Zarafa Camp

ACCOMMODATION

Rooms
Zarafa offers luxurious accommodation for a maximum of eight guests. Each of the four tented suites is raised on high wooden decks, and has spacious en suite plumbed facilities, including a free-standing copper bath, double vanity and indoor & outdoor showers. The sumptuous sleeping area with a walk in mosquito net is separated from the bathroom by a suspended gas fire, making the tented suites very cosy on cold nights and there is a ceiling fan for the warmer months. Further facilities include a luxurious private lounge including a stocked mini bar, mini-library, telescope, Canon 5D camera body with 24-70mm and 100-400mm lenses, and a wide outside verandah, leading to a private plunge pool with loungers.

For those looking for an entirely private experience, the Zarafa Dhow Suite is an exclusive use residence consisting of two en suite bedrooms and a shared lounge, dining area and pool. All bookings at the Zarafa Dhow Suite will benefit from a private game drive vehicle, guide, host and chef.

Central Areas
The central areas are simple but elegant and look out towards the lagoon, including indoor and outdoor dining areas. There is also a small gym platform with basic fitness equipment.

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
The Selinda Reserve is a private safari concession owned by Great Plains Conservation which covers an area of some 1350 sq. kilometres between the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta and the Kwando/Linyanti river system, straddling the Selinda (or Magwegqana) Spillway. The habitat of the area is an interesting contrast of open floodplains, thick salt bush, riverine forest, mopane woodland and the swampland created by the spillway itself.

The birdlife is prolific and the many varieties of kingfishers, bee-eaters, eagles, ducks, egrets, plovers, herons, cranes, storks, geese, woodpeckers, shrikes, thrushes, buntings, chats, owls and parrots are just some of the many different species found. The area is good for predators with resident lion prides and regular sightings of leopard and wild dog. Cheetah are more elusive these days and not often encountered. General game is very good, especially from May to November, and animals likely to be seen include elephant, hippo, kudu, impala, zebra, tsessebe and giraffe. Recently, Great Plains have been involved with the relocation of rhino back into Botswana, though they are still very hard to find.

Night drives can be productive with chances to see nocturnally-active species such as bat- eared fox, spring hare, leopard, aardwolf, porcupine, aardvark, bush baby, civet, genet, white-tailed mongoose, serval and African wild cat.

Activities
The main activity at Zarafa is a game drive (by day and at night), whilst it is also possible to undertake guided walks and boat cruises on the Zibalianja Lagoon.

Seasons
Zarafa is open all year round, though game viewing is best from June to early November.