Selinda Camp ♥
The Selinda Camp is situated in the Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana, which incorporates game-rich floodplains, the Zibalianja Lagoon and the Selinda Spillway. There’s long been a camp here and its focus has always been big game safaris in the dry country of the Spillway. Now it’s part-owned by famous photographers, and so has a strong accent on the art of photography.
The Selinda Reserve has been made famous in their films for National Geographic. Wide, dry grasslands, dotted with waterholes and interspersd with palm-fringed ‘islands’ and stands of leadwood trees, cover the area as far as the eye can see. It’s a picturesque, open environment and guests can spot game a long way off. It’s perfect for following predators like wild dogs on hunting sorties.
Selinda Camp shares the reserve with its sister camps, the relatively simple Selinda Explorers, and the opulent Zarafa Camp. It overlooks the Selinda – or Magwegqana – Spillway, a vital ancient watercourse linking the Okavango Delta to the Kwando–Linyanti River drainage system.
The main area at Selinda Camp is spread across one vast, open-plan central area with panoramic views across the surrounding channels and floodplains. Constructed of wood and thatch, it has a lovely viewing deck and relaxing lounge area, with plenty of comfy sofas. The décor and design are influenced by a variety of African cultures, combining west African carvings, a heavy Zanzibar-style door frame and objects made from old mokoro.
Another sociable spot is Selinda’s firepit area, where breakfast is served around the fire before your early-morning game drive. The camp also has a lovely pool, built on a deck leading off the main area and overlooking the spillway. There are comfortable sunloungers surrounding the pool for relaxing in between activities.
A short, sandy path from the main area leads to a large and well-stocked curio shop, and beneath is a gallery showcasing Beverly Joubert’s impressive photographic work. Should guests wish to buy copies, the camp can organize for these to be shipped anywhere in the world. Also in the gallery, you’ll find a coffee machine, a small library of reference books and a computer to download photos or possibly watch one of the Jouberts’ films.
Sought after during the heat of the day is the camp’s submerged wine cellar, which keeps a large stock of everything from house wines to premium champagnes cool. Guests are encouraged to select wines they would prefer with dinner and Selinda also occasionally holds wine tastings.
Reached along a sandy and well-lit path, Selinda Camp’s nine tented chalets are constructed of dark wood, with canvas walls under canvas-and-thatch roofs. Steps lead up to a deck with two chairs and a table, and picturesque views over the floodplain.
The chalets are entered through sliding doors at the front, with hook-latches to keep them closed. Inside, both the bedroom and bathroom are fully enclosed and insect-proofed by a mixture of canvas and mesh; it’s quite cleverly designed and lets in lots of light, which offsets the dark wood of the furniture and wooden floor. Each room is dominated by twin beds, or a double, under a large walk-in mosquito net, with a fan above that gives a fairly good airflow through the netting. One of the chalets has two bedrooms, so works well for families.
*For a full list of available activities, the best time of the year to visit, and any other relevant enquiries, please contact a Sister Hippo Travel Consultant!