Rufiji River Camp

The oldest of the camps in Selous and with, arguably, the best location, Rufiji River Camp comprises 20 en suite tents with a central mess area laid out along the river bank, with panoramic views of the sunset and river. There is a safari-simple, back-to basics minimalism to the camp that can come as a welcome break from the sometimes stuffy seriousness of the expensive camps. Each tent has a private verandah under a makuti roof - perfect for reading, writing or just resting in the shade. In this natural environment electricity is provided by a solar panel system, but its use has been deliberately limited to tent illumination, water pumps operation, kitchen equipment, and recharging guests' video-cameras batteries. A shaded swimming pool, library, mess area and the Tuscan kitchen of the Italian management have all been expanded recently, to charming effect, making Rufiji our recommendation for the perfect mid-range Selous experience.

Activities

Game drives & boat/walking safaris Each evening, during cocktail hour, the next day's program is planned as per each guests preferences and "seasonal" opportunities. The choices normally include:

• Game drives by 4WD, accompanied by highly experienced rangers very knowledgeable on the reserve its' inhabitants. Game drives could pass through 3 different environments - from the bush near the camp to the open savannah (similar to the Serengeti) to a zone dominated by Borassus palms, at the foot of the mountains. Each area has its inhabitants: prides of lion, perhaps wild dog, elephant, gazelle, antelope, gnu and hundreds of giraffe. Then there are the enormous baobabs, the different species of acacias and palms, decorating the everchanging landscape, offering shade, refuge and delight.
• Boat safaris, with a multitude of destinations, ranging from the main course of the river to its many side canals and lakes. In each season the Rufiji River holds special surprises: in June yellow-billed storks can be found nesting on the main river, in August their chicks are learning to fish and fly on the beaches and islands. From December, as the water level rises, other canals and lakes become accessible, offering new panoramas and experiences.
• Walking safaris, perhaps the most exciting of all safaris. Selous Game Reserve is one of the very few parks in Tanzania where you can take a safari "on foot". You can choose an established trail, or one for your special interest, but you are always accompanied by an armed ranger. A real treasure for the true explorer.

Rufiji River Camps Fly Camp

This Fly Camp is situated about 45 minutes drive from the main Rufiji River Camp on the shore of Lake Mzizimia. The name ‘fly camp’ is derived from the English phrase ‘fly by night’, which refers to anything which is temporary. The purpose of having a fly camp is that it allows the client to spend some time in very close proximity to the bush, in a very personal and private environment. In fact, even while the main camp with its maximum capacity of 40 clients cannot be called large, the fly camp offers maximum exclusivity by accommodating 2 to 10 clients. Recommended duration of stay: 2 nights or more. Although there is no electricity at the camp, this minor inconvenience is more than made up for by the ‘this is our camp’ feeling. Tents are spacious double occupancy tents (singles can also be arranged), much larger than the average bush tent with the apex of the A-frame at approx. 2 metres. Each one is equipped with folding cot beds, mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows, towels and soap. In front of the tents there are folding safari style chairs and a table placed on a locally made African mat. At the camp there are 2 ‘long-drop’ style toilets and a separate oil drum bush shower.