Selous Game Reserve—This is one of largest fauna reserves in the world. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, much of the land is set aside for big-game hunting, and it’s a world-class spot if that’s your thing. If it’s not your thing, but you’re in this southern part of Tanzania, there’s a section in the northern part of the reserve that’s just for photography and sightseeing.
The protected reserve spans over 19,000 square miles (about 33,600 square kilometers) and is filled with diverse wildlife and undisturbed nature. While permanent human habitation is not allowed, there are many interesting places to check out while you are there. There are hot volcanic springs and channels from nearby rivers that help diversify the landscape. You can take in the beauty and peaceful surroundings on a walking safari.
While only about 10 percent of the reserve is open for photography, the game hunting at Selous Game Reserve is the real deal. Full of tributaries and lakes, you can hear the sound of hippos and crocodiles never too far away as you embark on your hunt. Additionally, the terrain varies between vegetation zones, dense thickets and open grasslands. Big game hunting is a very lucrative business opportunity for the area and is ran based on the wildlife density. The big selling point here is authenticity, it is not your average tourist destination. You will not find lodges and the camps are very basic.
Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve is home to about half the country’s elephant population. You will find large numbers of rhinos, cheetahs, hippos and giraffes. Additionally, the reserve is home to over 350 various species of birds, such as the rufous winged sun bird and the Udzungwa forest partridge. Contributing to maintaining the integrity of the property, it actually sits nestled within the 56000 square mile (or 90,000 square kilometer) Selous Ecosystem. Selous Ecosystem offers national parks, forest reserves and other wildlife areas.
Truly, Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve is one of the most awe-inducing wonders in the world with the site boosting one of the largest uninhabited wildernesses in all of Africa. The beauty of the reserve has been immortalized over the years by writers and photographer alike. Furthermore, it has so much to offer in the way of hiking, boating, camping and other safari activities. It is because of all of this that United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) has designated the spectacular Selous Game Reserve a World Heritage Site. Such a site must remain protected and preserved, however it is a sight that must be beheld.