Southern Tanzania - Safari Circuit

Game reserves and national parks in Southern Tanzania include the famous Selous, largest game reserve in Africa (and possibly in the world), Ruaha, Mikumi, Saadani and Udzungwa Mountains national park. The Great Rufiji River makes its way to the Indian Ocean through this area. Although not as popular as the northern safari circuit, the national parks and game reserves in the south are ideal for those seeking pristine wilderness and relative isolation amongst acres and acres of natural wilderness, most of which is made up of miombo woodland and afforded protection as one of the world's heritage sites.

The Southern Safari Circuit offers one to explore pristine areas of Tanzania, off the beaten track, away from the crowds of tourists and the sound of other safari vehicles. Here you will find prolific wildlife unscathed by human interaction, where the night sky dazzles with millions of stars, and a part of the continent, which is untouched by time.

Unlike the northern Safari circuit, southern Tanzania offers game drives in open sided vehicles, as well as the option of doing a walking or boating safari. Very few vehicles will be found in the southern Circuit in comparison to the more popular national parks in the north.

Selous Game Reserve:

Covering an area of approximately 50,000 square kilometres, the Selous is Africa¡¯s (and possibly the world¡¯s) single largest game reserve. The reserve is three times larger than the Serengeti, twice as large as the Kruger National Park in South Africa and twice the size of Belgium or Swaziland.

The Selous has the largest elephant population in the whole of Africa (approximately 65,000) and 150,000 buffalo as well as approx 40,000 hippopotamus, close to 4000 lion, numerous reptiles including snakes, crocodiles and lizards, over 350 species of birds and at least 2000 plant species. It is also an important sanctuary for the more endangered wildlife such as the black rhinoceros, African hunting dog or wild dog, sable and puku antelope.

The reserve is made up of a diverse landscape from hot volcanic springs, channels and lagoons from East Africa's greatest rivers - the Great Ruaha, Rufiji and the Kilombero Rivers. The Rufiji River is East Africa's largest river with the river basin covering an area of 177,000 sq kms, most of which lies in the Selous game reserve, making this the most well-watered game reserve in Africa.

This is one of the few places where one can undertake a walking or boating safari as well as the more traditional game-viewing safari in 4-wheel drive vehicles.

The game reserve is named after Frederick Courtney Selous, one of the many European explorers and hunters who visited East Africa in the 19th Century, and whose grave lies on the north of the river near the Selous Safari Camp. Evidence of early civilisations that inhabited the area long before the advent of foreign adventurers have been found in the reserve, however little archaeological research has been carried out in this part of East Africa and as such the relics that have been found have yet to be studied.

Remarkable features in the Selous include the 100 metre deep Stiegler's Gorge where one can take a cable car ride across the 100 metre wide gorge. In the dry season there is a migration of elephant from the Selous to Mozambique's Niassa Game reserve - this is one of the true spectacles and a rare treat for visitors between June and November.

Because of conservation efforts, there is very little human habitation within the reserve and this is mainly confined to the few luxury tented lodges - it also means that one has the experience of being uniquely alone in this large reserve without seeing too many people or vehicles.