Overall Impression Stretched along a bluff overlooking the Rufiji River at the especially scenic eastern tip of the famed Selous Game Reserve in southeast Tanzania, the Rufiji River Camp delivered an outstanding variety of game viewing opportunities. First identified as a protected area over a century ago, Selous expanded over time to become the largest faunal reserve in Africa. In 1982, it was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its wildlife concentration and diversity and its undisturbed environment. The profusion of wildlife was obvious even as I made my way from the airstrip, turning the relatively short distance to the camp into an extended game drive.

We detoured to the shores of several oxbow lakes where huge flocks of storks and herons fed before soaring in a great aerial ballet against the cloudless sky. Along the way we met large breeding herds of elephants nudging their calves onward as they foraged through the underbrush. Families of giraffes swayed across our path, pausing to prune the underside of thorn acacia trees into perfect umbrellas while they waited for their wobbly calves to catch up. There were buffalos and zebras and antelopes everywhere, and a large pride of lions enjoying their siesta, with a pair or lionesses patiently nursing their cubs.

The camp’s privileged location on the river, which included its own boat slip and game-watching boats, made for a rare opportunity to enjoy a floating safari. I opted for an all-day excursion with a leisurely cruise along the riverbanks, the islands and oxbow lakes upriver from the camp, and an idyllic riverside picnic. Birding on the river was a photographer’s dream. It allowed me to capture such close-up gems as the instant of realization of a Goliath heron that the fish it had just caught for its breakfast was larger than it could swallow.

At the time of my visit, the camp was undergoing a complete restoration. The guest accommodations had been recently replaced and decorated. My new, deck-elevated side-entrance tent under thatch was especially airy and welcoming. It had a wrap-around veranda with two separate lounging areas that gave a whole new meaning to the term “armchair safari.” It overlooked the river with its large pods of hippos, and the far bank where crocodiles lazed in the sun and elephants came to drink. The tent was nestled in a grove of mature trees. Any rustle in the canopy was a bird sighting opportunity, or a visit by a hopeful vervet monkey ready to make a daring dive for any snack I may have left unguarded.

The sprawling new lodge, located immediately behind the existing common area in the center of the camp, was nearing completion. In spite of the commotion created by the construction during the day, the camp ran smoothly. The staff were efficient and friendly and all activities and meals were punctual. My guides and drivers, on land and on the river, were pleasant and knowledgeable.

Rufiji River Camp stood out for its spectacular setting in the heart of some of the best wildlife viewing in East Africa, its laid back atmosphere, and as the only property to offer boat safaris during my visit to Tanzania.

Camp Manager Rudi Goerke

Children The camp welcomed children of all ages by prior arrangement

Class Of Accommodation Luxury river lodge

Handicapped Access The camp was fully wheelchair accessible. Guest tents as well the entire first floor of the new lodge, including the dining room, lounge and bar had ramp access.

Internet Connectivity A WiFi connection was operational in the late afternoon and early evening in the pool area and the bar. The connection was slow but reliable.

Length Of Stay Three nights

Location On the eastern bank of the Rufiji River, in the northeastern part of the Selous Game Reserve

Owned-Managed the Fox family

Size The property consisted of 11 new guest tents with four VIP tents still under construction. It could accommodate a maximum of 44 guests and employed a staff of 28, including seven guides. There were seven game viewing vehicles and three pontoon boats.

Year Open-Renovated The original camp opened on the site in 1982. It was acquired by the Fox family in 2009 and was in the final stages of reconstruction at the time of my visit. Completion was scheduled for June 2011.

