Top 5 Lodges in the Selous

To start off the series, we have chosen to run through the main camps in a part of Tanzania that is very dear to us here, the Selous Game Reserve. This spectacular park, around a 30 minute flight from Dar es Salaam, combines stunning scenery, great game and an excellent range of safari experiences from sleeping out in the bush to fishing for tiger fish. In our opinion, if you are after great value for money, superlative service and bush isolation then the Selous is a very good option. Please see our run through of the top 5:

Beho Beho

The first on our list is the exemplary Beho Beho Lodge. Set up in the Beho Beho hills to the north of the Rufiji River, Beho Beho is the ultimate safari experience. The camp was the first to be established in the park, the reasons being the cooler breezes and the game viewing...both of which make a big difference! The key to a stay here is the best of everything, the best service, superb food, luxurious rooms, great guiding. We have been selling Beho Beho for years and it keeps getting better and better. It is true that the camp is not down by the river side, as with many of the other camps in the park, but this is, in view, a big plus point as it has great resident game in the area and, not being near the others gives you the whole place to yourself.

Price: $1,150ppn on an all inclusive basis including all park fees and game viewing activities
Specials: 4 for 3; 5 for 4 and 7 nights for the price of 5 from June 2018 to March 2019

Sand Rivers Selous

The debate as to whichh out of Sand Rivers and Beho Beho should take the crown of the best in the reserve is one that doesn't seem to go away, year on year. Right on the Rufiji River, to the west of the park (and so away from the relative traffic of the centre, Sand Rivers was also one of the first camps in the Selous and is seen, very much, as the “grand dame” of the reserve. Each of the sumptuous, open fronted rooms looks out onto the river and, with great game viewing in the area and good everything else, it is still very much one of the places to stay in the park.

Price: $1,109pppn on an all inclusive basis including all park fees and game viewing activities
Specials: 4 nights for the price of 3; 50% discount for the bride; combination deals with other Nomad properties

Siwandu Camp

Sitting in the next price bracket down are Siwandu Camp and Impala which both offer a slightly less eye watering price and only get better out of season. While they don't offer quite the impact of the top two, they are still, very much, worth considering. Located overlooking the Rufiji River, Siwandu is probably one of the best buys for this year as they are offering a series of deals which include low season rates throughout the year (25% discount) as well as longer stay incentives with free nights and further % reductions depending on amount of time stayed. The camp itself is made up of 9 luxurious tents, all looking out to the meandering river and offering an outdoor shower under the stars, and ensuite bathroom. The area around the camp is known for great lion sightings throughout the season and it is one of our favourite spots for leopard (although never guaranteed!!).

Price: $772pppn (low season rate) on a full board basis including all park fees and game viewing
Specials: Combination deals with their sister properties Ras Kutani and Jongomero, super low season rates in the months of June and November

Impala Tented Camp

Also sitting in the middle price bracket, Impala camp succeeds in offering simple luxury without a vast price tag. With only 6 tents Impala is one of the smallest of all the camps in the Selous and this small size is reflected in the care and attention to detail throughout the camp and rooms. From a location point of view, the camp sits right on the banks of the river and offers views out from most of the rooms and communal areas. The region that it is in, near to Mtemere gate, on the eastern side of the park, is very good for leopard and lion populations particularly.

Price: $656pppn (low season rate) on a full board basis including all park fees and game viewing
Specials: Low season rate for high season dates, 4 nights for the price of 3 in June and November on low season rates

Lake Manze Tented Camp

A sister camp to Impala, Lake Manze is a simpler version of the same idea. The emphasis on Manze is on the wildlife. Originally set up on an elephant run, the camp is always populated by the resident elephant that “tiptoe” between the tents eating the Doum Palm nuts! The whole experience of staying in Manze is memorable and, while it is not as luxurious as other camps, over the years that we have been selling it, we have never heard a bad word uttered....this may also be helped by the fact that it is 5 mins drive from the most active game area in the park and so wild dog, leopard, lion etc are all seen with regularity.

Price: $595pppn on a FB basis including all park fees and game viewing
Specials: combination deal with Mdonya Old River in Ruaha, 4 nights for the price of 3 in June and November on low season rates

...there it is! We hope that some of the above helps you in your comparisons and please feel free to send us an email or give us a call if there is somewhere that we haven't mentioned or just to have a chat!