ALL BLOG POSTS

We are thrilled to announce that the newly renovated, beautiful Fanjove Island is open and welcoming guests, once more! Fanjove Island, the smallest of six islands in the Songo Songo Archipelago, offers a phenomenal private island marine safari combined with mind-blowing decadent accommodations and the same high quality personalised hospitality service, the Selous Safari Company is known for.

I arrive at Siwandu, Jongomero’s sister camp in the Nyerere National Park and immediately feel an energy here that draws me in completely. In an instant I feel welcomed, relaxed and simultaneously excited to see why Siwandu owns this thrilling vibe.

It is the height of safari season and with great relief I notice that Tanzania is once again bustling with safari-goers ready to explore and yearning for new adventures. Although most of the flights I have been on the past few days have been filled to the brim, surprisingly our little 12-seater charter plane by Auric is empty this morning.

There are few experiences that will ignite your senses like fly camping in one of Africa’s most remote wildlife-rich wilderness areas. The Ruaha National Park on the Southern Safari circuit of Tanzania with its majestic baobab trees, the Great Ruaha River and untouched landscape provides the perfect, pristine setting for a fly camping and walking safari adrenaline-fuelled adventure.

Selous Safari Camps in the South of Tanzania, Siwandu and Jongomero, have passed through the rigorous carbon footprint calculator of Carbonscored. Both camps received a healthy score, well below the industry average. This is great news for guests in-the-know who are conscious about their carbon footprint on holiday.

It’s hard to believe we are already well into 2022! We are thrilled to share a glimpse of the progress we have made in our camps and of the great things to come. This coming rainy season we will be using every opportunity to complete our extensive refurbishment upgrades and prepare for a brand new safari season when we reopen in June.

Selous Safari Company was established in 1988. 34 years later we are raising a glass to ten of our amazing team members who have been part of the team for over 20 years. Collectively these incredible ten individuals have clocked 253 years of service at SSC all together.

Treat your family and friends with this delectable warming ginger pudding topped off with some ice cold homemade coconut ice cream. We love making this delicious traditional recipe for our guests during the festive season. 

In this part of the world we don’t really talk about seasons. Instead of distinct Spring, Summer, Winter and Autumn seasonality, game viewing in the south of Tanzania revolves around rainfall.

Snakes are often not high up on our guest’ list of animals they would like to encounter on safari. The reality is snakes are often misunderstood and therefore unappreciated. Unfortunately many snake species have become threatened and while snakes may not be the most popular reptile in the world, have you ever wondered why they play a critical role in the ecosystem?

A brand new safari season has arrived and we are thrilled to announce our bush camps Siwandu and Jongomero are open. After the long rains in Tanzania, the bush looks spectacularly lush and green. Our lakes and rivers are filled to the brim, the wildlife are all looking well-fed and healthy.

This time of the year marks an especially exciting time on Fanjove island, when tiny green sea turtle hatchlings make their first appearance. From three nests this year, we expect over 300 eggs to hatch on the island till end May!

We source all our fish fresh from the local community from Songo Songo, an island close to Fanjove. This includes the delicious barracuda we are using in this recipe. Below is Fanjove Island Chef Abdi’s barracuda coconut curry recipe for you to make at home. This is a hearty, deliciously fragrant curry with mouthwatering undertones of coconut and spices.

I am sipping on a large, freshly harvested coconut. It is filled to the brim with coconut water that it sploshes onto my bikini. But I don’t care: I am taking my coconut for a walk straight into the gorgeous, turquoise blue sea that surrounds Tanzania's Fanjove Island.

As I walk through the main relaxation areas of Jongomero I am instantly drawn to the full-flowing river beyond. My thoughts turn to how blissfully cool and tranquil it is here by the river, in the shade of a tall Jackalberry tree. I flew into the Ruaha National Park at the tail end of 'safari season'...

