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What does it take to find the perfect tree house? Located on the western side of the Mara River and only open to access by foot – thick with trees, valleys, rocks – we kept circling back to one particular spot: fifty metres from the water looking along a stretch that is filled by a raucous pod of hippo. A line of Warburgia stretches along a little draw, and a single tree at the end shows scars: a scratching post for a resident male leopard. The salt lick luring the impala leads to a hippo funnel and their small sandy beach. -
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Ngare translates to ‘by the river’ in the Masai language, and the idea behind this snug little camp was to transport the serenity of the original Serian camp to the water’s edge. Hugging the banks of the Mara, Ngare Serian is cosy and intimate. It can only be reached on foot, over a narrow rope bridge – and in a way the crossover is symbolic: a call to step out of touch and out of time, and give yourself over to the natural charm of the place. There’s something special about being on the water’s edge – the water slipping and sloshing over the stones sets a soothing soundtrack, but at the same time its energy and movement lends lightness and life – green shoots, verdant growth and glossy rocks that metamorphose into hippos. -
Rubondo Island Camp is the only lodge on Rubondo Island, the largest island national park in Africa. Tropical forests provide a protected habitat for wildlife that includes sitatunga, elephant, giraffe, 200 species of birds, and wild chimpanzees. The waters of Lake Victoria also offer spectacular fishing for Nile perch. Meals are served alfresco at the main lodge area, with the lapping waves of Lake Victoria marking the passing hours of island life. Spend the afternoon relaxing in a hammock with binoculars and a bird guide or cool off in the swimming pool. When the sun dips below the horizon, watch the hippo emerge from the water to graze on the fringes of camp. The 8 luxury chalets are nestled under the huge trees just 60 meters for the sandy lake shore. -
About Siwandu
Siwandu is sheltered in a grove of palms on the shores of Lake Nzerakera, part of the watery byways of the Rufiji River system. Siwandu is perfectly situated within the prime game area to fully experience the abundant wildlife of Selous Game Reserve. Explore the breathtaking landscape by foot on our morning game walks, by 4WD vehicles with our expert driver guides and on the water with boat cruises on both the river and on the lake. Broadly spaced along the lakeshore, Siwandu’s superbly appointed accommodation ensures maximum privacy and every opportunity to soak up the sights and sounds of the purest African bush. The ten spacious octagonal tents allows guests to observe animals as they saunter past while reclining on the majestic king sized bed under the overhead fan or from the open-air stargazer showers which adjoin the en-suite bathrooms. -
Beho Beho was the first camp in The Selous Game Reserve to be sited in its cooler highlands. Here it enjoys 'cooling breezes' from which it derives its name. Designated a private camp, it has fiercely protected its individuality and privileged location. It is one of the most magical places to visit in safari Africa. Beho Beho is not really a camp in the true sense of the word. It has individual bandas built of stone, with palm-leaf thatched roofs. Therefore it is not the tented accommodation often associated with a camp. Nor is it a safari lodge either, as it has only eight bandas, four on one side of the main house and four on the other. Think of Beho Beho as a home, a very private home situated in the middle of the African bush. Owned by the Bailey family for over forty years, they now share their "home in the bush". A fortunate few are able to share their enjoyment of Beho Beho, one of their favourite places in the world. -
Chat with a Chimp at Greystoke Mahale
Greystoke Mahale has won the Best Location in Africa award at the Safari Awards for 2017. Greystoke sits deep within the Mahale Mountains National Park, on the edge of the second deepest lake in the world - Lake Tanganyika. Nestled between the gin-clear water of the lake, and the tumbling forests sits our extraordinary castaway lodge. There are absolutely no roads here, and virtually no other people. That is what being in Mahale is all about. This really is the edge of the world and the ultimate in remote wilderness. The main reason for making the journey down to Mahale is to see the chimpanzees. Mahale is home to one of the largest populations of wild chimps with access to a habituated community known as the M Group. A team of Japanese researchers have worked in these mountains studying the chimps for over 50 years, and the guides and their families have played a part in their work for decades. All of our camp guides have had a member of their family involved with the chimps since they were young, and they gladly followed in their footsteps. There is nothing the guides don’t know about the characters, politics and intricacies of this fascinating community and they bring it to life with an extraordinary passion. There is no one else you should meet these chimps with.
