Selous Impala Camp is situated on a wooded stretch of the stunning Rufiji River within the Selous Game Reserve Tanzania. Simply though stylishly designed, it offers varied safaris both on land and water.
Selous Impala’s breezy lounge and dining area sits on a spacious wooden decking with spectacular views across the river, making it a wonderful place to watch game come down to the water to drink. There are plenty of lounge chairs, all made of solid carved wood with woven seats and backs of natural fibre. Touches of African art dotted around give the central area a homely feel. Here’s a place to stretch out, put your feet up, and leaf through some of Impala’s wildlife and bird books, or just enjoy the view.
Across a short walkway, is the bar area, high chairs are set against a small bar made from an old ngalawa (dug-out canoe) and a few comfortable sofas with beautiful rustic-coloured cushions line the edge.
Extending further still from the bar area you can enjoy an evening drink around the campfire whilst relaxing on canvas directors’ chairs.
Walk a short way through the acacia woodland to your privately located tent on the river. Raised high up on decking, each of the six Meru-style tents has a veranda with two comfortable chairs and a table from where you can enjoy a lovely view of the Rufiji River and land beyond. In addition there are two family units each comprising of two en-suite tents sharing a single platform.
Impala has very good ‘back of house’ infrastructure, which you are welcome to visit – allow 30 minutes for a guided tour, which includes the water treatment system and their impressive laundry and solar system.
Geographics
Location: Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
Ideal length of stay: 3 nights to make the most of all the activities.
Directions: From Dar es Salaam, it’s a 45-minute flight into the Selous Game Reserve, where you will land at an airstrip 14km from Impala Camp. It’s then a short safari drive or boat ride back to camp. Alternatively, it is around a six-hour drive from Dar es Salaam – depending on the weather and therefore the state of the roads.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Key personnel
Owner: Selous Impala Camp (ltd).
Staff: Lorenzo and Beatrice are the management team assisted by 44 well trained staff which include drivers and guides.
Food & drink
Board basis: Full Board
Food quality: The food at Selous Impala Camp is beautifully presented with lunch and breakfast being served on large wooden platters in little coconut-shell dishes.
Meals offered are a mix of international cuisine, ingredients are all fresh
Breakfast at Selous Impala Camp is usually fruit, a variety of cereals, bread and homemade jam, as well as eggs of your choice.
Lunch is a two-course meal with a main course and side-salad, followed by fruit for dessert.
For dinner you can expect a four-course meal, with a number of main-course options.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Selous Impala Camp is great for:
Family holidays: At night when you mustn’t walk unaccompanied on the ground, Selous Impala’s family tents allow passing between two tents as they’re set on one platform. Come with up to three children (min 6 year old) for boat trips and flexible game drives on your Selous family safari.
Honeymoons: Selous Impala Camp has a beautiful and romantic setting on the edge of the Rufiji River. The rooms are very private, each with its own veranda and wonderful views. Selous Impala Camp team take every effort to spoil honeymoon couples – an ideal treat for a Tanzania honeymoon.
Birdwatching: There are in excess of 400 species of birds in the Selous Game Reserve. Click here to view the great variety seen within the camp area.
We organise exclusive bird sighting game drives for the avid birdwatchers.
Wildlife safaris: Selous is an excellent game reserve with great populations of big game from elephant and buffalo to lion, leopard and a healthy population of wild dogs.
Children
Attitude towards children: Selous Impala Camp welcomes families with children aged 6 or older. There are two family tents which consist of two self contained tents on a single platform.
Activity age restrictions: Only children over the age of 16 years may go on a walking safari or fly-camping.
Special activities & services: Selous Impala Camp are flexible about the length of their safari activities – they will happily do shorter drives and boat journeys for families with children.
Equipment: There are special children’s lifejackets available for boat-trips.
Notes: Parents should be aware that Selous Impala Camp is not fenced and dangerous wildlife can, and does, pass through at any time – so children should not be left unaccompanied.
Infrastructure
Power supply: Solar generated 240V
Power supply notes: The lights and fans in the tents work 24 hours a day.
Communications: Selous Impala Camp has a satellite phone and basic email in the office, but these are for camp use and emergencies only. Although there is now intermittent cellphone reception in the Selous, the camp requests that guests refrain from using telephones in the public areas.
Water supply notes: Water is pumped from the river and filtered through an OSMOSIS plant.
Jugs of chilled drinking water are provided in the rooms.
Bottled water is available only on request.
Health & safety
Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: There are first-aid kits at Selous Impala Camp in the office and on all of the vehicles for minor injuries and illnesses and some members of the team are trained in basic first aid. For emergencies, Impala has links to the flying doctors’ service in Dar es Salaam, which is a 45-minute flight away.
Security measures: The camp is not fenced and wildlife does occasionally pass through, so traditionally dressed Maasai, armed with spears, will escort you to and from your room at night; there’s also an armed park ranger at the camp. Every room has a safe for valuables.
Extras
Laundry facilities: Included
Money: No money exchange is offered.
Accepted payment on location: The camp prefers payment for any extras in US dollars, Tanzanian shillings, English pounds or Euros cash. We are unable to accept travellers’ cheques or credit cards.