Lobby And Common Areas The common area was all that remained from the previous camp. It was scheduled to be demolished upon completion of the new lodge. Meanwhile, it consisted of a high peaked thatch roof held by rope-covered metal posts over a stone terrace. A rectangular bar with a masonry base topped by a hardwood slab and surrounded by six wooden barstools marked the entrance. It led to a long open space with a lounge to the right, the dining area to the left and a panoramic river view. The lounge was furnished with contemporary teak sofas and armchairs with bottle green canvas cushions arranged around a rectangular teak table. A high bookcase topped by a sculpture of a crocodile held a small collection of books on East African safari-related topics and a number of paperbacks in various European languages as well as Afrikaans. The dining room had square wooden tables surrounded by matching ladder-back chairs with green seat cushions. The tables could be placed together to accommodate large groups of guests.

Bathroom In a rear of the bathroom, a masonry half-wall held a vanity made of a brown polished concrete slab countertop with two white ceramic sinks. A framed mirror was propped up between the two sinks. An open shower with a raised stone base occupied the opposite corner. There were wooden towel rods handy to the shower and the vanity. The flush commode was in a separate doorless enclosure.

Tent My 450 square foot (42 square meter) tent, Number 7, was raised on a dark, polished hardwood platform under thatch. It had an L-shaped veranda that outlined the broad side of the tent, where the main entrance, a double accordion door made of a wood frame holding mesh panels, was located. The veranda wrapped around the front of the tent with its additional zipped mesh opening, where it overlooked the river. The bedroom area occupied the front two-thirds of the tent, divided from the bathroom at the rear by a canvas partition. The bedroom furniture was made of casual contemporary teak. There were two king size beds separated by a bedside table that held two reading lamps with parchment shades. The beds were covered with taupe and green-striped cotton throws. On the opposite wall, a drop leaf desk with a wooden chair and a luggage stand occupied the front corner. A clothes-hanging rack and a carved storage chest occupied the rear corner. The beds were draped in mosquito netting.

On the river side of the veranda, a woven rattan Parsons love seat with green cushions and a matching armchair faced each other. The entrance side of the veranda extended gazebo-like toward the bush. The gazebo was furnished with a tan rolled arm leather sofa and matching armchair, and a rattan chair identical to that at the front of the veranda. This grouping was arranged around a small rectangular coffee table. A canvas and rope swing chair hung at the front corner of the veranda, facing the river.

Food The food was plentiful and wholesome, prepared using mainly fresh products from local sources. Breakfast featured a full English breakfast menu as well as a plate of cut fresh fruit and a basket of freshly baked rolls. Breakfast beverages were tea, coffee and assorted fruit juices. Lunch was served buffet style. It consisted of an assortment of salads, cold meats, savory pies and dessert. Dinner was served from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It featured a three-course menu starting with a soup that was served at the table, followed by a buffet-style main course that included a variety of meat and vegetable offerings. Dessert was served plated. A vegetarian meal option was available by prior request. In addition to scheduled meals, complimentary coffee and tea were available throughout the day in the dining area, with cake served at teatime.

Amenities Room amenities included daily laundry, bottled water, insect control room spray, a flashlight and an electronic safe. Bathroom amenities included bath and hand towels, face cloths, individual size bottles of house brand shower gel and hand soap.

All meals and daily game viewing activities were included. Other than the water provided in the room, all soft drinks, bottled water and alcoholic beverages were available at the bar and priced individually.

Facilities There was a dining room, lounge, bar and a swimming pool.

Pool The 500 square foot (47 square meter) bell-shaped pool was about five foot deep. It was set under a thatched roof in the center of a wide stone terrace that held a dozen lounge chairs, a few of them shaded by the roof, and the others arranged in sunny spots. Pool towels were self-service. As I have often found it to be the case in tropical areas, the thatch cover kept the pool so chilled that it was uncomfortable for swimming.

Game I Sighted Included buffalo, elephant, giraffe, black-backed jackal, hippo, spotted hyena, lion, monitor lizard, Nile crocodile, common duiker, greater kudu, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest, zebra, yellow baboons, vervet monkey.

