Lake Manze Tented Camp
Lake Manze Camp is set under a grove of palms on the shores of Lake Manze, in the heart of the northern photographic region of the Nyerere National Park.
Lake Manze Camp is a down to earth tented camp which offers superb game viewing and a lovely location overlooking Lake Manze. The camp offers a close to nature experience, with animals constantly in and around camp, especially elephants, baboons and hippo that leave the lake in the evenings to feed. The tented accommodation is comfortable but simple in style and not luxurious, and the central areas have a rustic, bush camp feel with locally made furniture and a large camp fire area. Management and staff are friendly, guiding is good, and food is simple but tasty, but this camp does not offer high levels of sophistication. With a great location and offering access to the best game viewing in Nyerere, Lake Manze is easily the best option if you are looking for somewhere ‘affordable’. We feel Lake Manze offers good value for money and an unfussy, traditional style camp with a relaxed safari experience.
Rooms
Lake Manze caters for around 24 guests in 12 comfortable and simply furnished walk-in tents, each set on a concrete plinth. Each tent has plumbed en suite open air bathroom attached to the rear, with a flush toilet and shower. At the front of tent furnished verandah with views out towards Lake Manze. Two of the tents can be extended as required to create a family tent with extra beds. There is no electricity in camp although camera batteries can be charged in the main area. Lighting is provided by paraffin lanterns, candles and torches.
Central Areas
Central to the camp is the open plan bar, lounge and dining area which is shaded under thatch.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
The Nyerere National Park is Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, covering over 54,600 sq. kms. (almost the size of Ireland). The region is dominated by the Great Ruaha River and Kilombero rivers which join to form the Rufiji, East Africa’s greatest waterway.
One of the world’s last great wilderness areas, the Nyerere is scarcely known even today. It is an inaccessible region, dissected by water courses which become raging torrents during the rains, forcing the animals onto high ground. In the dry season, the rivers wither away to form ‘sand rivers’. Having a poor network of roads, and limited facilities, this wilderness has been virtually ignored in the pilgrimage to see East Africa’s wildlife heritage.
The reserve is formerly named (Selous Game Reserve) after the famous hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous, but it was the Germans who first established a game reserve here in 1905. The first warden was an eccentric former ivory hunter called C.P. Ionides (known locally as the ‘Snake Man’) and it was he who helped develop the reserve into its present size. Under the wardenship of Brian Nicholson, the Nyerere became an example of intelligent wildlife management; it is divided into controlled areas and human habitation is prohibited. However, groves of mango trees scattered through the bush are grim reminders that the main southern caravan route from Lake Nyasa passed through this region; they grew from the stones dropped by slaves as they were marched towards the slave markets of Zanzibar.
Local game animals include elephant, buffalo, giraffe, eland, sable antelope, greater kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, tsessebe, common reedbuck, Bohor reedbuck, zebra, red duiker, blue duiker, common duiker, klipspringer, oribi, suni, grysbok, hippo, lion, leopard, wild dog, caracal, serval, crocodile, warthog, bushpig, spotted hyaena, jackal, honey badger, aardvark, porcupine, mongoose and bushbaby. The birdlife too is superb, with over 350 species having been recorded.
The habitat and scenery varies significantly over short distances: purple rolling hills, rock-strewn plains, ‘sand rivers’ lined with salt bush, swamps and marshes, rocky gorges, savannah bush country and miombo woodland. Tsetse fly are present in the Nyerere but not usually a major issue in the core game viewing areas.
Activities
Game activities include morning and afternoon game drives by open 4×4 vehicles and boat excursions on Lake Manze with a maximum of four to six guests. Walking and fishing are possible for an extra fee.
Seasons
Lake Manze is open from June through to mid-March, through game viewing is best from July to October.
Although the wilderness of the Nyerere is perhaps not a natural destination for families with small children, Lake Manze is well suited to families with children six years and older. When required, an extra smaller tent is attached to the front of an existing tent, creating an extended living space with two extra beds.
The power consumption at Lake Manze is reduced due to the fact there is no electricity in the tents and the water is heated by solar power. All possible are recyclables are sent for away to be recycled. The camp does not use plastic bottles and provides a refillable flask for guests to use and take home with them. Their vehicle carbon emissions are offset donations to Carbon Tanzania who work to protect an equivalent amount of forested areas. Vegetarian only lunches are served at the camp to reduce excessive meat consumption and the apparent impact this has on the environment.
