Africa's largest game reserve, the Selous National Reserve's 19,305 square miles are dominated by the mighty Rufiji River and just a part of the entire Selous eco-system that totals nearly 30,000 square miles.

Listed as a game reserve by the German colonial government in 1912 and designated a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1982, the majority of the area has never been inhabited by man due to the Tsetse fly sleeping sickness, which affects humans but not wildlife.

Only the Serengeti's concentration of wildlife surpasses that of the Selous. Offering rolling savannah grasslands, rocky outcrops and the green vegetation that form on the banks of the sandy river channels, the Selous is home to the one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, an estimated 30,000 animals.

The Ruaha River and the Rufiji meet at the 100-meter deep canyon of Stiegler's Gorge in the Selous Reserve, an unforgettable sight as the two mighty rivers crash together. After the gorge's bottleneck, the river widens out into the sandy channels and small lakes that mark its sluggish course to the Indian Ocean.

The winding course of the Rufiji River cuts across the Selous, neatly dividing the park into northern and southern sections, frequently preventing the spread of animal species. The broad channel of chocolate water ranges between 45 meters to a third of a mile or wider during the rainy season. Many animals simply do not try to cross the river, resulting in such oddities as giraffe being found only in the northern section.

The region is covered by hilly woodland, a favorite retreat of the elephant and buffalo of the area. The Tagalala, Manze, Nzerakera, Mzizima and Siwando Lakes all connect to the river, providing the main water supply for the animals. Lake Tagalala is known for its small herds of the rare sable antelope, as well as lion, greater kudu, reedbuck and bushbuck.

The bird life is also abundant in the Selous, with egrets, kingfishers, fish eagles and Egyptian geese drawn to the rising and falling riverbanks. Goliath herons, hammerkops, secretary birds and sunbirds are also found throughout the Selous, with over 350 bird species being recorded.

With the mighty Rufiji River as its lifeline, one of the best ways to explore this huge area is by a river safari, especially during the dry season when the game congregates along the riverbanks in search of water.

Copyright Melinda Rees of Eco-resorts