Birds included: carmine bee eater, white-fronted bee eater, bubul, Egyptian goose, emerald-spotted wood dove, juvenile and adult African fish eagle, martial eagle, great white egret, black cattle egret, cattle egret, hammerkop, Goliath heron, black heron, gray heron, sacred ibis, hadeda ibis, pied kingfisher, woodland kingfisher, red-billed oxpecker, three-banded plover, white-headed plover, European roller, lilac-breasted roller, marabou stork, saddle-billed stork, spoonbill stock, yellow-billed stork and African golden weaver.

Game Viewing Selous is unique among Tanzania’s most renowned game areas in that it is a game reserve, thus allowing for a larger range of activities than the more regulated national parks. In addition to game drives and boating excursions, there was an opportunity for walking safaris. During game drives, it was possible to go off road for close-up game viewing. Game sighting and birding on land and on the river were superb. All my game drives were in one of the camps custom-designed, canvas-topped, open-sided vehicles, and the river excursions were in open pontoon boats. I was fortunate that I never had to share a vehicle during my stay, which allowed me to set my own pace and focus exclusively on my personal areas of interest.

Activities In addition to twice-daily game drives, boat and walking safaris, all-day game drives and boat excursions with a picnic lunch were available.

Other My GSM 900/1800 compatible international cellular phone service was fully operational at the lodge and intermittently throughout the park.

The camp was powered by solar energy. All tents had solar lighting and solar-heated hot water. There was a convenient outlet in my room that could be used to charge my camera, phone and computer batteries.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Visit January 2011

Reviewers Article and photos by Josette King

Service My tent was serviced daily. Every member of the staff I met was friendly and efficient. Eric, my guide, was knowledgeable and patient.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression  A two hour morning flight from Ruaha National Park on a Cessna 13-seat plane found us at the Mtemere airstrip, a half hour’s boat ride from Selous Impala Camp. Musa our guide for the duration of our stay, and a boat driver greeted us at the airstrip. After brief introductions and the customary jambo greeting in Swahili we walked to the small motor boat on the Rufiji River banks on which we made our way to camp.

At Impala, the assistant camp manager, Chloe Sandirer, greeted us warmly before one of the staff escorted us to our colorful tent where our luggage awaited. We promptly freshened up and headed back to the main deck for a yummy plated lunch. Impala is a family friendly camp welcoming children 5 and older. The camp was lively and full of children when we arrived.

Meals and activities were punctual and everything seemed to run well in the camp while we were there. Impala was a good point of departure for wild life viewing, especially on the water. We appreciated the attractive setting for the camp and pleasant location, extraordinary view from the main deck which was steps from the water, our water facing comfortable riverside tent, and the savory plated dishes for all three daily meals. We could tell someone dedicated a lot of time and effort to securing fresh ingredients and preparing tasty and varied meals for guests.

Impala stood out during our Tanzania trip as one of only two properties to offer game viewing on foot, boat and safari vehicle. At the same time, we were fortunate to enjoy all our game viewing activities with Musa by ourselves. Some of our favorite outings were by boat on a neighboring lake. Although these lent themselves to bird spotting mostly, the boat rides were relaxing, fun and smooth. There was little of the jarring and jostling we found on the game drives. Thanks to a refreshing breeze we were comfortable and there were plenty of birds, hippos and crocodiles to keep us entertained.

Class Of Accommodation River front luxury bush tents

General Manager Micol Farina

Handicapped Access Yes. During our stay we saw one guest in a wheel chair.

Length Of Stay Two nights

Location On the east bank of the Rufiji River in the Selous National Park in Tanzania

Owned-Managed Adventure Camps (Gillie Zanacchi and Nicola Colangelo)

Size There were 8 tents, including one double, for a maximum capacity between 16 and 20 guests. The day we arrived the camp was full. There were 38 staff including three drivers, four guides, six waiters, three tent attendants, five kitchen, four ground, two laundry and eight Masaai security staff.

