Why Is The Selous Game Reserve In Tanzania So Special

W hy is the Selous Game                                             Reserve so special? Well,     Another special feature is the     first of all its shear        mighty Rufiji River. This river    size; it is bigger than Denmark       offers sunset game cruises; there  or Switzerland and makes up for       are not many places in East        5% of Tanzania land. It is one of     Africa were this is offered. The   the largest Game reserves in the      park encompasses a wide rage of    world and the largest in Africa.      habitats, including open           This is not because of vast           grasslands, woodland, swamps and   stretches of desert; the Selous       is an important area for wetland   is an unspoiled, well watered         plants. The United Nations         area where human habitation is        declared the Selous Game Reserve   possible.                             a World Heritage Site in 1982.                                                                              Tanzania encourages low density       Many guide books describe a        tourism in the Selous and it is       section of the park; the northern  therefore well and truly worth a      section. This area is promoted     visit. This is an African             for photographic tourism and is    destination that is not different     the most beautiful game-rich area  but more importantly it is as you     in the whole ecosystem. The        would imagine it should be; a         boundaries of the area are marked  taste of what the early explores      by the TAZARA railway to the       must have felt as they journeyed      north. The west border has the     in search of the source of the        Stiegler's Gorge and the south is  Nile.                                 boarded by the Rufiji River. The                                         area beyond the Rufiji River is    Its wildlife populations are huge     not developed for tourism; there   despite the heavy poaching in the     are no lodges, nor roads and any   1980's. The rare wild dog can         explorer need to be fully self     also be seen in this reserve.         sufficient to go not this area.                                          quickly as possible; others        Along the Rufiji River are the        seeing the fires as a source of    huge Borassus Palms growing up to     regeneration. At times the         25 meters tall. These majestic        reserve staff will start a         trees thrive next to the water        â€˜cold' fire that is less         and will die-off in times of          destructive than latter fires      drought. This wide meandering         when the grass becomes dry.        river with its lakes, swamps and                                         countless interlocking channels       The Selous Game reserve is huge,   is one of the most important          wild, has exceptional landscapes   ecological wetland systems in         and high densities of wildlife;    Eastern Africa.                       all these factors make a safari                                          here special and your heart will   Fires in this area are                become set on returning to         inevitable. These fires are a         explore more. The Selous offers a  source of conflict. Many people       unique opportunity to get to know  seeing them as destructive and        the African bush in all its        they should be extinguished as        varied glory.                      About the Author: For more information on the Selous Game Reserve connect Ian through http://betheladventure.co.uk or Philemon http://www.aardvark-expeditions.com Using responsible tourism to change lives. Source: www.isnare.com