What emotion is this I am feeling, as I sit in the back of a​ safari vehicle as we drive into the palm forest along the shores of Lake Nzerakera? Happy, very happy! Sunshine, the natural landscape and the anticipation of being on safari again dissipates any anxiety I have about travelling on a two-week educational during a global pandemic.

When accompanying Abdallah on a dive or when snorkeling with him during your stay at Fanjove Island you will be guaranteed to learn all about the multitude of different coral species you will encounter here and leave with an invigorated sense of awe for the ocean. To get to know Adballah better and to share his stories with you, we sat down with him to ask him a few questions.

We asked Chef David Lukoka at Jongomero to share with us his favourite Valentine’s Day dessert recipe. Something delicious and decadent to be the perfect addition to any Valentine’s meal, but simple enough you don’t end up spending unnecessary time in the kitchen.

Far away from the maddening crowds there is an incredible and wild place where time stands still. It is here in the South of Tanzania you will experience Africa in all her glory. Combine a superb bush and relaxing beach experience and immerse yourself in this alluring part of the world. Here are three experiences you should not miss out on.

2020 has been a year we won’t easily forget. There are numberless reasons why this past year was an especially tough year for all and we read about these challenges every day. But it is true that every dark cloud has a silver lining and instead of focusing on the clouds we took some time with our SSC team members to find the silver linings of 2020.

As we take this moment to reflect back on a particularly challenging year, we firstly want to thank you for your continued and valued support during this time. Not only has our entire industry faced extremely tough times, but our families, friends, and colleagues have also been fighting their own personal battles this year.

If you have been a guest at Siwandu you will probably have many fond memories of your encounters with Mohamed Muhunyunga. This incredible safari guide with his warm smile and contagious laugh has been a valued member of the Selous Safari Company team for over 26 years. We sat down with Mohamed to ask him a few questions.‍

Fanjove Island has secured the 9th position in the ‘Best Island’ category in the prestigious LLM Readers’ Travel Awards 2020. Competing with well-known islands such as Tenerife in Spain, Santorini and Crete in Greece, Maui in Hawaii amongst others, we are thrilled Fanjove Island was among the selected winners.

During November and December the South of Tanzania usually enjoys its first rains after a typical long dry season. This signals the start of what is called the ‘short rains’. Even though rain may be a bit unpredictable, visiting Siwandu in the Nyerere National Park during this time of the year, is still a great choice.

For a truly memorable and exhilarating, yet uber-relaxing honeymoon, you don’t have to look any further than the South of Tanzania.

This weekend we had the pleasure of hosting a group of seventy learners with their teachers from Songo Songo Primary School for an exciting day out on Fanjove Island.

Every traveller to Tanzania will most probably fall in love with the taste of Chapati. Fanjove Island Chef, Issa teaches us how to make Chapatis the Tanzanian way.

It is a good idea to learn a few basic words in Swahili before your next safari in Tanzania. The good news is that learning basic Swahili is fun and not too difficult.

When facing tough times it is important to be flexible and adaptable. This helps us to cope better with the new challenges that come our way. One of the first creatures that come to mind when thinking about adaptability is the peculiar chameleon - the well-known little reptile with the ability to change their colour.

With an estimated 3000 to 5000 African Wild Dogs (also referred to as ‘painted dogs’) left across the entire African continent, it is important that we take a moment today to reflect on these fascinating animals.

During the last few months we have been training our guides to share their stories online.

Former Fanjove Island manager Laura reminisces on her and her partner Johan's two years on the island. 

Dramatic landscapes of the Ruaha National Park and the space and privacy Jongomero provides epitomise this beautiful, remote camp.

Siwandu camp - the original Selous Safari Company camp - offers all a luxury safari camp should and so much more...

A desert island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, barefoot bliss and ultimate seclusion is Fanjove Island's calling card

"From Ants to Astrology" - Selous Safari Company guides are always striving for better. With no two days being the same, there is always something more to learn. 

