Selous Game Reserve

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Selous Game Reserve


State Party =
Type = Natural
Criteria = ix, x
ID = 199
Region = Africa
Year = 1982
Session = 6th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/199Infobox_protected_area | name = Selous Game Reserve
iucn_category = IV

---

caption =
locator_x = 200
locator_y = 200
location = Tanzania
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 9
lat_minutes = 0
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = S
long_degrees = 37
long_minutes = 24
long_seconds =
long_direction = E
area = 44,800 km²
established = 1922
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

The Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest fauna reserves of the world, located in the south of Tanzania. It was named after Englishman Sir Frederick Selous, a famous big game hunter and early conservationist, who died in in this territory in 1917 while fighting against the Germans in World War I. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed nature.

The reserve covers a total area of 54,600 km² (21,081 square miles). Some of the typical animals of the savanna (for example elephants, hippopotami, African Wild Dog and crocodiles) can be found in this park in a larger numbers than in any other African park.

The area became a hunting reserve in 1905. Nowadays it also has a touristic importance, though most of it is rarely visited by humans. Presence of the Tsetse fly and very difficult road access discourage visitation; however, it is easily accessible by train or small aircraft from Dar es Salaam.

Interesting places in the park include the river of Rufiji, which flows into the Indian Ocean in front of the Mafia Island and the Stiegler, a canyon of 100 metres depth and 100 metres width. Around this canyon can be found most of the touristic facilities.

In the Selous Reserve safari by foot is permitted. This type of exploration is forbidden in most other national parks of Africa.

External links

* [http://www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/wh/selous.html UNESCO Selous Game Reserve Site]
* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/199 Official UNESCO website entry]
* [http://www.safarimappers.com/area.aspx?lngareaid=34 Map of Selous Game Reserve]