The Selous Game Reserve is one of the Africa’s largest and least visited wildlife areas with the Rufiji River flowing through much of the reserve. From the outset of our journey along the river it was obvious that it contained large numbers of crocodiles and hippo which you got uncomfortably close to on occasions.

Hippos in the Rufiji River

Hippos warning that we had got too close<

hippopotamus warning that we had got too close

4.1 metre (13 ft) Nile Crocodile

As it was well into the dry season a variety of birds and other wildlife had been drawn down to the water and didn’t seem to be at all troubled by our presence. I guess the river traffic provided some protection from the large number of predators that inhabit the reserve. The river is the main water source for the Selous game reserve which is the size of Switzerland.

Yellow billed stork.

African Fish Eagle

Yellow billed stork.

Black Egret sometimes called the Umbrella bird

White-fronted bee-eater

Pied kingfisher

Further along the river we came across impala and water-buck grazing in the adjacent water meadows together with a small herd of elephants drinking in one of the ox bow lakes.

Elephants gathering in one of the ox bow lakes

Male Water Buck

Away from the River

Away from the river the wildlife is equally prolific with some of Africa’s largest buffalo and lion populations. Plus thriving packs of wild-dog and numerous leopard, although the leopards eluded us on this trip.