Opening of the Island and all the adventures! The anticipation and excitement of setting up for a new season on Fanjove

It's that time of year again! Camp is open and we have spent the last few weeks getting everything ready. 

Selous Safari Company's recent project in Ras Kutani showcases commitment to sustainability.

Warning: Excessive use of cell-phones & selfie-sticks on safari may impair your bush-ability. However, there are times when apps can enhance your safari, either by making life simpler or by making your memories last longer...

Rumour has it that Santa uses a journey of giraffe to pull his sleigh around Sub Saharan Africa. (Reindeer just can’t cope with the heat, and it doesn’t help that Prancer suffers from Ailurophobia , an irrational fear of big cats.) The Christmas decorations in our camps are also Africa-proof...

The exquisite island of Fanjove is reassuringly remote, (as all good desert islands should be!)

Jongomero is like an expansive stage where the spectacular landscape is an integral feature, and an inextricable part of the camp’s unique character.

Siwandu camp has a natural setting that pre-disposes it to superlatives.

The 'East African Campaign', often wrongly romanticised as an adventurous and somewhat unimportant side-show to the First World War, came to an end 100 years ago today (November 25th1918) when German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and his troops formally surrendered. 

It started with a rude awakening at 5:20 Monday morning when a cacophony of bush-noises alerted us to the unfolding drama in front of the Siwandu management house.

"A breath of wind catches in the sail, the creaking of ropes and fluttering of cloth before the fabric fills with tension, and billows to the shape of a perfect crescent-moon that fills the sky...As the dhow cuts through the crystal waters it seems as eager to reach Fanjove Island as we are." Laura Thubron, Manager of Fanjove Private Island, gives a taste of what makes Fanjove so special.

October is not for the faint-hearted: it’s real circle-of-life, survival-of-the-fittest stuff out there on the savannah

On Saturday 15th September an estimated 13 million people, from 155 countries around the world hit the streets, the countryside, the highways, the city centres, the beaches and the forests to pick up rubbish. In our remote part of Tanzania, four teams downed their binoculars, spatulas and computers to help clean up our local communities. 

Over the past 30 years of operating safari camps in Tanzania’s untouched south, we’ve built up a rich library of camp-fire stories. A story we’re very fond of is the incredible tale of Siwandu’s Three Musketeers and their journey with the Selous Safari Company.

Siwandu is like a duck; guests (mostly!) see an effortless operation. Good food, cold beer, clever guides and a pristine tent. But underneath the surface we paddle hard...

Teaching old bush-guides new tricks and new guides old bush-tricks is the job of Brain Bode, our guide training extraordinaire. After a few classroom sessions covering the very exciting subjects of “grasses, sedges & weeds” Brian decided to take the guides out for some fresh-air…

Over the past decade, internet access in safari camps has been a hot topic in many safari-company boardrooms. We explain our new WiFi policy and some of the reasons why it's a a complex issue.

Rumour has it that the Royal newlyweds are off on safari for their honeymoon. Harry, who has stayed at Siwandu Camp before, definitely has few valid points for choosing safari over more traditional honeymoon destinations. Read on for our Top 5 reasons...

Here at Selous Safari Company we never forget that tourists - our guests - are the lifeblood of our industry; and realizing their dreams, desires and expectations is our business. We therefore naturally place the highest priority and investment on training for our guides, and this training is currently underway at Selous Safari Company’s beach lodge, Ras Kutani. The aim is for a fun-filled learning experience, and so, to deliver this, we chose the beach as our classroom! 

One of the core values and main objectives of Selous Safari Company is to ensure the lodges are run with minimal impact on the environment. Ever since the company was created by Charles Dobie in 1988 it has been a front-runner in eco-friendly tourism in Tanzania. 

The diversity of the landscape, as it responds to the command of nature, doesn’t fail to inspire and enthral those who experience it, even our most seasoned of guests and guides.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a safari veteran or a first-timer, lion sightings are always special. We asked Siwandu’s guiding team to give us an update on what the lion prides around Siwandu have been up to since we re-opened for the season last June.

