Selous Game Reserve

A vast protected wilderness in southern Tanzania, established in 1922 and named for hunter and conservationist Frederick Selous. Its wildlife and Rufiji River are defining features.

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Rufiji River: A major river in Tanzania that flows through the Selous ecosystem before reaching the Indian Ocean. Its channels, floodplains, and lakes shape the reserve’s habitats and wildlife movement.
Frederick Selous: A British explorer, hunter, and naturalist who lived from 1851 to 1917 and worked in southern Africa. The reserve was named for Selous, whose reputation shaped its colonial-era identity.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its recognized cultural or natural significance. UNESCO recognized the Selous Game Reserve as a natural World Heritage Site in 1982.
National park: A legally protected area managed primarily to conserve ecosystems and provide for compatible public use. Unlike a national park, a game reserve can have different rules for hunting and resource use.
Nyerere National Park: A Tanzanian national park established in 2019 from part of the former Selous Game Reserve. The park occupies the reserve’s northern area, while the remaining reserve retains separate protection.
German East Africa: A German colonial territory in East Africa that included present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. The reserve’s establishment in 1922 followed the transition from German to British rule.
World Heritage in Danger: A UNESCO list identifying World Heritage Sites facing serious threats to their protected values. The reserve was placed on the list in 2014 amid concern about elephant poaching.
Wildlife management area: A Tanzanian land-use designation that gives local communities roles in managing wildlife outside core protected areas. These areas can complement the reserve but differ in ownership and governance.
African bush elephant: The largest living land animal, native to diverse habitats across sub-Saharan Africa. Elephants are among the reserve’s most prominent large mammals and conservation concerns.
British Tanganyika: The British-administered territory that became independent Tanganyika in 1961. The reserve was established under British administration in the territory that is now Tanzania.