Selous Game Reserve

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🐘 African Bush Elephants Thrive Selous
🌍 #61 Global · 4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #37 in Africa #37 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Tanzania 1544 spp. recorded

Selous Game Reserve is a wild tropical savanna located in southeastern Tanzania, featuring vast grassy plains, open woodlands, and winding river channels. Unlike fenced parks, this remote refuge preserves a raw wilderness where seasonal waterways dictate the rhythm of the bush.

-8.611° S   38.000° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Nile Crocodile ★
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely
Painted Hunting Dog ★
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

70–80% · Very likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

60–70% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely
East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

50–60% · Likely
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

50–60% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

50–60% · Likely
Pied Kingfisher
LC

Pied Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ceryle rudis

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
LC

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon albiventris

50–60% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

50–60% · Likely
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely
Painted Hunting Dog ★
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

50–60% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

50–60% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

40–50% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

40–50% · Likely
Yellow Baboon
LC

Yellow Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio cynocephalus

30–40% · Possible
Angola Colobus
VU

Angola Colobus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Colobus angolensis

30–40% · Possible
Brown Greater Galago
LC

Brown Greater Galago

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Otolemur crassicaudatus

Insufficient data
Blue Monkey
LC

Blue Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cercopithecus mitis

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

70–80% · Very likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

60–70% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

50–60% · Likely
Pied Kingfisher
LC

Pied Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ceryle rudis

50–60% · Likely
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
LC

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Halcyon albiventris

50–60% · Likely
Boehm's Bee-eater
LC

Boehm's Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops boehmi

40–50% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

40–50% · Likely
Red-eyed Dove
LC

Red-eyed Dove

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Streptopelia semitorquata

30–40% · Possible
Speckled Mousebird
LC

Speckled Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colius striatus

30–40% · Possible
Tropical Boubou

Tropical Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius major

30–40% · Possible
Purple-banded Sunbird
LC

Purple-banded Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Nile Crocodile ★
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

50–60% · Likely
Flap-necked Chameleon
LC

Flap-necked Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo dilepis

Insufficient data
Painted Dwarf Gecko
LC

Painted Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus picturatus

Insufficient data
Brown House Snake
LC

Brown House Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boaedon fuliginosus

Insufficient data
Boomslang
LC

Boomslang

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dispholidus typus

Insufficient data
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

Insufficient data
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data
Sudan Plated Lizard
LC

Sudan Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Broadleysaurus major

Insufficient data
Merker's thread Snake
LC

Merker's thread Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptotyphlops merkeri

Insufficient data
Cape Dwarf Gecko
LC

Cape Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus capensis

Insufficient data
East African Shovel-Snout
LC

East African Shovel-Snout

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Prosymna stuhlmanni

Insufficient data
African Rock Python
NT

African Rock Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python sebae

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

Insufficient data
Common Squeaker
LC

Common Squeaker

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Arthroleptis stenodactylus

Insufficient data
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
LC

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data
Edible bullfrog
LC

Edible bullfrog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pyxicephalus edulis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Riverine Hippo Conclaves

JanFeb

During the peak of the wet season, rising water levels drive Common Hippopotamus to form dense, social pods in sheltered oxbow lakes and calmer river channels.

Common Hippopotamus
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Dry Season Elephant Migration Corridors

SepDec

As interior waterholes dry up, African Bush Elephants travel along ancient pathways toward the permanent waters of the Rufiji River basin.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Painted Wolf Denning Season

FebJun

Pack dynamics shift as Painted Hunting Dogs establish permanent dens to rear pups, increasing targeted activity near traditional den sites.

Painted Hunting Dog
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
African Bush Elephant
50–60
50–60
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
60–70
50–60
30–40
70–80
Nile Crocodile
50–60
60–70
40–50
30–40
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
60–70
80–90
Common Hippopotamus
60–70
60–70
30–40
30–40
40–50
60–70
30–40
20–30
60–70
50–60
30–40
70–80
Painted Hunting Dog
10–20
40–50
10–20
10–20
10–20
30–40
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
Common Bulbul
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
60–70
80–90
Little Bee-eater
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
East African Giraffe
50–60
60–70
30–40
30–40
40–50
60–70
60–70
20–30
70–80
50–60
40–50
70–80
White-fronted Bee-eater
50–60
40–50
50–60
80–90
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
40–50
70–80
40–50
40–50
Impala
50–60
70–80
30–40
30–40
40–50
60–70
60–70
20–30
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
Common Warthog
50–60
70–80
60–70
30–40
40–50
60–70
50–60
20–30
60–70
40–50
30–40
70–80
Pied Kingfisher
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
African Buffalo
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
70–80
30–40
20–30
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
Waterbuck
50–60
60–70
30–40
20–30
40–50
60–70
30–40
20–30
20–30
60–70
60–70
60–70
Nile Monitor
20–30
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
20–30
40–50
70–80
30–40
60–70
Animal Events
🦌 Riverine Hippo Conclaves
🦌 Dry Season Elephant Migration Corridors
🦌 Painted Wolf Denning Season
0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐘 African Bush Elephants Thrive Selous

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
923
🐒 Mammals
273
🦎 Reptiles
237
🐸 Amphibians
111
1544 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
83 Threatened 67 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
60%
📊
Coverage (207 species at ≥5% of 1544 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
13%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (6 bird, 5 mammal, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
76%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
142
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
23
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
20

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Selous Game Reserve?

The most likely sightings are Common Bulbul (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Little Bee-eater (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Nile Crocodile (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), East African Giraffe (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1544 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Selous Game Reserve for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Selous Game Reserve?

Yes — about 51% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Selous Game Reserve, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Nile Crocodile in Selous Game Reserve?

Yes — about 65% of wildlife watchers report a Nile Crocodile sighting in Selous Game Reserve, based on 26 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Hippopotamus in Selous Game Reserve?

Yes — about 57% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in Selous Game Reserve, based on 19 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Painted Hunting Dog in Selous Game Reserve?

Yes — about 23% of wildlife watchers report a Painted Hunting Dog sighting in Selous Game Reserve, based on 2 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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