Selous Game Reserve is a managed game reserve, with a small area in the north reserved for photographic tourism. A large proportion of the reserve is kept for game hunting, but this is strictly controlled. In fact a substantial amount of income is generated from this which, in turn, keeps the reserve sustainable.

The reserve is large and management needs to keep strict controls on staffing and budget. Some of the issues are the control of poaching (in particular of elephants and black rhinoceros), ensuring benefits for the local communities through the wildlife management areas, and the sustainability of hunting and photographic tourism.

Other areas facing threats are the exploration and extraction of minerals, oil and gas, and large infrastructure plans for the reserve. The effect this will have on the environment needs to be closely examined and monitored over a period of time. To ensure the longevity of the reserve, management need to take into account the fact that the Selous Game Reserve is part of a large ecosystem and that any imbalance could have dire ecological consequences.

When to visit?

Like most areas in Africa, the dry season is a good time to visit Selous Game Reserve because there is less vegetation so you can easily spot animals and they tend to congregate around waterholes. June to October is the dry season for Tanzania.