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Zarafa Camp

Zarafa Camp is an elegant and exclusive camp situated on the Selinda Reserve, in remote northern Botswana. The Reserve is roughly 300,000 acres in size and , with a maximum of 32 guests allowed on the Selinda at any one time (spread across four camps), it is one of the most sparsely touristed 'big game' reserves in Africa.

The ecological highlight of the Selinda Reserve is the Selinda Spillway and it's adjacent floodplain. This ephemeral waterway connects the Okavango Delta with the Linyanti River and wetland. Wildlife concentrates along the banks of the Spillway, attracted by water and the lush grass of its floodplain. The northern portion of the concession also contains Zibadianja Lagoon, source of the Savuti Channel. Falling within the greater Chobe-Linyanti ecosystem, game-viewing highlights are very similar to the adjacent Linyanti Reserve, including the spectacular herds of elephant that congregate towards the end of the dry season.

zarafa camp botswana luxury safarisZarafa's four luxurious marquis-style tents are comprised of a spacious bedroom and sitting area, en suite bathroom with copper bathtub and shower, as well as an outdoor shower for the more "adventurous.". Each tent is raised on wooden decking with a large shady veranda and private plunge pool overlooking the tranquil Lagoon in front of camp. Overhead fans, flowing mosquito nets, and a beautiful handcrafted copper fireplace, strategically placed between the bathroom and bedroom for the winter months, keep guests comfortable in all seasons.


zarafa camp safari botswana

 

The main area is decorated in the same "campaign" style as the tents and evokes the traditional safari ambiance of the turn of the last century. The furniture has been designed and handcrafted specifically for Zarafa, and is made from recycled ancient hardwoods. Dining is traditionally enjoyed under canvas or on the full-length deck shaded by giant broad-leafed trees and open to the night sky. With a maximum of eight guests, the camp achieves an especially intimate and exclusive ambiance.

 

The Selinda Reserve is home to a wide range of wildlife, including over 300 bird species and myriad mammals. High profile species include elephant (in vast numbers), giraffe, zebra, hippo, buffalo, several species of antelope, and the full spectrum of major predators (lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, and wild dogs). Guests at Selinda are offered the full range of 'land' activities: game drives, night drives, and walking excursions. Drives are conducted by experienced professional guides in custom built 4x4 Toyota Landcruisers. Only the most highly trained guides in Botswana are qualified to lead walks, making this a particularly rewarding and educational experience.

The Selinda concession and it's focal point, the Selinda Spillway, provide a unique 'bridge' between Botswana's two major wildlife ecosystems: the Chobe/Linyanti and the Okavango Delta. Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Selinda is its vastness - even at full occupancy the reserve offers over 9,000 acres per guest. No risk of overcrowding in this area! Zarafa Camp provides an elegant and intimate enclave within this extensive wilderness reserve, the perfect base from which to enjoy the solitude and take advantage of the the Chobe/Linyanti ecosystem's renowned game-viewing.


 

        Conservation Dimension

 

zarafa camp safariThe Selinda Reserve is owned by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers for National Geographic for over 25 years. Their mission in life is conservation, and they are driven by the desire to create meaningful films that influence the way we all respond to the natural world. Filming to the Jouberts is a means to show the stunning beauty and spiritually satisfying value of nature and the world's wild places. Their films have been screened around the world in over 50 languages, have been seen by more than a billion people, and are used in schools and universities for educational purposes.

In keeping with their philosophy, the Jouberts decline to allow hunting on the Selinda Reserve, even though they are entitled to by the terms of their lease with the Botswana Government. By doing so they forgo significant revenues, but secure a wildlife sanctuary in which photographic safari travelers can experience, at close quarters, the magnificence of Africa's unmolested wildlife and wilderness.

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