When guests in Siwandu recently asked to make music in the restaurant we were hesitant to say yes… sure, our tone-death hyenas don’t always sing the prettiest of songs but bush-noises are an integral part of being in the Selous.

It is a rare thing in this world with a population of 7.5 billion to find a corner of the planet where you can be the only human being in a 100km radius but Ruaha National Park is already as remote as it gets.

Kwa heri & Asante Lyndsey! We are very sad to say goodbye to Lyndsey Fair who has been part of our team for the last 5 years as the Marketing & PR Manager.

When it comes to shoes, we aim for practicality over swagger at Siwandu but read more about how one department choose their footwear..

Most giraffe duals are graceful affairs. Bulls swing theirs heads at each other, slow-motion, and normally the weaker of the two soon realises that the fight is not worth the spoils.

We are thrilled to announce all three of our properties have been awarded with Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor - continuing our incredible winning streak!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive our exciting news, thrilling sightings and photographs directly from our bush telegraph

Along with Jongomero, Selous Safari Company is thrilled to reveal that Siwandu has also been nominated for a World Travel Award - Tanzania's Leading Safari Lodge!

We are delighted to announce Jongomero has been nominated for not one but two World Travel Awards. Our exclusive boutique camp has been nominated for both Tanzania's Leading Tented Safari Camp but also Africa's Leading Tented Safari Camp.

As we fold away the linens, pack away the glassware, empty the fridges and say goodbye for the rains we look back on a wonderful season made all the more special by hosting you all!

On 20th February we warmly welcomed a dozen children and two teachers from the local school of Mwaseni to Siwandu in Selous Game Reserve - part of our Selous Safari Kids initiative.

A huge thank you to Margrethe Mannes for sharing her exquisite video of her safari at Selous Game Reserve.

With the rumbling thunder threatening the horizon of Ruaha National Park it is time to talk about the joys and benefits of the Green Season and why, for some travellers, this would be the best time to visit Jongomero!

Selous Safari Company is privileged to be highlighted in the Tanzanian press, as a company doing their upmost to dispose of their waste efficiently, reducing our environmental impact and helping preserve Tanzania's gorgeous habitats.

“I’ve seen zebras crossing the Grumeti; I’ve seen hyenas bring down a baby elephant; I’ve seen a croc take a lion cub. But I’ve never seen the wildest of all the wild creatures, those damned elusive wild dogs.”

We are thrilled to announce Siwandu has been awarded not one, but three Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards, which recognises exceptional contributions by outstanding hotels.

It was wonderful to welcome the trainee guides from Mkuyu Guide School to Jongomero last week and offer them a day looking around and learning about the camp and the lifestyle they could have in the future if they continue with their studies.

Just before we opened the camps this week we were thrilled to receive notification from TripAdvisor that all three properties within our portfolio had been awarded Certificates of Excellence - what a way to start a season!

Wildlife conservation has always been a integral part of Selous Safari Company's vision and manifesto, however with terrifying statistics emerging daily, elephant conservation has become an area that requires far more attention, and soon, or we will have no elephant in the world in under a decade.

A few weeks ago we had thirteen very special day visitors at Siwandu - our first group of Selous Safari Kids! The pilot project began last season with the idea of engaging the younger generation of our local community with the importance of tourism for not only revenue and employment but also teaching them that conserving the environment and the wildlife is of the utmost importance for their future life and also for future generations.

Following on from our recent FGASA Level 1 glory - I just wanted to keep you up to date on how our training is progressing this season. Brian Bode is back with us at Siwandu and been focussing on getting our new Head Guide, Mohammed and also our two new guides, Apollo & Enoch settled in with their new roles.

