Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Benshi would introduce and provide commentary for films like A Page of Madness.
Remembering the Heyday of Japan’s Silent FIlm Narrators
about 16 hours ago
The Horn & Hardart Automat was a staple of urban dining in midcentury New York City.
All Hail the Slop Bowl, Lunch of Our Ancestors
about 18 hours ago
The Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” on display in Las Vegas.
The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound Changed Live Music Forever
about 24 hours ago
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Tanzania Liwale Selous Game Preserve

Selous Game Preserve

The largest game reserve in Africa is home to thousands of species but refuses to house humans.

Liwale, Tanzania

Added By
Dan Eder
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
African wild dogs   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
African wild dogs   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lion   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Hippopotamus   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Hyena   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Warthog   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  BBM Explorer
  Panii
  Murky1
Buffaloes   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Watching a lioness devour her fresh kill in the Selous Game Preserve has a tendency to remind visitors in their open air trucks that the nearest village is two days drive in any direction.

Officially established as a protected area in 1896 when Tanzania was still a British colony, the Selous Game Preserve is located in the south of Tanzania, and is comprised of over 21,000 square miles of remote swamps, hills and grasslands. Unlike a lot of the more touristy safari spots on the Serengeti where competing guides jockey for position, the Selous Preserve feels incredibly remote thanks to the provision that prohibits any permanent habitation within the preserve's boundaries. It’s possible to book a tour on this sprawling grassland and not see another soul the entire time.

The Selous area is home to a staggering number of wildlife species, so much so that the location was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unspoiled beauty. The area has populations of vultures, crocodiles, lions, cape buffalo, hippos, and literally thousands of other species of plants and animals, all virtually undisturbed by human interaction. Hyenas stalk and kill their prey. Elephants lazily graze in the sun. Even rhinos can be found on the grounds, although sightings are rare, a sad testament to that animals’ continuing endangered status.

The park also contains the gravesite of its namesake Frederick Selous, the British explorer and conservationist who was killed battling with German troops in the area during World War I. Selous knew the beauty and tranquility of this remote corner of the country, and thanks to his effort and foresight visitors to the preserve can continue to experience that beauty for themselves.

Related Tags

Animals Unesco Natural Wonders Nature

Community Contributors

Added By

daneder

Edited By

Rachel, Martin, Max Cortesi

  • Rachel
  • Martin
  • Max Cortesi

Published

December 10, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selous_Game_Reserve
  • http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/199
Selous Game Preserve
Selous Game Reserve
Liwale
Tanzania
-9.0, 37.5
Get Directions

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tanzania

Tanzania

Africa

Places 19
Stories 8

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tanzania

Tanzania

Africa

Places 19
Stories 8

Related Stories and Lists

African Wild Dogs Survive by 'Living in the Cracks' of a Landscape

national parks

By Scott Creel

Related Places

  • Fish and reefs in La Parguera

    Lajas, Puerto Rico

    La Parguera

    This beachside town is home to a diverse nature reserve, multiple cays, and one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.

  • Gros Piton

    Soufriere, Saint Lucia

    Gros Piton

    The larger of two volcanic peaks rising out of the crystalline waters of the Caribbean.

  • Castle Rock Badlands

    Quinter, Kansas

    Castle Rock Badlands

    These otherworldly limestone formations jut out from the Kansas prairie.

  • The sign for the iridium layer, located next to the exposed rock.

    Raton, New Mexico

    Raton Iridium Layer

    This unassuming layer of clay boasts an out-of-this-world origin story.

  • The Small Gate.

    Vratna, Serbia

    Vratna Gates

    These natural stone bridges are the largest on the European continent.

  • Rock formations of Hamelin Bay.

    Hamelin Bay, Australia

    Hamelin Bay Beach

    Incredible rock formations jut from the southern end of this spectacular stingray-viewing spot.

  • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

    Keahole Point Blowhole

    This unusual lava tube spouts seawater during high surf.

  • Den Burg, Netherlands

    The Wadden Sea

    Rich with fauna and flora, nature-lovers can walk across the sea at this UNESCO World Heritage spot.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.