Selous Game Reserve

This is a big, wild place.

It sits in a land called Tanzania. Many animals live in the grass and woods. You can see lions and tall giraffes. Large elephants and zebras live there too. Some animals are in danger. People do not live inside the park. This helps keep the animals safe. It is a very special home for nature.

The Selous Game Reserve is a big, wild place.

It sits in southern Tanzania in East Africa. The map shows where it is. This area has many different homes for nature. You can find grasslands and thick woods. There are also wetlands and rivers.

One famous river is the Rufiji River. It flows into the Indian Ocean. The river is very important to the land.

Many amazing animals live here. You might see a lion or a leopard. There are also hippos and big Nile crocodiles. Many elephants live in the reserve too. In 1976, there were about 109,000 elephants. That was the largest group in the world. Now, there are fewer than before. Some animals are in danger.

People do not live inside the park. This helps keep the land wild. Visitors can take boat trips on the river. Some people even go on walking safaris. You can stay in camps or lodges. Many people fly in small planes to visit. It is a very special place to see nature.

The Selous Game Reserve is a huge wilderness area in southern Tanzania.

This special place is located in East Africa. Some parts of it are now called Nyerere National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has so much nature. The land stays mostly untouched and very wild. You can find many different types of homes for animals here. These include wide grasslands and thick miombo woodlands. There are also wetlands and river areas.

Many famous animals live in this vast space. You might see a lion or a spotted hyena. There are also leopards and painted dogs. Large animals like the bush elephant and black rhinoceros live here too. You can find hippos, Cape buffalo, and Masai giraffes. The giant Nile crocodile lives in the water.

Some of these animals are very rare or in danger. In 1976, there were about 109,000 elephants in the reserve. That was the largest group in the world. By 2013, that number had dropped to about 13,000 elephants. This happened because of illegal hunting.

This land has a long and busy history. A German governor named Hermann von Wissmann first protected the area in 1896. Later, in 1905, it became a hunting reserve. The reserve takes its name from Frederick Selous. He was a famous hunter and a person who worked to save nature. He died at a place called Beho Beho in 1917. An explorer named Keith Johnston also died at Beho Beho in 1879. He was leading a group to find the Great Lakes of Africa.

Water is a very important part of this landscape. The Rufiji River flows through the reserve. This river eventually flows into the Indian Ocean. Near the river, there is a deep canyon called Stiegler Gorge. This canyon is nearly 100 metres deep.

A new power station is being built at this gorge. It is called the Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station. This project started on 26 July 2019. It aims to make a lot of electricity for Tanzania. Some groups worry that flooding the land will hurt the animals and people.

Visiting the reserve is a unique way to see the world. People do not live inside the park boundaries. This helps keep the ecosystems safe and sensitive. Most visitors arrive by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam. You can also reach the area by car or train.

Many people enjoy taking boat trips on the Rufiji River. Some visitors even go on walking safaris through the wild. You can stay in special camps or high-end lodges. This makes the Selous a very special place for travelers.

The Selous Game Reserve is a massive protected wilderness area located in southern Tanzania, within East Africa.

Parts of this vast territory have been renamed Nyerere National Park. In 1982, UNESCO designated the area as a World Heritage Site. This honor was given because of its immense biodiversity. The region also contains vast, undisturbed natural landscapes. These landscapes include wide grasslands and miombo woodlands. These ecosystems are vital for many different species of wildlife.

The landscape is composed of several distinct habitats. You can find typical Acacia savanna and wide grasslands. There are also wetlands and riverine zones. Riparian zones, which are areas near rivers, are also common. Extensive miombo woodlands provide cover for many animals. One of the most important features is the Rufiji River. This river flows through the reserve toward the Indian Ocean. Near the river lies Stiegler Gorge. This is a canyon that is nearly 100 metres deep and just as wide.

Many iconic animal species live within these diverse habitats. The reserve is home to the bush elephant and the black rhinoceros. You can also find hippopotamuses, lions, and leopards. Other notable animals include the spotted hyena and the painted dog. Large herbivores like the Cape buffalo and Masai giraffe live here too. The plains zebra, white-bearded gnu, and giant Nile crocodile are also present. Because these ecosystems are so sensitive, human habitation is not allowed inside the boundaries. The Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism tracks everyone who enters or exits.

The history of the area involves several notable figures. In 1896, German Governor Hermann von Wissmann first designated it a protected area. By 1905, the territory became a hunting reserve. The reserve was named after Frederick Selous. He was a famous big game hunter and an early conservationist. Selous died at Beho Beho in 1917 during World War I. Another explorer, Keith Johnston, also died at Beho Beho in 1879. He was leading a Royal Geographical Society expedition to the Great Lakes of Africa.

Wildlife populations in the reserve have faced significant changes. In 1976, the reserve held about 109,000 elephants. At that time, it was the largest elephant population in the world. However, by 2013, that number had dropped to approximately 13,000 animals. There was a sharp 66% decrease between 2009 and 2013 alone. This represents a decline of about 10% to 11% each year during that period. Many sources attribute these losses to illegal hunting and poaching.

Today, the reserve faces new challenges regarding land use and development. A boundary change was approved to allow for the use of uranium deposits. This decision was criticized by environmental organizations like Rainforest Rescue. Additionally, Tanzania is constructing the Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station. This project began on 26 July 2019. It aims to produce 2,115 megawatts of electricity. This would more than triple Tanzania's current hydropower capacity of 562 megawatts. However, the IUCN warns that flooding nearly 1,000 km2 could impact biodiversity and local people.

Despite these changes, the Selous remains a major destination for travelers. Some parts are used for private hunting leases. However, a northern section along the Rufiji River is a strict photographic wildlife zone. This area is a popular spot for tourists. Visitors often arrive by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam. Some also arrive by train or car. Many people enjoy boat trips on the Rufiji River. Some visitors even participate in walking safaris, which is a unique activity for this park.