Selous Impala Camp

Selous Impala Camp is a luxury, simple yet elegant tented camp built in 2005 situated on a wooded stretch of the stunning Rufiji River within Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), Tanzania. Positioned between two beautiful lakes – Mzizimia and Siwandu – on the north bank of the Great Rufiji River. The camp's position on the banks of the waterway is considered unbeatable and arguably the best in the park, offering access to both core wildlife viewing areas and a particularly scenic stretch of the Rufiji River.

Rooms

The camp is one of the smallest in Selous with just 8 luxury, spacious Meru-style tents (khaki/dark green canvas), discreetly spaced apart and well camouflaged beneath Borassus palms and tamarind trees. Tents are raised on wooden decks/stilts above the river, each with a private deck/veranda with chairs and table for resting during midday or enjoying peaceful afternoons. Rooms can be configured as twins or doubles, and include two double family tents (for children aged 10+) with two single rooms connected by a shared deck. All tents are en-suite with full running water, have 24-hour electricity supply, ventilators/fans for hot days, and charging points provided.

Views & Wildlife

The camp overlooks the rippling Rufiji River with bird's-eye views from raised tents showing splashing hippos below and game on the opposite bank. Tents provide good views of the channel and river from the large deck, with some overlooking the river and others a lagoon. The flank of two lakes (Mzizimia and Siwandu) offers great game and bird sightings throughout the year, attracting a rich variety of animals in both wet and dry seasons. Selous Impala is a bird lover's paradise with over 400 species of resident and migrant birds, and the area hosts everything from large cats, large elephant herds to Nile crocodiles.

Facilities & Dining

The heart of the camp is the elongated main building (mess area) sitting on stilts, housing a large open dining room, lounge with comfortable chairs, well-stocked bar, and surrounding verandas for spectacular views. Meals are served in the covered dining area or on the open-air platform when weather allows, featuring candlelit dinners, light lunches, and Italian-influenced cuisine reflecting the Italian ownership. A campfire and rondavel with lounge and bar are located down by the channel for pre-dinner drinks, early-evening star-gazing, and safari tales. The camp has a beautiful, large swimming pool with loungers and sunshades perfect for afternoon splashes between game drives.

Activities

The camp offers diverse safari activities including daily game drives led by experienced guides, thrilling boat trips/safaris down the Rufiji River (ranging far and wide up the amazing river), amazing walking safaris/thrilling bush walks, and fishing on the Rufiji River. Fly camping is available at extra cost. The great array of activities within Selous is the main attraction, allowing guests to experience and explore the stunning surroundings with diverse wild animals.

About

Selous Impala Camp is possibly the best mid-price option in Nyerere National Park, providing very comfy tented accommodation with a warm and friendly setting. It's ideal as an ideal base for exploring the natural wonders of Selous Game Reserve, one of Africa's largest protected wildlife sanctuaries. The camp is simple yet elegant, offering superb comfort, wonderful wildlife, and dining under the stars, making it perfect for travelers seeking comfortable, reasonably-priced accommodation in a game-rich area with excellent activities both on land and water.