east, a Miombo Research Centre was established in 1966. Monitoring has shown, sadly, that the estimated 100,000 elephant population in 1977 dropped to about 50,000 in 1987.

The easiest way to reach Selous is by air to one of the airstrips (each of the four major camps/lodges has its own strip). The Tanzam railway from Dar es Salaam runs along the northern boundary of the reserve. The views are superb. There are several stations four to six hours from Dar es Salaam where you can disembark and enter Selous, provided transport or a foot safari has been organized in advance. The major station is at Fuga.

Getting to Selous by road takes about eight hours or more from Dar es Salaam. If arriving from the east, you need to plan to come in the dry season and with a four-wheel drive vehicle. The main, and much better but longer road goes west, although access to the reserve is only via tracks leading off south from Morogoro or Mikumi. Once inside Selous you can travel about only by four-wheel drive, on foot, with an armed escort or in a boat along the river.