Year Opened-Renovated The camp was established in 2003, part of a six year concession

Lobby And Common Areas The common area was an open thatched roof combination lounge and dining area with a west facing deck overlooking the Rufiji River and the Selous National Park beyond it. The deck was sparsely populated with African wood furniture. To one side there was a bar area and beyond it a walkway led to a small open deck with a fire pit in the center. It was easy to observe the African star filled night from any point on the open deck.

On the other side there was a bar area from which the deck extended offering an excellent spot for fireside chats and star gazing.

Bathroom A brightly colored purple and pink striped fabric divided the bedroom area of the tent from the bathroom. The roomy bathroom occupied the back of the tent. It had a wood countertop vanity with twin white ceramic sinks, a doorless water closet, a wood and canvas shelf with hanging space and large doorless shower with hot and cold water. An attractive driftwood shaped towel rack hung next to the doorless shower.

Room Our 350 square foot tent (Number 6) was at the entrance to the camp from the river. It sat on a wood deck and was entered via the usual zippered “door.” Inside, two rustic style beds joined together to form a queen bed. An electric floor fan in one corner cooled the steamy tent, especially at night. There was a small desk with a canvas armchair in the other corner. The bed leaned against a wood armoire with two battery charged lamps and an electric outlet. The other side of the armoire housed two roomy floor level shelves and an electronic combination safe.

A large zippered screen door led to a Rufiji River facing half covered deck with two canvas chairs and a small wood table. A tree provided some cooling shade during the heat of the afternoon. From the deck we spotted birds on a nearby tree on several occasions.

Overall, the tent was comfortable in spite of the stifling heat and most of the team we were out game viewing or in the common areas where there was a breeze, enjoying a meal or relaxing.   us to

Meals We looked forward to meal times at Impala where all courses were plated. The chef, Mohammed, was from Zanzibar and he specialized in Zanzibari, African, seafood and Italian dishes. Although fresh supplies were a challenge, the camp received weekly produce deliveries from a local village and a truck brought in nonperishable goods. The water was filtered and potable. All baked goods were made fresh in the camp.

For lunch we had chicken bits, vegetable quiche and tomato, green pepper and lettuce salad. For dessert we were served a fresh fruit skewer with a light custard sauce. Lunch the following day was green banana soup, spare ribs, pumpkin frittata, and a garbanzo bean, olive and corn salad. Dessert was spice coconut cake with chocolate sauce. For dinner the main course was a choice of tasty prawns with a garlic and chili sauce or beef with pasta. For starters we had onion soup and tomato frittata and dessert was a flan caramel.  

Amenities All meals, soft drinks, water, coffee, tea and house wines were included in the nightly rate.

Facilities There was a swimming pool, bar and indoor dining area.  

Pool An attractive plunge pool (4 x 21 foot) was near the entrance of the camp and faced the water. There were five lounge chairs in the shade and self service towels on a wooded deck. On the afternoon that we visited the pool, a family of 10 had arrived prior to us. They occupied all the furniture and towels with the exception of one lounge chair.

Game Viewing Impala was distinctive in that it offered game viewing options by boat, game viewing vehicle (partial and full day drives were available) and on foot. The day we arrived the staff had scheduled a boat ride on Lake Nzelekela with Musa, our guide, and Gerald, our boat driver. We departed at 4:30 pm and returned at 6:45 pm. The following morning we went on a game walk departing at 7 am and returning at 10:30 am. We were the only two guests accompanied by Musa and a national park ranger armed with a rifle.

The second afternoon we went for a game drive, in a six seat canvas top Land Rover, at 4 pm and returned at 7pm. We were the only two guests on the six seat vehicle. Musa and a driver accompanied us. During our drive we encountered three vehicles from the neighboring camp. One of the drivers which shared the location of two lionesses they had recently seen and we rushed to see them.

Our early morning bush walk with Musa and an armed park ranger was excellent for birding, especially in the wooded area adjacent to the camp. At the end of the walk, they surprised us with a charming waterside bush breakfast under the shade of a baobab tree.

