Selinda has only nine spacious guest tents under thatch. Each tent has comfortable three-quarter sized beds and fine linen. These beds can be joined seamlessly to create wonderful extra large double beds. Luxurious, flowing mosquito nets add to the romantic atmosphere of our rooms and ceiling "plunka-plunka" fans combined with roof vents cool your living space when needed. The interiors have writing desks and lounge furniture collected from around Africa.
There are spacious, en-suite bathrooms, with full sized stone baths and antique showers. Dual vanity basins complement the sense of luxury and sliding doors allow for privacy or create an open-air bathroom feel as well. Hot and cold water is in ample supply.
A large private veranda allows guests to relax looking out over their own piece of African heaven.
As you leave the lounge there is an inviting tea area jutting out over the floodplain. Here the billowing of soft fabrics and light colours suggest that AIR element. In the dining area, which is either under the lofty thatch or out under the stars, EARTH tones representing the wholesome food and exotic wines from both Africa and Europe that you will be able to taste and enjoy at Selinda. Evenings are completed around the campfire, a tradition that takes you back to the stories of the day's safari, shared philosophies, laughter and folk lore. Since ancient times the companionship of mankind has somehow, almost magically, infected us all and so often has been centred on nature's final element; the communal FIRE. The evening fireside is a seductive end to the day in the bush and your journey through the design of the lodge.
Unlike our ancestors' hearths, here the flames dance their flickering light invitingly against tall ancient African doors nearby, through which you enter the dual delights of our wine cellar or the artifacts /jewelery store.
The cellar carries a selection of wines from the region and from Europe. Most wines and all other drinks or refreshments are included in your daily tariff. Champagnes are extra. Above the cellar is a quiet reading area, an area of the camp that you can retire to alone to read from the library and to enjoy the fine art selection of Beverly Joubert's images collected over the years from her work with National Geographic. From time to time art from local artists will be exhibited in camp as well. The gallery is a place for quiet reflection and learning, as well as a place to download your own images from your safari. Under shade, the camp's plunge pool is surrounded by lush grass and is tucked away from the main area for privacy, an ideal way to cool off on a hot afternoon.
LAUNDRY:
Laundry is done on a daily basis and is of course included in the tariff.
ELECTRICITY:
We have a 220 volt electricity system in camp. The camp's generator runs quietly for a few hours per day and mostly when guests are out of camp, steadily charging up the "state of the art" battery inverter system which converts battery power into 220 volt electricity 24 hours a day; a perfect combination of power efficiency for all your needs and respect for your peace and quiet. It is that quiet that brings the tranquility to your experience as you visit from sometimes over stimulating, noisy worlds. Places that you want to escape from when you visit us. As a result we find that wildlife feels comfortable around the camp and we encourage that. We try very hard to limit our impact on the environment, to walk quietly and softly on the Earth, and that includes the noise we create, the light pollution we generate as well as the more obvious by products of our society.
The electricity standard in our part of Africa is 220 volts, so please make sure that your equipment is compatible. Although we have a selection of converters in camp if you are travelling elsewhere it is a good idea to pick up a universal, international converter plug set at the airport or before you leave home. Video camera batteries can be charged in your tent at any time. Most importantly, please bring a spare set of batteries so we can charge these while you are out of camp on game drives. ACCESS: The Selinda Reserve is only accessible by air.
ACCESS:
Our licensed (Category B) airfield is usually a thirty minute drive from camp, but water levels in the area can make this shorter or longer. The coordinates are S18°33.95'; E23°30.73'. Seat-in plane air-transfers or private charters are the only means of accessing the Selinda Reserve. Flying times: From Maun - 45 minutes; Kasane - 50 minutes; Motswiri Ketumetse- 15 minutes.
SELINDA SAFARI EXPERIENCE
Wildlife and nature drives are conducted by our resident guides in brand new, 2008 version, rugged and open 4x4 Toyota Landcruisers with removable canvas roof tops. The vehicles have excellent all round visibility allowing for great photo opportunities. These wildlife drives are included in the cost of your accommodation as is are the Reserve entry fees .
