Zarafa Camp

Camp And Activity Highlights

• Day and afternoon game drives
• Night drives with spotlights
• Relais & Châteaux Luxury safari Camp
• Bird watching in the Selinda Reserve
• Cooling off in a private plunge pool
• Exceptional staff and first-class guiding at Zarafa

General Camp Information

• Lodge type; Luxury Safari Camp
• Location; Selinda Reserve
• Lodge size; 5 Tented Safari Suites
• Recommended stay; 3-7 nights

Zarafa, The Most Exquisite Tented Safari Camp In The Selinda Reserve

Zarafa Camp, Botswana's first Relais & Châteaux property, has, in all honesty, no equal, in our opinion. Located in the far North of Botswana in the 130 000 hectares Selinda Reserve, one of the more isolated areas in Africa.

Zarafa Camp and her exquisitely appoint tented suites all look out over the crystal waters of Zibadianja Lagoon, a lagoon that in turn hosts a large population of both wildlife and birdlife.

Game viewing in the area that one can sight ranges from leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, Red Lechwe, zebra, and giraffe to rarer African wild dog, cheetah, roan and sable antelope. Dry season sightings of wildlife are nothing short of spectacular.

Birders will not be disappointed in the species that occur on the grounds of Zarafa Camp and the private Selinda Reserve bordering the Chobe National Park. The nearby African Skimmer colony is a highlight of any wildlife photographer visting northern Botswana.

Zarafa is part and parcel of the amazing Great Plains Conservation portfolio of the most luxurious safari properties in Africa.

Rooms and Suites

Four exquisite tented suites await all overlooking the crystal waters of Zibadianja Lagoon.

The suites at Zarafa Camp offer, on average, a 100m² living space that consists of a lounge with a writing desk, fireplace and king-sized beds. En-suite bathrooms are open plan with a claw foot bath, indoor shower, separate loo and double basins.

Each of the four suites at Zarafa Camp has its own private plunge pool and viewing deck.

The Zarafa Dhow Suite offers two bedrooms with full bathrooms (each with a full-body outdoor shower and claw-foot bath), a separate lounge and a dining area that are for the sole use of guests staying in this suite. This suite is one of the largest tents built on the African continent, 210m² in total, all under canvas.

The Dhow Suites' large viewing deck offers up not only viewing of the surrounding landscape and wildlife but is also home to a rather large swimming pool.

Note: Each suite includes one pair of Swarovski HD binoculars and a professional Canon camera body and lens kit for complimentary use by guests.

Zarafa Camp is a luxury tented camp that is best combined with Duba Plains Camp for the ultimate Botswana safari experience.

Cuisine and Wine

Taking into account the remoteness of Zarafa Camp, the cuisine is extraordinary. The team in the kitchen conjure up all sorts of magic, and this is on display when one's meals arrive. Menus are varied, while most dietary requests are catered for, including vegans.

One of the best camps for those with a keen interest in cuisine. One could spend 10 days in camp and not have the same meal twice; now, that is something not every camp can or does offer.

In a nutshell, when a camp carries the "Relais & Châteaux" badge, one is guaranteed an exceptional dining experience.

Lodge Facilities

The central guest area at Zarafa Camp is a small intimate affair with a lounge, small library and indoor dining area. The viewing deck offers a seating area with an open fireplace for the spectacular sunsets.

The entire area itself is raised off the ground, with views out over the surrounding floodplains teeming with wildlife.

The Zarafa is surrounded by a forest of African ebony trees, while all the camp's electricity comes from its own eco-friendly solar farm a few hundred metres away.

Safari Activities

Safari activities when staying at Zarafa Camp include game drives (morning, afternoon and at night), allowing for sightings of both diurnal and nocturnal wildlife. Short walking safaris with an experienced guide are available as well.

Wildlife includes elephants, zebra, giraffes, cheetahs, wild dogs, lions and a fantastic amount of birdlife.

Siesta time at Zarafa is best spent in the sunken hide at the edge of the waterhole, watching the wide variety of plains game and predators that arrive to drink.

Family Friendly

The minimum age for families with children at Zafara is eight years old, with special menus and one suite that is able to accommodate a maximum of 5 people.

Spa and Wellness

A small but well-equipped gym is available for those wanting to keep in shape when staying at Zarafa Camp, as are in-room treatments and massages.