During our visit we saw baboons, bushbuck, elephant, giraffe, impala, Nile crocodile, hyena, two lionesses, warthog, a waterbuck family, zebra and several hippo pods.

The birding was extraordinary.  Birds we saw: African golden weaver, African hoopoe, African pied wagtail, coqui francolin, crowned red plover, Egyptian goose, goliath heron, green backed heron, gray heron, hadida ibis, long tail fiscal, malachite and pied king fishers, open billed stork, white fronted bee eater, little bee eater, white throated bee eater, carmine bee eater, white crowned lapwing, wire tailed swallow, African fish eagle, gray hornbill, African harrier hawk, broad billed roller, hammerkop, common bulbul, dove, open billed stork, greater egret, little egret, African darter, black headed heron, cattle egret, black egret, Diederik cuckoo, red headed weaver, red billed buffalo weaver, collard sunbird, speckled mouse bird, cardinal woodpecker, southern cordon bleu, brown headed parrot, spurwinged plover, blue starling, chinspot batis, Retz’s helmet shrike, black kite, red billed quelea, Von der Decken’s hornbill, long tailed fiscal, coqui, francolin, grassland pipit, snake eagle, yellow billed stork, helmeted guinea fowl, dark chanting goshawk, gray lourie, coucal, and white backed vulture.

Activities In addition to game viewing activities guests could spend time fishing, in the common areas such as the waterside pool, bar, and viewing deck, play board games, and read.

Curio Shop There were a handful of souvenir items, including local arts and crafts, in the office tent.

Other The water for the camp was triple filtered and chlorinated river water. Tap water was potable allowing us to brush our teeth and shower. According to the assistant manager, the tap water had been tested and was European quality. There was a thermos in the tent with cool extra filtered water. Electricity was provided via a generator run at intermittent times of the day (6 am to 10 am, 12:30 to 4 pm and 6 pm to 11 pm). There was an inverter in our tent that converted the 12 volt battery electricity into 220 voltage. There was a convenient plug in our room which we used to charge our computer and camera batteries. At night we had oil lamps and electric lamps in the tent. Security and evening escorts from the tents were provided by colorful Masaai security men.

During our stay there were two large family groups. This meant there were often children running in the dining area, lounge, bar, decks and pool. Sounds carried; from inside our tent we could hear our neighbors and children playing in the pool area.

The camp managed endeavored to be eco friendly. Paper waste was burned and plastic was recycled. Water was heated with propane.

Cleanliness Good

Date Of Last Visit February 2007

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Service Our tent was serviced daily. Our server in the dining room was helpful and friendly. Musa, our guide, was patient, knowledgeable and always willing to stop.  

Would You Stay Again? Yes

Overall Impression Chomp, chomp, chomp … just before dawn on our first night at Selous Safari Camp we woke to persistent chewing so close it seemed to be next to our bed. Hesitant to disturb the chewing beast, we remained sitting and listening intently until the dark of the night morphed into a soft gray. Eventually we peeked out of the folds of our tent to see the profiles of several huge animals grazing contentedly. We continued listening as the sound of hippos feeding faded toward the still water of the nearby lake. Moments like these are the reason we travel long distances across land and sea in search of game viewing experiences.

The Selous Safari Camp, offering lake and river access, was attractive and good place for first time safari goers. The area was free of tse-tse flies and home to few disease carrying insects, we were told. This was a big advantage, especially for newbies and families with children who preferred to remain off malaria meds. We liked many of the camp’s features such as the pretty pool area with a shady section, cool lounge and dining areas on stilts and with water views, and our bush style luxury tent near the banks of the lake.

Time between game drives was spent in our tent, usually under the cooling fan that hung above our bed or bird watching on the deck. Selous accommodations were smart, roomy and with an emphasis on the bush. We particularly liked the tent design. Our tent had a high ceiling and spacious interior as well as a shady water facing rear deck from which we spotted a beautiful flycatcher pirouetting the day we arrived. Most Selous guests hailed from Great Britain and Europe and a few were from the United States. This made meal time conversations, while we shared a common table, varied and interesting.

