Page 30 - Foxes Safari Camps EBrochure

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Getting to Know

Nyerere (Selous) National Park

The Selous Game Reserve was declared a ‘World Heritage Site’ in 1982. The area of land

between the Mgeta and Rufiji Rivers was declared a reserve back in 1896 by the German

Governor. Later, in 1922 the land was names ‘Selous’ by the British Protectorate and the
area under protection was expanded. Selous is bisected by the Rufiji River, with the

tourist area north of the river. The area of miombo forest with dense areas of hardwood

is home to around 50% of Tanzania’s elephant population. In 2019, the Tanzanian
government gazetted the northern section of Selous Game Reserve and named it

Nyerere National Park, after the nations first democratically elected president.

The Rufiji River is a sprawling waterway with 5 distinctive ‘lakes’ all joined together with

a myriad of channels. This is the only Game area in Tanzania to offer a safari on the

river. Selous is also home to large numbers of buffalo and lion, as well as a healthy
population of Wild Dogs, where they are found in the highest density of anywhere in

Africa. The population peaks in September and October. A normal pack size would be

around 20 dogs, but packs of up to 56 dogs have been seen in the past.

Antelope are always a beautiful sight with their doey eyes and graceful, athletic leapings.

Selous is home to a great many antelope species; Impala, Waterbuck, Reedbuck,
Lichenstein’s heartebeast, Wildebeest and the largest - the Eland.

In the northern buffer zone areas can be found the relatively rare Sable Antelope. In
comparison to other habitats, the Selous Sable are found in large numbers (around

4000); they are smaller and a lighter colour than found elsewhere and have been

designated as a subspecies of the Roosevelt Sable.

The sandbanks, oxbow lakes, islands and channels are home to over 440 species of birds,

including 2 rare species - the Pel’s Fishing Owl and the White - Backed Heron, which
habituate the wooded sections of the riverbank.