Roho ya Selous

Roho ya Selous stands on a small peninsula overlooking Lake Nzerakera, in the core game-viewing area of Nyerere National Park, the protected area formerly known as Selous Game Reserve. Instead of open grassland you find marsh, palms, lakes, rivers and seasonal wetland plains, close to a tributary of the Rufiji River.

There are eight stretch canvas tents, one of them a family tent that sleeps up to five. Each tent has an en suite bathroom with a flushing toilet and hot showers both indoors and outdoors, and a cooling breeze system above the bed. The tents open to roughly 180 degrees of views across the waterways.

Dining and lounge areas sit under canvas roofs over slate floors that stay cool through the day. In the evening guests gather around a fire area for sundowners. The camp runs on solar power with a backup generator, and it has a swimming pool and Wi-Fi.

Water shapes the days here. Alongside game drives in custom 4x4 vehicles, each with a private guide, you can explore by boat and try fishing. Drives go out in the early morning and late afternoon. Walking safaris with an armed ranger run from 1 June to 15 January, weather permitting, for guests aged 12 and over. Lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard, giraffe, zebra, crocodile and wild dog are all recorded in the area, and more than 400 bird species have been logged, among them Pel's fishing owl.

Seasons change the character of a stay. From July to October the dry weather suits game viewing on land, while from November to March the rivers run fullest and migratory birds arrive. The camp is open from June to mid-March and closes for the long rains. Children from five years old are welcome.

Roho ya Selous is for travellers who would rather give a few days to one stretch of water and watch it change.