The reserve is also one of Africa‘s last true untouched wilderness area with a spectacular variety of Flora and Fauna.
It contains some of Africa's largest and most important population of elephants, buffaloes and hunting dogs. Other large mammals that are found there include Roosevelt's sable (rarely seen), rhinos, hippos, giraffes, elands, sable antelopes, white faced wildebeest, waterbucks, warthogs, leopards and lions (which are darker in colour than their coousins in the northern circuits). The selous male lions also have short, almost punk-like manes, very different from other lions in Africa. Selous Game Reserve is also famous for the Rufiji river system which drains through it and the numerous lakes which offer unique opportunities to take boat safaris.