Zibadianja Camp re-opened in June 2008 with a beautiful new design and spectacular new location to rave reviews and critical acclaim.

National Geographic Adventure magazine in its November 2008 edition has just honoured Zibadianja as one of the world's top 50 eco-lodges.

The camp inherited its name from the old Zibalianja Camp. As very few guests have been able to pronounce or remember Zibadianja, from 1 January 2009, Zibadianja Camp will change its name to Zarafa Camp. Zarafa literally means "the lovely one". The true story of Zarafa is about a Maasai giraffe presented to Charles X of France in 1826 by the Viceroy of Egypt. Zarafa was giraffe that inspired all who came to see her. The new Zarafa Camp does all that and more.

Zarafa Camp is blessed with an extraordinary location in the eastern sector of the Selinda Reserve. The site is about 2km south-east from the old Zibadianja camp and is situated overlooking the vast savannas and floodplains of the Zibadianja Lagoon under cool and shady Jackalberry and Red Ivory forests. The uninterrupted views from every part of the camp over these productive floodplains is truly breathtaking. The enormous shady trees, the palm fringed savannahs, the high wildlife and birdlife concentrations out front characterise the camp as does the elevated views across the flood plain that forms an extension of Zibadianja Lagoon's southern shores.

ACCOMMODATION:
This breathtaking camp has four large and luxuriously appointed double or twin “marquis style” canvas tents that accommodate a maximum of 8 guests. It is the perfect camp for small groups who are looking for privacy combined with superb accommodation and great wildlife viewing (often directly from ones bed!). Each of the spacious tented rooms is expansive and is close on 100 square meters in size (or around 1000 square feet). Each one of the tents tent is positioned along the edge of the forests to take advantage of the spectacular view over the floodplains and savannas, while offering cool shade. Each tent comprises a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with copper bath & shower (as well as an additional outdoor shower for those who prefer the outdoors). The adjoining, comfortable lounge with its private pool rounds off our guest accommodation. A large shady veranda is standard as are overhead fans, flowing and seductive mosquito nets, and a beautiful handcrafted copper fireplace, strategically placed between the bathroom and bedroom for the winter months. The furniture has been designed and handcrafted by Don Young and his team specifically for Zibadianja and is made from recycled ancient hardwoods.

LIGHTING & POWER:
Zibadianja has to be one of the only (or maybe it is the only) luxury camps anywhere that is powered entirely from the sun. Our in-house electricity generation system coupled with stringent use of recycled hardwoods and careful operating processes throughout the camp make this one of the "greenest" camps on the planet. Nothing has been spared to keep our carbon and emissions footprint to the minimum. All our electricity to run ice machines, the cold room for food and drinks, deep freezers, lighting and all our guest appliances is derived from our solar farm at the back of the camp.

Zibadianja has 176 solar x 205 watt Sanyo solar panels that produce sufficient electricity during daylight hours that is stored in a large bank of deep cycle batteries that deliver 220v electricity 24 hours a day to the camp via a system of inverters. A side benefit of this solar system is that there is no disturbing background noise of a generator in camp. We do have a standby generator that will hopefully become a museum piece to be only used in emergency.

THE MAIN AREA:
Continuing the marquis style of the accommodation, the main area is all under canvas with an emphasis on the view and the wildlife viewing out front. Furnished in the same ‘campaign’ style furniture, the main area evokes the wonderful and traditional safari ambiance. Lounge and dining facilities may be enjoyed under cover or on the full length deck shaded by giant broadleaf trees.

POOL:
Instead of one communal pool, each guest tent at Zibadianja has its own private plunge pool looking onto the plains of Selinda.

MEALS:
Meals are generally table d’hôte and include a light breakfast at dawn, a hearty brunch on return from the morning activity, afternoon tea and snacks before the afternoon activity, rounded off with a sumptious dinner in the evening. Special meals and requirements can be catered for on request. All local drinks, wines and beers are included in the tariff. One of the advantages of a small camp is that we can be flexible with meal times and can adjust meal times to suit wildlife sightings and individual guest's preferences.

SHOPPING:
A small boutique shop stocks locally made goods and quality African artifacts. Payment can be by credit card (Visa and Mastercard only), travelers cheque or cash.

LAUNDRY:
A complimentary same day laundry service is offered.