At Selinda there is no routine. If you want to tailor-make your stay, let us know. Inevitably though, we are driven by the best game viewing times, the animal movements, or the weather. It is an outdoor activity, so when it is hot some animals retire to shade, the light for photography turns harsh and experience shows that sometimes this is the best time for us to imitate the wildlife and take a break. But nothing is regimented. We hate regimes, which is why we all love being out here in the first place. Our wildlife and nature drives often start at dawn though because this is the best time and when the predators are active. Your guide will tell you the best periods on the day, but often we return mid to late morning, and head out again from mid-to-late afternoon to early evening. It is a relaxed schedule that varies. As our guides are as keen as you are to do bush time, they will steer you in the direction of the best chances of seeing the riches that the Selinda Reserve offers. New for 2008 are our hides, where you can enjoy siesta time at an elevated hide overlooking a waterway, watching the passing wildlife.
We usually return to camp after dark with a spotlight so that guests can enjoy the nocturnal wildlife viewing of the Selinda when many different animals start becoming active.
Short walks from camp with our fully qualified guides are offered. Arrangements can be made with management on site, but it is recommended that if you are keen on these activities and need to have walking guaranteed, that you arrange this in advance when you make your reservation.
Complementary refreshments and snacks are served on all our drives and include tea and coffee on the morning drive and the traditional "sundowner" cocktail in the late afternoon. This is a safari, enjoy the adventure and the effect of letting Africa wash over you. Traditionally a gin and tonic or glass of wine, or a refreshing soft drink while watching the sunset gives you that moment to contemplate the grandeur of the wild. We prefer not to clutter that with frivolity, or too much chatter, but hey this is your safari, make of it what you enjoy most.
Special request activities are available e.g., sole use of a vehicle, full day drive with picnic, etc. These arrangements can be made at the time of booking and may incur a surcharge.
A WORD ABOUT OUR GUIDES
Our guides are constantly upgrading their skills and refreshing their knowledge on courses on firearm use, botany, reptile identification and handling, tracking wildlife or birding. We give them specialised hands-on guide training by the leading experts in the field each year. They are considered expert birders and trackers. In Botswana there is a wealth of local knowledge about plants and animals that extend beyond the academic, and our guides excel at adding their traditional knowledge to your experience. As a result we are happy to entrust our guests enjoyment and safety to them. Please make use of this opportunity to find out more about whatever subject you can from them. Our guides are particularly good in trying to know everything, but who can?
We have expert birders visiting from around the world because Selinda is famous for a number of unique species. We have specialist botanists as guests, as well as people who have studied wildlife in their own countries, again because Selinda is developing a reputation as being a haven for so many specialist species. So our guides are good at saying so if they don't know, and spending the afternoon finding out for you. In their hands you will see great things. Each day of course is different, and like the wonders of Arabian nights, your journey will be filled with delights of knowledge and learning, experiences and the sights and sounds unfamiliar to you.
The area is famous for elephant and lions, wild dogs and hippos, buffalo and giraffe. In fact it's hard to know where to begin. It's all here. Some days you will spend hours with a single herd of elephants if you like, others you may track cheetah, or wait in a hide for rare slaty egrets to come down to fish. Look out for wattled cranes here, also a rare but often seen visitor to Selinda. Each day is different, thank goodness, but understandably, because this is wild Africa, unpredictable and magical.
The hippo-killing lions of the Selinda are part of what has made this region famous by Dereck and Beverly Joubert in their National Geographic films and books from the Selinda area, (Ultimate Enemies, Hunting with the Moon, The African Diaries). The hunting of large prey by lions is legendary and a highlight, but random of course. Don't bank on it but always keep an eye out.
There is also always a chance for "spotted predators". The open plains are an ideal habitat for cheetah and the thicker woodlands good for leopard.
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, waterbuck, kudu, steenbuck, lechwe, impala. At night there is a chance to see the more nocturnal species like civet, serval, wild cats, honey badger, springhares, aardvark and aardwolf.
What you will find on a regular basis is that you will not go hungry on safari. The fresh air, getting on and off vehicles, walking, tracking if you like, will give you an appetite. We also find that our guests sleep well at night!
Special request activities, such as sole use vehicle game drives and full day game drives with picnics can easily be organised (the private vehicles will be at an additional cost) but please arrange early, preferably at time of booking.
The reserve has a network of small tracks that traverse the area, and if something exceptional begs our attention we do go off-road. This we try to do as sensitively as possible, ever aware of the impact we have on the environment.