We especially enjoyed a morning bush walk as well as game viewing on Lake Nzerakera and the Rufiji River. Game viewing boat rides with our guide Kandindi were calming and a source of endless wonder. From the comfort of our front seats we saw skittish hippos spraying giant plumes of water before disappearing timidly under the silvery surface; land animals, like antelope and giraffes, drinking on the water’s edge; and myriad birds in varied colors and sizes feeding and flying over the water. When our friends ask us to describe the Selous Safari Camp we mention the hippos feeding at dawn; the brilliant boat excursions, bush walks and game drives in an almost exclusive setting; our comfy and stylish tent accommodations, and the zesty meals we shared with fellow game viewing enthusiasts.

Camp Manager Andrew Molinaro

Class Of Accommodation Luxury bush tents

General Manager Claus Becker

Handicapped Access Not wheelchair accessible

Length Of Stay Two nights

Location On an oxbow lake in the photographic safari section of the Selous National Park in Tanzania

Owned-Managed The Selous Safari Company/Charles Dobie

Size There were 10 tents and 50 staff including six guides on the five acre property.

Year Opened-Renovated The property first opened December 1989. The most recent renovation was in 2006 when the whole camp was renovated and upgraded.

Lobby And Common Areas Claus Becker said the camp was designed to emphasize the bush. He described the camp style saying “less is more, very comfortable and simple.” The wood decks were made of indigenous woods and makuti thatched roof.

Bathroom The bathroom occupied the right side of the tent. An adjustable canvas divider separated the sleeping area and the bathroom. When the canvas was open the bathroom was an extension of the room. Screen windows in the front and rear and an outdoor shower on the side let in muted sunlight. A wood countertop vanity with twin brass sinks and a small framed mirror faced the bush. Across from it there was a toilet in the corner nearest the shower. There were also two wood armoires with shelves and hanging space. A wall size zippered door led to a large enclosed outdoor slightly sunken shower surrounded by thin wooden poles. Although there was plenty of privacy in the enclosure, we could see the lake while showering. There was plenty of hot and cold water.

Room Our luxury tent (Number 6) was between two other tents and about 250 feet from the banks of the lake. It comprised two distinct areas. There was an outer area of about 1,000 square feet with a thatched roof as well as front and rear wood decks; and an interior tented area occupying about 450 square feet. From almost every vantage point in the tent, we had a clear view of the adjacent grassy area and beyond it Lake Nzerakera.

A rustic style bed, made up of two single beds joined together, occupied the center of the tent. A much appreciated electric ceiling fan (powered by the camp generator when it ran intermittently during the day) hung above the bed. The bed leaned against a wide wood shelf which housed night lamps and a plant. Most of the tent “walls” were of screen material allowing us generous views of the lake and surrounding bush. At night the staff placed privacy covers over the screens. Other wood furniture included a chest at the foot of the bed, a bench in the corner and a handsome freestanding full length framed mirror near the entrance.

An oversize screen opened up onto a lake facing rear deck. Although we seldom had time, we longed to lounge on the deck. In the stifling midday heat, the shade was inviting. There was a desk and chair, love seat, wicker armchair and small coffee table.

Meals We were usually seated with fellow guests. We appreciated that meals were plated and served punctually (lunch at 1 pm, tea 5:30 pm, drinks 7:30 pm and dinner 8 pm). There were two cooks and six assistants in the kitchen. Emphasis was on simple fare. The cuisine was tasty and spicy with everything made onsite including fresh baked goods.

All drinks, including bottled water and soft drinks, were priced individually.

Amenities All meals, coffee, tea, and game viewing activities such as guided walks, boat rides and game viewing drives were included in the nightly rate. There was complimentary soap, shampoo, body lotion, and filtered water in the tent.

Facilities There was a swimming pool, curio shop, bar and indoor dining decks.

