The pristine reserve, a World Heritage Site since 1982 , comprises an area of 55,000 sq. km, covering about six per cent of Tanzania's land surface. Larger than Switzerland, it is the world's largest game reserve and second only to the Serengeti in its concentration of wildlife. It is also the sanctuary of the biggest elephant herd in the world, about 32,000 elephants live in the reserve - 70 per cent of those in Tanzania.
The reserve contains some of Africa's largest and most important populations of buffalos and hunting dogs. There are also lots of black rhinos in isolated areas. The swamps form an important habitat for wetland plants, reptiles and residents and migratory birds.
Other species commonly seen are lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, bushbucks, impalas, elands, baboons, zebras and greater kudus. The Rufiji River system, the greatest in East Africa flows through the reserve and is home to countless hippos and crocodiles. Linked to the Rufiji is Lake Tagalla, where waterbucks, reedbucks, bushbucks and the rare sable antelope can be seen.
The tourist sector of the Selous Game Reserve is located northern of Rufiji rivers, which contains all the forms of vegetation found in the ecosystem including savanna with its mbugas, patches of sticky black cotton soil that form a perilous trap to motorists during the rainy season. Tall borassus palms grow alongside the river, dying off when the water level drops, leaving eerie looking collections of what look like giant cigars.
The river supports an abundance of wildlife including elephants, hippos, crocodiles and plains game, not to mention a spectacular variety and number of bird species
