Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve is a vast protected area in southern Tanzania known for its extensive river systems, miombo woodlands and large mammal populations. The reserve encompasses broad floodplains, channels of the Rufiji River and remote tracts of wilderness that are important for elephants, hippos and predators.

The area’s size and diverse habitats have supported a range of safari activities including vehicle and boat-based game viewing, with an emphasis on low-density tourism and wilderness experiences. Wildlife here occurs in more dispersed patterns than in northern circuit parks, which contributes to the reserve’s sense of remoteness.

Conservation and management have evolved to balance wildlife protection, seasonal use by pastoralists at the margins and regulated tourism. The reserve’s scale makes it one of the largest conservation units in mainland Africa.

Selous lies in southern Tanzania and extends across several administrative regions toward the Indian Ocean; its landscape is dominated by the Rufiji River basin and associated floodplains.

• Size and remoteness: The reserve is one of Africa's largest protected wildlife areas, covering on the order of tens of thousands of square kilometres and including extensive river systems and remote wilderness.

What to See #

• Rufiji River and floodplain: The Rufiji River and its floodplain are a major feature, providing habitats for hippo, crocodile and waterbird populations and supporting boat-based wildlife viewing.
• Woodland and floodplain habitats: A mosaic of miombo woodland, floodplain and coastal habitats supports a wide range of large mammals, elephants and several rare species such as African wild dog.