Reviews of Selinda Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
67 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Selinda Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Unforgettable memories"
It is fantastic how Great Plains is involved in creating employment opportunities and hiring local people. Nevertheless the ratio between the small number of guests (they only have 3 tents so max 6 guests) and staff ( many ) - made me feel a bit uncomfortable at times. New faces all the time. I must have met 6 different " chefs" while I was there. And maybe for this reason as well at times the chain of command seemed too long.
But having said that, they did everything to make me feel comfortable and accommodate my wishes. Again I was spoiled rotten and very privileged to have been able to spent all my days at Selinda in a car only with Donald , my guide. And what an experienced and excellent guide he was ! We absolutely had the same pace. And it was here, at Selinda, that I did have one of my most memorable wild dogs sightings ever. Because they had made it possible. And Donald helped me to overcome my fear of elephants. We even had a baby elephant coming over to the car and say hello." See all these reviews: 20n in Botswana; 1n in South Africa
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
4 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
1 sighting
Zebra
10 sightings
"Beautiful Selinda Camp"
A good mix of water and land-based activities. A great guide.
We enjoyed every minute." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 4n in Zambia
Buffalo
10 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
7 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Selinda"
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
6 sightings
Giraffe
2 sightings
Hippo
6 sightings
Leopard
3 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
2 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
"Safari in Selinda Camp Kwando-Linyanti "
Our stay at Selinda was great, lovely accomodation in a perfect spot with very welcoming staff gave the place a very homely feel. We were even visited by an elephant chewing the tree on the edge of our terrace in the early hours and the hippos grunts kept us company all through the night.
The dinners on the first two evenings we thought were fairly ordinary, but greatly improved and were more what we expected on the third night. We understand there was a temporary chef cooking on the first two evenings and the permanent second chef took over on he third night.
Our guide Matt was great and provided us with some super game viewing, he always seemed to know where the animals were and was so knowledgeable about everything in the bush. We followed four female lions hunting, saw a female leopard and her cub and the peak viewing was watching a male leopard hunting!.We came away with some great photos and even got the classic shots of the male leopard climbing a tree and the breakfasts, eaten in the bush were very atmospheric.
Altogether a great safari experience.
We saw hyena, hippos, lions, leopards, giraffe, zebras, wildebest, buffalo and numerous different impalas" See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Roan antelope
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Gem of a camp"
The staff were passionate about their camp and their wildlife and it was infectious! Everyone seemed to know something about the area or the things that lived there and we learned much about the ecology of the place and how everything fitted together. Game drives great with lots to see, but it was the guides and the camp staff that made it special. Staff would join us for meals if possible and our guide was always with us. Made us feel like part of one happy family as well as guests. Had elephants and hippos in the camp at night, noisy but exciting.
Sadly no wild dogs in the area since end of last year but Matt our guide did find a Carmine Bee-eater. Saw a huge variety of animals and birds. Grass getting a bit tall this time of year so might be a bit restricting for spotting smaller critters!
We were a little rushed leaving camp because we had to take the jeep back to the airstrip instead of the boat so forgot to sign the visitors book. Have contacted Dorian at GP office to pass our thanks on to ALL the staff for a truly unforgettable end to our holiday in Botswana." See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
"Great camp and the best guide"
We were fortunate in having our guide, Donald, as our private guide for our three day stay. (There are advantages to going during the hottest time of year). Donald is a photographer, as are my wife and I, so he was usually able to get us into the best position for great shots.
Donald found a pair of cheetahs who had been absent from the concession for several months. We were able to witness a couple of hunts with them (Warthogs 2, Cheetahs 0). There was a huge breeding herd of elephants (around 50) on the shores of the spillway. Donald found some purple gallinule. We saw the dominant male lions of the area, as well as two different prides of females and cubs. We found a leopardess with whom we spent some up-close-and-personal time (she walked right under the safari car). There were many red lechwe, some impala and waterbuck and kudu, and even a lechwe/waterbuck hybrid.
A hippo was out cropping the grass right on the front yard of the tent, and there were numerous hippos in the spillway." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in South Africa
"Stunning camp in great location"
The communal area was well laid out, large, open, with great views and fresh breezes, and included a lovely little swimming pool, a viewing deck, and a place to have afternoon tea and communal dining. There was also a boma and you can ask for private dining if you want (we did this on our last night, and the camp will come up with a surprise location!).
There is a very good wine list, and you can choose your own bottle direct from their cellar. The rooms are big, and airy and comfortable. The staff were delightful, and the temporary managers we encountered (Alistair and Jessica) were dedicated to ensuring everything was designed to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
The game was perhaps a little sparse for Botswana, although we had two outstanding sightings (over 3 days) - a pride of lion hunting (unsuccessfully, needless to say) and two six week old leopard cubs hidden in a fallen tree. Although these were amazing sights, there was very little other activity in the park while we were there." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 5n in Namibia
"Selinda"
Guide and trips all very good, with particular mention to sundowners - was not expecting to be able to have cap classic in the bush. Cheetah spot was best part and ability to stay with it throughout with hardly any other vehicles makes all the difference. Only possible comment would be that the guides work very hard and ours seemed a little tired by the end.
Also, no books on birds available - we would have brought one with us but assumed would be one with guide/in camp somewhere." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
"Selinda is just magnificent"
Perfect setting with wonderful decor. Game viewing was second to none.
Staff couldn't have been kinder and more helpful." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana
"Superb Wildlife Drives"
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Other lodges in Kwando-Linyanti area
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Lagoon Camp
Within the vast Kwando Reserve, renowned for its wild dogs, Lagoon Camp offers excellent game viewing that focuses on predators.
Lebala Camp
With enthusiastic guides and trackers, Lebala – in a vast private reserve – is particularly well-placed for seeking wild dogs.
DumaTau
DumaTau, in the private Linyanti Reserve, offers game drives, seasonal boat cruises and walks. Wildlife safaris here are quite seasonal, and are at their best during the height of the dry season, between June and October.
Linyanti Bush Camp
An increasingly rare find in Botswana, Linyanti Bush Camp blends relative simplicity with numerous activities and very good guiding.
Selinda Explorers Camp
The luxurious, traditional tented Selinda Explorers Camp offers a mix of walking, canoeing and game drives led by really top notch guides in a game-rich area.
Savuti Camp
For years the Savuti Channel ran dry, but it's now flowing again and this newly refurbished, 7-room lodge has pride of place to witness the spectacle.
Zarafa Camp
Zarafa is an exclusive camp overlooking the scenic Zibadianja Lagoon within the Selinda Reserve, a particularly game-rich area between June and early November.
Kings Pool
King’s Pool is a top-end luxury safari camp with a price tag to match; the game viewing can be very good during the dry season.
Linyanti Ebony
Independently owned and run, the small Linyanti Ebony sits on the same site as Linyanti Bush Camp, with similarly high standards of guiding, and a strong emphasis on the wildlife experience.
Linyanti Expeditions
Tip-top guiding. In tune with the habitat. Down-to-earth, authentic camp comfort. A place of wilderness safari harmony.
Little DumaTau
Small and sophisticated, Little DumaTau lies adjacent to its larger sibling in the private Linyanti Reserve, overlooking a beautiful lagoon.