One of our final game walks of the season has just taken place at Siwandu... The two guests on the walk were in the experienced and capable hands of Mpoto, our walking guide, and Isaac Rotich, our Gold Member KPSGA* guide from Kenya, who has been helping us at Siwandu with training guides to be FGASA** Level 1.

For those of us who are sensitive, you may wish to avoid this blog post however it is fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking to see and to hear the cruelty of the natural world. From severe droughts and fatal injuries to vicious predator hunts - the circle of life in the animal kingdom never ends and a perfect example of the courage needed to face this despair happened in Siwandu with our guests Jean Pierre & An

We are delighted to announce Siwandu as the 2014 Winner of Tanzania's Leading Safari Lodge!

We are lucky enough to live and work in Selous Game Reserve - from its stunning landscapes to its thrills of wildlife we are invited to experience the sublime. Our guests also are drawn into this wilderness and witness Mother Nature at her very best. And Colin "Wild Dog" Gross was no exception as himself, his wife Barbara and 14 friends watched as a pack of Wild Dog cavorted and played.

At Selous Safari Company we get so many gorgeous guests who arrive and instantly become family. As Marketing Manager I get the pure delight to read the reviews, feedback and receive countless photos and videos from both satisfiued agents and very happy guests, who we hope to join us again soon.

As everyone knows - we absolutely adore our elephant at Selous Safari Company and with poaching numbers receeding at a dramatic rate in Selous Game Reserve, they can begin to feel safe again. We are delighted that Mr Kibonde, Chief Warden in Selous and the team at the Wildlife Division have had such success so far - long may it continue!

At Selous Safari Company we are lucky enough to have both our bush camps in areas where Wild Dog are found. Nyerere National Park has the largest population of Wild Dog in the globe and Ruaha National Park holds the second largest population so if you love these rare and beautiful creatures you cannot go wrong by coming to our camps and giving yourself the best opportunity to see them!

The decks have been swept and waxed, the sheets have been tucked in, the glassware has been polished and the food is being prepared for your arrival! We are delighted to announce the opening of the 2014/15 season and looking forward to hosting our guests from Sunday 1st June!

We have great delight in announcing that Selous Safari Company camps have topped the bill again! TripAdvisor is a wonderful tool for past, present and future guests and to be recognised for our excellence in our regions by our fellow travellers is an accolade we strive

When Charles Dobie began Selous Safari Company, he wanted to not only go into virgin, remote, stunning locations and open them up to new eyes but he also wanted strived to encourage "good tourism" - tourism which not only partnered conservation but also strived to be ecologically friendly, to ensure our footprint on the ground was negligible. Our camps have been built with these things in mind and are sympathetic to the environment we have the privilege to inhabit.

Yesterday in a presentation at The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism renowned Ivory Room - Charles Dobie proudly passed over cheques totalling 42,500,000 Tsh ($26,563) to Mr Benson Kibonde, the Manager of Selous Game Reserve. (The above photo is press in Mwananchi, a Tanzanian paper)

The recent statistics say that within 7 years the elephant will be extinct; no more will these gorgeous beasts roam the savannahs of Africa and those iconic photographs and experiences will be resigned to history. When our children ask about Dumbo and Colonel Hathi we will have to tell them of these magnificent animals which we watched get slaughtered to make bracelets and trinkets.

What a glorious past week we have had at Jongomero! We have had a number of wonderful elephant and lion sightings not far from camp. Just yesterday a herd of ellies were observed a mere 100m from camp. As I always say this is the animals' home and we are only renting it from them - so they are free to roam where they wish and we have to respect and enjoy the sightings they afford u

Yesterday we had our first tropical storm for the year and although we had to scramble to get the boats secure, drop all weather screens and hang on to the table cloths and cutlery, it also gave us the inspiration that only the rains can bring after the long dry season and when it eventually cleared and the birds starting singing and a bit of sunshine peaked through the heavy dark clouds, we found a beautiful little baby terrapin at the reception, who was on its way to the lake. I just love Africa!

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" - Mark Twain