ACTIVITIES:
There is no set routine at Zibadianja. We are small enough to be flexible. However, from experience, we recommend that wildlife activities are conducted when the wildlife is most active. Generally we explore the reserve in the early morning, late afternoon and at night. The midday siesta time can be spent at one of our waterholes in an elevated hide. However, Zibadianja Camp is located in the heart of a brilliant wildlife area and often the best wildlife viewing at midday could be from your room! Wildlife and nature drives are the primary activity and are conducted in our open, 4x4 Toyota Landcruisers specifically adapted for our conditions. Walking is also encouraged and can either be a short walk from camp or as a full morning’s activity. Walks are led by licensed guides who are firearm experienced. A private vehicle and guide service is available, but this must be booked in advance to guarantee the service. Private vehicles and guides are on a first-come-first-served basis and are at extra cost.

ACCESS:
Zibadianja is only accessible by air by private charter or via northern Botswana’s daily “air taxi” service. Our licensed (Category B) airfield is a thirty minute drive from camp. The coordinates are S18°33.95’; E23°30.73’.  Flying times:
From Maun - 45 minutes;
Kasane - 50 minutes;
Motswiri - 15 minutes.

At Zibadianja the intimacy of the camp's size allows for an extremely private all round experience hosted by Stuart, Tessa and Rose, while you are guided by Dukes and Steven.

Drives usually start at dawn and take a small break for brunch and possibly a siesta in the heat of the day unless there is something extraordinary happening in the bush. In the afternoon we like to get out as it cools and to make best use of the "softening" light.

As this is a private concession we are not restricted by park rules, so walks and night drives can be arranged.

Wildlife in this area varies slightly from that at Selinda in that this camp is very close to the lagoon and the source of the Savute Channel. The view from camp is breathtaking and at the lagoon itself huge schools of hippo gather and crocodiles slide into the water as you approach scaring off water birds in great variety and abundance. While you are tucked into your bed at night, you will be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the lagoon's hippos.

Elephant are common around Zibadianja Camp, with densities during the dry season on a par with those of the Chobe National Park. At the peak of our dry winter months, we have counted around 9000 elephants in The Selinda Reserve.

The lions that hunt hippos (the "surfing lions") are part of what has made this region famous. Their skill at hunting these huge animals is legendary. There is also the chance for the "spotted predators". The open plains are ideal habitat for cheetah while leopard viewing is rewarding when they are encountered.

One of Africa's most endangered predators, the Wild Dog, is usually resident and the Selinda pack frequently dens in close proximity to our camps.

Other common species include: buffalo (that sometimes congregate in huge herds numbering many thousand), giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, hyena, a variety of antelope including red lechwe, and the chance to spot a number of nocturnal species on our night drives.

Zibadianja Camp is located in the extreme east of the Selinda Reserve on the floodplain that looks onto the Zibadianja Lagoon. The Zibadianja Lagoon is famous for being the source of the Savute Channel.  Its location is just perfect. It's a small camp that is located in a prime wildlife area.  Zibadianja is on an island in the plains so it is often surrounded with wildlife. The small waterhole in front is a frequently used spot by elephants.

Zarafa is a true story about a young Maasai giraffe who, in 1826, appeared at the port of Marseilles as a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt to Charles X of France. Her journey to France began with her capture and taming in the Ethiopian highlands, whence she travelled 3500 miles down the Blue Nile and the Nile, and then across the Mediterranean.

She was accompanied by three cows that provided her with 25 litres of milk to drink each day. From Alexandria, she embarked on a ship to Marseilles. As she was so tall, a hole was cut through the deck above the cargo hold through which she could poke her neck. After a voyage of 32 days, she arrived in Marseilles on 31 October 1826. She was carefully walked the last 900 km to Paris and crowds of people were captivated by the 'beautiful African'. She was the first living giraffe Europe had seen in almost 350 years. Zarafa's arrival in Paris caused a sensation. Over 100,000 people came to see her, approximately an eighth of the population of Paris at the time. An enthralled Charles X made sure that Zarafa was exhibited daily in the Jardin du Roi. Soon songs, poems, satires, clothes and hair fashions were reflecting the impact of her arrival.

Zarafa remained in Paris for a further 18 years until her death. Her body was stuffed and displayed in the foyer of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris for many years, before being moved to the museum at La Rochelle, where it remains today.

In 1999 the American author Michael Allin wrote a book about this giraffe and refers to her as Zarafa (Arabic for "Giraffe", literally "charming" or "lovely one"). The book is entitled Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story, from Deep in Africa to the Heart of Paris, published by Delta books and is available on Amazon.com