Reviews of Impala Camp

"For our family Impala Camp was an unforgettable safari experience. The setting high on the bank of the river is perfect and the camp offered the perfect balance of comfort and wilderness outdoor living. The management of the camp was excellent and it ran smoothly at all times. Chloe we felt is doing an excellent job.

Our guide was Ezra and one of the factors that made our stay at Impala so memorable and we can't speak highly enough of him. - nothing was too much trouble and he was great fun to be with. He was supported ably by our excellent driver Rajabo. One of our most memorable experiences was the fishing - the setting was spectacular and we all had a great time. Abdullah our boat driver was particularly helpful on this occasion.

The food was superb and considering where we were quite miraculous. Mealtimes were a real treat and we enjoyed having the same waiter for every meal, Mufta, who was extremely helpful with our apalling attempts at Swahili.

We really appreciated the personalised service and the incredible attention to detail without affectation." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar

"Lovely location, willing/helpful staff, excellent food/choice - the promotional leaflets do not do justice to this camp, we feel they are underselling themselves.

Camp should not become any more luxurious otherwise the feeling of camping in Africa would be lost.

Roads were tricky due to rain and some areas of the reserve were inaccessible but there was still plenty of animals to see. Highlight was definitely seeing a pack of 12 wild dogs.

The river cruise was a new experience but definitely worth doing, despite the river being in flood." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania

"Contrary to the impressions given in the Expert Africa brochure this is definitely wet season in the Selous. The tracks were very difficult to drive and on some days it was touch and go for flights to land at the local airstrip. Most of the rain was at night so our daytime activities were not affected, but the weather did seem to have a dampening affect on the animals - we saw plenty but it was slow going. Birdlife was, however, spectacular, especially all the bee-eaters and kingfishers, and storks, herons and egrets along the river.

The camp itself was brilliant. For us the best feature is that with only 8 tents they nevertheless have six vehicles, plus boats. This means that you effectively get your own driver and guide for the whole time, unlike other camps where you would have to pay extra for such exclusivity. Our guide was a South African who was very knowledgeable and passionate about conservation. The walking safari was well worth doing.

There was one afternoon when inexplicably all guests were sent off in two groups of six for boat safaris (with just a pilot and no guide in each boat). This was out of character from the way all other activities had been organised and we did point this out to the managers who were apologetic but did not have a real explanation.

The camp management and staff were very friendly and approachable. You can mix with other guests over drinks but generally we had separate tables for meals and were not forced all to eat at same time. This is very good.

The camp itself is a beautiful location perched on the river bank and we found our tent perfectly comfortable. Masai guards escort you to and from your tent after dark.

As with all other places this camp lacked maps and basic information on local geography/ecology. The bird checklist provided was pretty comprehensive but had a few errors which would annoy serious birders but is a minor point overall." See all these reviews: 13n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar

"We had a magical experience! The camp was set in beautiful surroundings, the tents were comfortable and romantic, and the restaurant and bar area were equally lovely - perfect for a honeymoon. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful, we were made to feel really special. We saw more wildlife than we expected and all the safaris we went on were far from disappointing; we even saw wild dogs which are apparently very rare.

We had a truly wonderful time and the most memorable trip of our lives! I would recommend Selous Impala camp to anyone." See all these reviews: 11n in Zanzibar; 3n in Tanzania

"Comments as before - 15/17 Jan." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar

"Absolutely AMAZING!! The camp is exceptional right from the welcome drink and cool menthol flannel to the tearful au-revour. The location is superb and the tented camp with it's incredible facilities is terrific. A super team run the camp and all the staff were very obliging and hospitable. From the bar staff to the fantastic guides/drivers - nothing it seemed was too much trouble. The food was varied and very palatable and it was a huge bonus for us to have a fresh coffee machine on site!! There was always plenty of icecold beers and wines (reasonable prices too) along with flaskfuls of cold drinking water in the extreme heats - well done! The variation of walking, boating and jeep safari meant we had variety and fulfillment at all times." See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar

"A step up from Maze camp. Obviously a more well established camp in a truly superb location.

As with Manze, the staff were excellent from our first moment to the last. Slightly more formal than Manze but still very relaxed. The accommodation was lovely with excellent views over the river. The pool was a great place to go after a long day out and the food was great!!

We were given every opportunity to decide what we wanted to do and the mixture of driving, walking, sailing and fishing gave us real variety.

Two specific comments (not negative, just observations): firstly the terrain around Impala is less open than Manze so it is a bit more difficult to spot wildlife, secondly the tracks are fairly rutted. Mind you, a day in a Landrover going along muddy tracks in great fun in itself!" See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 1n in Zanzibar

"This is top end luxury! I don't know how the prices compare with Mdonya and Manze, but this is in a different category as far as food, service and general amenities are concerned. Guiding was very good (although see my general comments at the end). If you want to be pampered, this is the place.

The only quibble I have with your brochure description is that the tent affords “stunning views over the river and hill beyond.” Not so, in my experience. I did have a view of the river, but it was partly obstructed by foliage. I was happy with the location, it's just the brochure description that is wrong." See all these reviews: 21n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar

"Probably as good as it could possibly be. The location was stunning overlooking the Rufiji river; I would just stand on the veranda for long periods breathing it in. The place is a paradise for birdwatchers with new varieties seeming to appear all the time, so much so that I gave up trying to list them after the first day and just gawped in wonder instead.

Theirs is possibly the best restaurant in the world; the food was much better than i expected and the setting surely can't be surpassed.

Chloe, the manager would check on us several times a day to make sure that everything was going alright and to arrange the activities that we wanted to do. All of the activities were tailored to our requirements without any problem. The staff were also very cheery and the guides that we had were knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend the walking safaris as a good way to experience and start to understand the environment.

If I had to find a negative with this camp it could only be that I didn't get much sleep due to the noise of the hippos, hyaenas, frogs and owls outside the tent but then that's what you go on safari for in the first place.

They say that Africa gets into your soul and in this place it only took a few days." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar

"See previous section" See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 4n in Zanzibar