SELOUS GAME RESERVE Conservation Status : Game Reserve and World Heritage Site, which is divided into several hunting blocks and two tourism blocks, the latter (1300 Sq. Km. or 3% of the total area) comprising the Northern Sector of the park and dedicated to photographic safaris. Established : 1896 (the oldest reserve in Africa) Location : Southern Tanzania Size : 50,000 Kms² (the largest reserve in Africa and one of the largest in the world) Maximum Length : 350 Kms from South to North Height A.S.L. : 150 – 1,000 (rising from the east towards the south and west). The highest point in the northern tourist sector is Hatambulwa Hill (699 m). Seasonal Variation : Two well defined seasons - a dry season from June to October and a wet season from November to May (less rainy in January – February). Bush fires occur annually in the dry season. The seasonal variation in the occurrence of animals is negligible, although the wildlife populations have their own seasonal movements with the ecosystem. The best season to visit is June – October. Park roads passable in the dry season. But roads can be difficult in the wet season. The park is virtually inaccessible during the heavy rains from mid March to May. Precipitation : Mean annual rainfall varies from 750 (East) to 1,300 mm (West). Highest rainfall in March – May and lowest in June – September (practically rainless). Temperatures : Monthly average 22 – 26°C. Daytime 25 – 35°C, sometimes upto 42°C before the rains. Night time 16 – 19°C. Activities : Game drives, guided walking safaris, visit hot springs at Maji Moto and grave of Frederick Courtney Selous, and bird watching. Selous Game Reserve is located in Southern Tanzania, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Twice the size of Denmark, the Selous is one of the worlds largest game reserves - 55,000 sq km of untamed bush, crocodile-filled lakes, rivers and immense floodplains - remote, vast, and pristine African wilderness! It supports Africas biggest population of buffalo, elephant, hippo, wild dog and crocodile. The Selous boasts one of the worlds largest population of elephant, strongest herd of buffalo and hippos and some of the last remaining Black Rhino. The Selous is said to be one of the few places in Africa with a healthy population of wild dogs, also a good presence of predators like lion, leopard and cheetah. In addition to this, there are also warthog, wildebeest, giraffe, hartebeest, sable antelope, greater kudu and eland. Over a million animals inhabit this great wilderness; and more than 350 species of birds have been recorded including the goliath heron, fish eagle and kingfishers to excite any keen ornithologist. The park is split into two distinct grounds, the Selous and the Mikumi, by the great Rufiji River. The reserve combines many types of vegetation, from the Beho Beho Mountains to the Rufiji River with lakes, streams and swamps full of buffalo, waterbuck and Borassus palms. Stieglers Gorge, 100 m deep and 100 m wide, is a magnificent natural feature with a gut-wrenching cable car that ferries safari vehicles across the river. It also happens to be a spot favoured by the leopards. Selous offers a wide range of activities not found in the other Tanzanian national parks. Unsurpassed opportunities to witness Africas un-spoilt wilderness from a range of perspectives with boat excursions along the Rufiji River, enduring hiking and exhilarating fly-in safari expeditions into the bush; an in-depth insight into an incredible land. One of the main attractions in Selous is the opportunity to visit the Hot Springs, where a soothing dip in the warm waters is possible. largest concentration of elephantsLake Tagalala offers great bird watching and is also home to large pods of hippo and crocodiles. The area is a fantastic site for spotting lions and elephants as they come to bathe in the lagoons. The best time to visit Selous is from June to October during the cool season. January to February is also a good time to visit when the landscape is green. The rainy season is from November to May and from April to May much of Selous is inaccessible and most camps are closed
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 08:34:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015