SELOUS GAME RESERVE

The vast majority of Tanzania's elephant herd live in one remote stretch of safari wilderness-the Selous Game Reserve. Stiegler's Gorge is one of the park's most striking features. This gaping chasm channels the frothing confluence of the Great Ruaha and Rufiji Rivers. After this bottle neck, the Rufiji swells through the park down to the Indian Ocean forming a series of small lakes that serve as an important source of water for the multitude of the plains game. The hinterland around Lake Tagalala and Beho Beho is some of the most picturesque in area. Some distance from Lake Tagalala, whose shape and size is in a constant state of flux, hidden in a ravine surrounded by lush vegetation, are the Maji Moto hot springs.

In this fascinating area, waterbuck, southern reed-buck and bushbuck are common. During the dry season, rare sable antelope, lion and greater kudu frequent the Lake. Lined with Barassus palms, the muddy Rufiji is the Selous Game Reserve's main artery. During the dry season between June and October the river banks explode in a spectacular flood of the plains animals quenching their thirst all under the opportunistic eye of crocodile. The reserve is home to over 350 species of birdlife.