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The Selous Game Reserve (now: Nyerere Game Reserve) is a protected area in southern Tanzania. It covers a total area of 50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi) and has additional buffer zones. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to its wildlife diversity and undisturbed nature. Some of the typical wildlife, such as African bush elephant, black rhino, hippopotamus, lion, East African wild dog, Cape buffaloes, Masai giraffe, Plains zebra, and Nile crocodile. Permanent human habitation is not permitted within the reserve. All human entry and exit is controlled by the Wildlife Division of the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The reserve was named after Frederick Selous, a famous big game hunter and early conservationist.
Tanzania Horizon Safaris offers a variety of Safaris to Selous Game Reserve arriving from Dar es Salaam by jeep or by private plane. Visit Selous National Park as a daytrip by plane from Daressalaam or from Zanzibar. There are longer options for 3 Days Selous Safari and also 5 Days Selous Safari in combination with Mikumi National Park. Visiting Selous National Park Safari offers you various options to stay: Selous Serena Camp, Serena Mivumo River Lodge, Selous Jimbiza Camp, Selous Game Reserve Hotels, Selous Tented Camp, Selous Game Reserve Accommodation, Africa Safari Camp, Selous Game Reserve Lodges.
You can go on safari at the beautiful Selous Game Reserve, starting from Daressalaam and combing it with a visit to the Udzungwa Mountains, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park and a stop at Dodoma.
The best time to visit the Selous Game Reserve is during the June to October dry season. It is during this period that there is virtually no rain in the Selous, the malaria risk is at its lowest, and wildlife is extremely concentrated around water sources like the Rufiji River.
The area was first designated a protected area in 1896 by the German Governor of Tanganyika Hermann von Wissmann, and became a hunting reserve in 1905. Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit.
Most of the reserve remains set aside for game hunting through a number of privately leased hunting concessions, but a section of the northern park along the Rufiji River has been designated a photographic zone and is a popular tourist destination. There are several high end lodges and camps mainly situated along the river and lake systems in this area. Rather difficult road access means most visitors arrive by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam or by jeep.
Interesting places in the park include the Selous Game Reserve, Rufiji River, which flows into the Indian Ocean opposite Mafia Island and the Stiegler Gorge, a canyon of 100 metres depth and 100 metres width. Habitats include grassland, typical Acaciasavanna, wetlands and extensive Miombo woodlands. Although total wildlife populations are high, the reserve is large and densities of animals are lower than in the more regularly visited northern tourist circuit of Tanzania.
Walking safaris are permitted in the Selous Game Reserve, and boat trips on the Rufiji are a popular activity. A boundary change to allow the use of uranium deposits has been approved. The approval for the boundary change was given by the UNESCO and seriously criticized by environmentalists and organizations.
Tourism is a key factor to preserve this unique environment from poaching as tourism provides job opportunities in the area.
Great Camps and Lodges in Selous Game Reserve are:
