Top attractions in Selous game reserve safari : Selous game reserve Tanzania located in the Miombo woodlands and placed in a distance of about 130 to 500 kilometers south west of Dar-es-salaam. In northwest, Selous Game Reserve borders Mikumi National Park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, and Kilombero Game Control Area in the west. 50,000 square km make up the UNESCO World Heritage site Selous National Park. The park’s land is divided into several tenure and plant zones. There is a flat, undulating terrain with alluvial troughs, protruding inselbergs, thickets, and closed forests in the centre of Selous Game Reserve. There are hills, forests, and rugged terrain in the south. The Mbarika Mountains rise to a height of 1,300 metres in the southwest. The west of Selous Game Reserve is made up of moist lowlands between mountains and forests. When it rains, the river Rufiji floods the tree meadows in the east and north.
Attractions in Selous Game Reserve.
Lakes.
The lakes that are home to many mammal and bird species are part of the Selous Game Reserve; these lakes include Tagalala, Mzizimia, Siwandu, Manze, and Nzelekela. Additionally, animals are drawn to the Rufiji River and its branches in search of water, particularly during the dry season.
Rufiji River.
Selous reserve is traversed by the Rufiji, Tanzania’s longest river, which forms a vast network of marshes, waterways, and tiny “lakes.” This consequently creates a variety of water sources that, particularly during the dry season, attract vast numbers of wild animals, including large herds of elephants and antelopes. On a Tanzania safari in the Selous, this river is also well-known for its thrilling boat rides. Notably, the reserve is divided into two main parts by the big river Rufiji: the northern sector is used for photography safaris, and the southern sector splits into hunting blocks.
Bird species.
Selous is home to about 440 different species of birds, and the best areas to watch them are by the Rufiji River and the surrounding lakes. A large number of migratory birds congregate in the area from November to April. The ideal time to go birdwatching safari in Selous is now. The following birds are rare: White-backed night heron; Spur-winged lapwing; Palm-nut vulture; African wattled lapwing; Brown-necked parrot; White-headed lapwing; Black-winged stilt; Brown-headed parrot; White-fronted bee-eater; White-fronted plover; Pearl-spotted owlet; White-fronted Pel’s fishing owl; African spoonbill; Broad-billed roller; White-headed vulture; African skimmer; Yellow-billed stork; Bohm’s bee-eater, and various other rare birds.
Animal species.
Upon observing the diverse array of large creatures that call the Selous home, you will undoubtedly concur with a host of others that this is among the greatest regions in Africa for a wildlife safari. In the Selous, there are roughly 110,000 elephants. In addition, there are over 150,000 buffalos, 25,000 impalas, 40,000 hippos, 35,000 zebras, and 4,000 lions the greatest number of any mammal in Africa. There are also rhinos, larger kudu, sable antelope, eland, brindled and Nyasaland gnus, giraffe, reedbuck, warthog, spotted hyena, lion, leopard, and hunting dogs.
There are many game viewing safari activities accessible in this reserve because wildlife viewing is one of the most well-liked tourist safari activities in Selous. Numerous journeys are available by vehicle, boat, or foot. For example, boat safaris let you glide cautiously through animal and bird habitats, rivers, and waterways to get up close and personal with species like crocodiles and hippos.
The end of the dry season is the ideal time to witness wildlife in the Selous because many large animals congregate around the few remaining water sources, such the five lakes.
Vegetation.
The plant growth of Selous Game Reserve is distinct from that of the rest of Tanzania. Both a deciduous Miombo woodland and forested savanna grasslands dominate its enormous regions. However, the Selous is home to unusual flora, including thick thorny shrubs, rocky outcrops, and expansive water forests.
Cemetery of Fredrick Selous.
Selous Game Reserve was named for the British adventurer and conservationist Frederick Courteney Selous, who was slain and interred in the Selous reserve during World War I. His gravestone is located next to a tamarind tree. You can visit it. In his scheme to incorporate the nation that is now Zimbabwe into the British Empire, he served as Cecil John Rhodes’ right-hand man. In 1899, he lost some of his honor because he spoke out against the war that England was fighting against the Boer Republics in South Africa. Fredrick Selous commanded the 25th Royal Fusiliers in the Selous during World War I. In 1916, he was awarded a DSO and was sixty years old at the time. He was in command of the hunt for the renegade German army controlling southern Tanzania. He took this action since he was well-versed in these regions.
On January 4, 1917, he was engaged in a bush war on the banks of the Rufiji River with Schutztruppen, a group of German colonists. A German shooter struck him in the head because he was outnumbered. He was laid to rest not far from his death, in a location known as Beho on the northern boundary of the Selous wildlife reserve.
Lake Tagalala.
An oxbow lake, Lake Tagalala. It is bounded by dying trees that generally perish when the water level rises during the rainy season. Many zebras, buffaloes, elephants, impalas, and other animals arrive in Lake Tagalala as the dry season begins and the majority of the Selous dries up. This attracts numerous predators to feast on these animals, including lions. A wide range of bird species can also be seen in the shallows of this lake. Because of this, Selous Game Reserve is a great location for game drives and hunting. Many visitors who come to this lake while on a Tanzania safari enjoy a cooling plunge in the adjoining hot spring. Some decide to only search for animals from their safari vehicles, while others decide to take a boat ride on the lake to view animals and birds.
