Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs R from SanFrancis

"First, about Selous Game Reserve - the reserve's main feature is the Rufiji river and lakes system which allows for boat safaris and game drives near the water sources. We went in January which was supposed to be a bit more wet but it had not rained much this year, so we got semi-dry season instead. This led to very prolific game viewing near the lakes.

We saw lions (including 2 hunts - one of which was successful), wild dogs, lots and lots of giraffes, zebras, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, and lots of beautiful birds, especially the bee eaters and lilac breasted rollers. There were animals everywhere.

Another cool thing about Selous besides the water, is that it is a game reserve, which allows for off-road driving. This meant we could drive up to 100 meters off road to get closer to the action. It makes for a much more wild experience on game drives and nice secluded spots for bush breakfast. Although, the place felt secluded enough as it is. We ran into just a few cars each day, with no more than 2 other vehicles, even at lion sightings. Most of the day, we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Now about the guiding - Dennis was our guide during our 4-night stay. He took care of us on both the game drives and the boat safaris. You get to choose 2 activities per day. It was like we were on a private safari because we were in our own car/boat and could pick and choose what we wanted to see. Combined with the ability to go off-road and being the only car at a sighting most of the time, this meant almost total flexibility in seeing what you want from the angle you want, as long as you want. It was awesome.

Dennis is an excellent spotter. We are still impressed by how he could spot a lion's presence from very far away by looking at the giraffes' behavior. And I mean from very far. This led us to a lioness who was eyeing a baby wildebeest. We got to see the whole drama unfold... again, off-road, all to ourselves.

Camp and dining - Our tent was right next to the river so we had beautiful sunset views. The tents have en-suite bathrooms which was good to help us warm up to the bush. There was a hippo hanging out in the water near our tent and we could hear him (sometimes quite loud) at night. We also had elephants come up to the tent which added to the fun.

Sylvia and Barbara took good care of us. Everything was run beautifully at the camp. Dining was excellent with 3-course lunches and 4-course dinners. One of us chose vegetarian option which they executed very well. We chose the bush breakfast option every day we were there. Breakfast in the bush is a bit more limited than in the camp but we preferred the experience and having more time in the bush.

One thing we wished was a little more communal time at the bar before dinner. Since dining here is private, unlike at some other camps, the bar time would give a chance for guests to mingle and share their experiences of the day. We also want to suggest making drinks included during sundowners to encourage people to hang out at the bar / camp fire more. Since we already get a private safari and dining the rest of the day, an hour of communal time could be fun."

"Imagine visiting a couple of good friends who live at this most beautiful campsite on Ruaha river, deep in a remote part of Tanzania. There were no other guests so everything is tailored to your wish. That was how we felt at Kichaka with Moli and Noelle.

Moli is like a walking and talking encyclopedia. He has deep knowledge about the bush and is able to explain it beautifully with great passion. You may find yourself saying "wow" a couple of times while he is describing termites or African dung beetles. You learn to appreciate the little things that keep our complex ecosystem working, and feeling like you've been transported into a BBC documentary on animals.

On our drive from the air strip to the camp, we saw a pride of lions, 2 leopards, a large herd of elephants, and even had some exciting interaction with a (mock) charging bull elephant. We felt like we were in good hands with Moli and he knew what to do in such situations.

One particular day, we saw over a thousand (we like to say "thousands") of elephants. It was incredible. Elephants everywhere, large and small, eating, crossing rivers, mating, play-fighting, mock-charging, and just doing what elephants do. One of the most amazing things we've ever seen. It was like a scene from the Jurassic Park. We also saw Elands and Cheetahs during our stay, along with large numbers of impalas, dik diks, warthogs, baboons, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, hippos, and lots of beautiful birds.

Noelle's cooking was amazing. Our favorite was definitely the Zanzibar fish soup, although everything was so delicious. Even a simple grilled fish fired up in the bush was perfectly executed. The camp was very well run and the staff well trained and eager to take care of you.

The camp setup is basic but nicely done. Makes you really feel like you're in the outdoors and still have all the comforts you need. The open-sided outside bathroom had a beautiful view of the river, and we left the curtains open the whole time.

Our fondest memories were sitting by the camp fire, looking at the river, eating truly delicious food under the stars with great company, while hearing the calls of lions, hyenas, and jackals in the background. We wish we could have stayed longer than 3 nights, and hope to return soon."