With two rather lovely camps in Ruaha under their belts, the clever chaps at Asilia Africa have expanded to the Nyerere National Park ('The Selous'). Combining Nyerere and Ruaha make an excellent combination in Tanzania’s slightly more off-the-beaten track southern circuit, and this spangly camp is as good as ever. It’s in a waterside spot in one of the best game-viewing areas in the reserve and you can expect funky, stretch-canvas tents, all with views out to pods of harrumphing hippos, a good array of water- and land-based activities and a healthy dose of that genuine Asilia charm. Sounds good to us!
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From its perch atop a hill, the main areas look down over the watery landscape of Nyerere. There are two tents, one more a lounge and bar and one a dining tent, both with the same stone floors and stretch canvas as the rooms. Minimal in style, they are cool, shady and airy (just what you need in Nyerere), but with plenty of interesting artefacts dotted around in glass jars and under magnifying glasses. Outside, there’s a small swimming pool and lots of lovely loungers for an afternoon snooze.
The eight bedrooms are light, bright and big enough for a whole pod of hippo to romp around in. Stretch canvas over the roof keeps things inside cool (helped along by the handy ‘Evening Breeze’ cooling system) and the shady veranda is a welcome spot for afternoon siesta snoozes. A crisp colour palette of green and blue echoes the emerald landscape beyond the canvas walls and contemporary wildlife sketches nod to the explorer, Frederick Selous’ love of nature.
Water is the name of the game in Nyerere, and Roho ya Selous doesn’t disappoint, with boat safaris and catch-and-release fishing high on the day-time agenda. Land activities aren’t ignored either, and traditional game drives are on offer – and don’t forget your binos as there are over 400 recorded species of birds to tick off your list. Opt for a short night drive (post-sundowner/pre-dinner) to increase your chances of seeing leopard too
Roho means ‘heart’ in Swahili and the camp certainly lives up to its name – it's located in the heart of the best game-viewing area in the Nyerere National Park, meaning fabulous sightings at every turn.
If the rare African wild dog has always been high on your must-see list, then this is the place to come. The Nyerere National Park is home to one of the largest populations of the dogs on the continent and Roho reports frequent sightings.
Safari purists may not love the funky style of the camp – but it’s certainly refreshing to see something different in a classic safari area.
Roho ya Selous is owned by Asilia Africa who pioneers sustainable investments in vulnerable East African wilderness areas, fostering conservation economies for local communities and increasing biodiversity. Through collaboration with stakeholders and guest contributions, they achieve significant positive impacts. Their latest project, focusing on the Usangu Wetlands in Tanzania's Ruaha National Park, aims to promote sustainable tourism while preserving the region's unique ecosystem and biodiversity, ensuring long-term benefits to conservation and local communities. A contribution of $10 per guest, which is included in the nightly rate, goes towards the above goals.
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A lush and watery wonderland with some of the best boating safaris on the continent.
