At twice the size of Denmark, Selous (55,000 sq km) is the second largest ‘park’ in the world, said to be home to over one million mammals.
Of this vast wilderness only the Beho Beho region, north of the Rufiji River is open to tourists.
The best time is July-October, though precaution needs to be taken since the area is infested with the Tsetse.
Selous is renown for its large numbers of Elephant and Rhino, which declined drastically in the 1980’s as a result of poaching, yet now herds of Elephants are again on the increase. Some 400 species of birdlife have been recorded including the elusive Eleonora’s Falcon. The real showpiece of the park has to be the Rufiji which flows through its heart and offers (time and again) the spectacle of large numbers of Hippo’s gallivanting about, whilst Crocodiles bask like disguarded rough boulders on its banks.
The Rufiji and its dependant’s create the largest river catchment in East Africa. Highlights include Stiegler’s Gorge about 100 m high, providing a dramatic river bottleneck and 20 km downstream the 5 swampy Lakes that this river system feeds before leaving the reserve. Here a variety of ‘Plains Game’ including the rare Sable Antelope, Greater Kudu and Waterbuck refresh themselves. Hot Sulphur Springs bubble up at Maji Moto, near Beho Beho – some just cool enough to swim in! Walking safaris are organised in this reserve, but expect the wildlife to be shy. Hunting Dog, Spotted Hyena, Lion and Leopard have been sighted along with Buffalo and Elephant.
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