Selous Game Reserve
This is the largest wildlife area in Africa considered larger than Switzerland and also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The park gets its name from the hunter-explorer Frederick Courtney Selous, whose books were best sellers in Victorian England. Walking safaris, game drives and boat trips may be organized
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
Tanzania’s largest population of elephant as well as large numbers of lion, leopard, African hunting dog, buffalo and hippo are all located here.
This is home to over black rhinos who tend to hide in the dense thickets but sightings are possible.
Species commonly seen are bushbuck, red and blue duikers, eland, hartebeest, hyena, klipspringer, impala, giraffe, oryx, reed buck, waterbuck and zebra.
Yellow baboon and velvet and blue monkey and families of black and white colobus may sometimes be seen moving from tree to tree.
Endangered Red colobus inhabit the west of the reserve but visits to observe this rare breed can be arranged.
The bird-life in the Selous is prolific and the 400 species recorded include the globally threatened wattled crane and the corncrake.
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Game viewing is great during the dry season between June and October.
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.