Pool Near the camp reception, there was a 12 feet x 30 feet and about 5.5” feet deep pool. There were several lounge chairs in the shade and self service towels. A shade net hung over the pool, keeping it bug free and cool. Lake water was chlorinated and filtered to supply the pool.

Game Viewing Since Selous was in a reserve, staff could go off road for Big Five sightings and offer bush walks guided by Selous staff (rather than park employees). The camp stood out because it offered game viewing by foot, boat and safari vehicle. Game drives were on a nine-seat Land Rover.

During our visit recent rains had caused the roads to be in disrepair. Although the rides were pretty bumpy, our game viewing vehicle had cushy seats that helped soften the ride. We took advantage of all three types of game viewing activities. Unexpectedly, we were at Selous during one of the wettest seasons in recent memory. This meant the river and lake were overflowing and game viewing was challenging.

Our early morning bush walk was in the company of three other guests, Mark Sheridan-Johnson, our South African trained Selous guide, and Makungu, an armed local guide. We walked silently in single file behind Mark while Makungu watched our backs at the rear of the line. Every so often Mark would stop to point out something of interest; at that time we were welcome to ask questions. Although we only spotted a few animals from afar, we saw many animal tracks, dung, and plants, and learned about the bush. During the walk we saw a frog foam nest, a dessert rose flower (also known as an impala lily), bush onions (inedible), ant lion lair, spider hunting a wasp, yellow winged bat, dessert date tree, whistling thorn tree, striped ground squirrel, sandpaper tree, giraffe, and wild basil.

While at Selous we saw the following animals: crocodile, dwarf mongoose, Egyptian mongoose, elephant, hippo, impala, kudu, lions (2 females), monitor lizard, striped ground squirrel, giraffe, waterbuck with young, yellow winged bat, and zebra.

Birds: African darter, African fish eagle, African open billed stork, African sandpiper, African spoonbill, African white backed vultures, black cuckoo, black headed weaver, brown snake eagle, carmine bee eater, cattle egret, common sandpiper, Egyptian geese, golden weaver, goliath heron, gray heron, gray banded heron, ground hornbill, hadida ibis, helmeted guinea fowl, little bee eater, malachite kingfisher, night heron, pied kingfisher, pied wagtail, red billed oxpecker, southern blue crested starling, water thickknee, white breasted sparrow weaver, white browed sparrow weaver, white crowned lapwing, white crowned plover, white throated bee eater, wide swallow, white swallow, woolly necked stork, yellow billed stork,

Activities In addition to guided walks, game viewing by boat and safari vehicle, guests could spend time at the camp pool, read, and borrow a book from the camp library or just lounge.

Curio Shop There were branded clothes, souvenirs, African crafts, books and miscellaneous items available for purchase in the reception tent.

Other The water for the camp was filtered and chlorinated river water. Tap water was potable allowing us to brush our teeth. There was a thermos in the tent with cool ultra violet filtered water. Electricity was provided via a generator run at intermittent times of the day (7 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 10 pm). There was a plug in our room next to one of the armoires which we used to charge our computer and camera batteries. At night we had oil lamps and electric lamps to light the tent.

It was easy to see and hear our tent neighbors from almost any corner of our tent, including the bathroom. Our tent was about 40 feet away from each of the two neighboring tents. Except when we were under the running fan, we could hear our neighbors clearly when they spoke in their tent.

Cell phone use was prohibited in public areas and game vehicles. We never saw refuse or anything out of place within the camp or in the bush. It was obvious the staff worked hard behind the scenes to maintain the camp clean and natural looking. They separated the garbage (plastic, glass and common garbage) before shipping it out to the capital or disposing of it onsite.

The camp was a popular destination for visitors on their first safari trip. There were also many who combined a beach getaway with a few days in the bush.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Last Visit February 2007

ReviewersArticle by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Service Our tent was serviced daily. Kidume was our server in the dining room and Noah was our room steward.

Would You Stay Again? Yes