 Selous is the largest game reserve, and second largest conservation area in Africa. At 55000km², it is four times the size of the Serengeti, and definitely one of the most remote and least visited parks in Africa. Selous is a proclaimed world heritage site. It has a diverse landscape from hot volcanic springs, to sporadic lakes and channels from the Great Rhaha and Rufiji rivers. The Rufiji River flows through the reserve attracting great herds of Tanzanian elephant.
Selous holds over 350 species of birds and reptiles, 2,000 species of plants, and a wide range of wildlife. Once home to the largest concentration of elephant on the continent (over 110,000), the Ivory Wars' of the late 70s and early 80s had a devastating effect on the herds, reducing numbers to an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 today.
Famous for its elephant, hippopotamus and rhino (although now few remain), Selous has a broad range of game, including the largest population of buffalo in Africa, Nyasaland gnu, brindled gnu, hartebeest, Greater Kudu, sable antelope, eland, reedbuck, bushbuck, waterbuck, warthog, zebras, giraffe, wildebeest, lion, leopard, spotted hyena and hunting dog.
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