Zarafa Camp

Overview

Per Person Per Night:

$2,460-3,665

$3,665

Type

Tented Camp

Standard

Exceptional

Rooms

WI-FI

Yes

Families

Yes

Malaria Free

Highlights

One of the most exclusive safari camps in Botswana.
Spectacular setting, superb service and cuisine, huge suites.
Excellent wildlife viewing, game drives, boat cruises, walking.
Small and intimate camp with only 5 suites.

Location

NG16 Private Concession
Selinda Reserve
Northern Botswana

Zarafa Camp is one of Botswana's premiers safari camps, with a spectacular setting overlooking the Linyanti swamp in a remote wilderness teeming with wildlife.

Zarafa is one of just a handful of safari camps in the 500-square-mile (1 300-sq-km) Selinda Reserve, so guests will enjoy a truly exclusive experience in this vast and untouched region north of the Okavango Delta. The camp overlooks the Zibadianja Lagoon, which is part of the Linyanti swamp and the life source of the area's abundant wildlife.

Main camp dining and lounge area with a view to the outdoor space at Zarafa Camp.

Zarafa Camp is owned and operated by Great Plains Conservation, an organization whose mission is to blend sustainable tourism with the conservation of wildlife environments. Great Plains is headed by the husband-and-wife team of Beverly and Dereck Joubert, who are well known to wildlife enthusiasts for their outstanding films, most of which have been created in conjunction with National Geographic.

Great Plains use the term “Conservation Tourism” to describe what they do. They define it as the use of quality-led tourism experiences that are environmentally sound, with the benefits going specifically into making the conservation of an area viable and sustainable.

The Great Plains model takes stressed and threatened environments, surrounds them with compassionate protection and intelligent, sustainable management, and funds them with sensitive, low-volume, low-impact, tourism.

Wildlife viewing in the Selinda Reserve is superb, with large numbers of both predators and herbivores, including lion, leopard, African wild dog, spotted hyena, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, red lechwe, tsessebe, waterbuck, impala, greater kudu, and more. The lagoon is home to large numbers of both hippo and crocodile. Bird life is also prolific and diverse.

Main area campfire and dining deck at Zarafa Camp.

Activities at Zarafa focus on game drives in custom-designed, open 4x4 vehicles to see the diverse wildlife. Water-based activities offer a different experience, with the luxurious pontoon-boat safaris on the lagoon allowing up-close, but safe wildlife encounters. For those wanting to keep active, a guided bush walk is an excellent way to see the little things that are often missed on a safari drive.

Zarafa Camp offers just 5 guest suites, one of which is a two-bedroom villa suitable for two couples traveling together or a family of up to 5 guests. The open-plan tented suites are large, with a separate lounge, a front deck with a private pool overlooking the wetland. The suites have plumbed, en-suite facilities with a luxurious tub, as well as indoor and outdoor showers.

The main camp area is a spacious, tented structure built atop a raised deck and reminiscent of a luxury safari from colonial times, with a lounge, library, indoor dining space, and wine storage with a bar. The main area opens onto a large front deck fabricated from reclaimed, 100-year-old teak railroad ties with a campfire and outdoor dining space. The Zarafa Spa has two treatment rooms.

Luxurious, tented guest suite showing the outdoor deck, pool, and view to the interior at Zarafa Camp.

Great Plains are one of Africa's leading safari operators and they strive to minimize energy consumption at all their camps. The entire camp was constructed using only recycled hardwoods and canvas. Moreover, all of the camp’s electricity comes from its solar farm, while ‘bio gas’ plants recycle waste into usable cooking gas.

Zarafa Camp is at the top in terms of its environmental credentials and careful appointments. Strict eco-friendly environmental standards are maintained so that no harmful chemicals or waste is allowed to enter the pristine ecosystem of the Selinda Reserve.

Zarafa Camp is a Relais & Châteaux property.

Dining on the pontoon boat at Zarafa Camp.

the Northern Reserves (Linyanti, Kwando, Selinda)

Located directly to the north of the Okavango Delta are three superb wildlife reserves: the Linyanti, Selinda, and Kwando. All three reserves offer superb game viewing in huge wilderness areas with very low tourist numbers.

Each of the reserves has a number of safari camps and they all pair superbly with a visit to one more more camps in the Okavango. Daily charter flights are available from any of the camps in the Okavango Delta or elsewhere in northern Botswana.

Similar to the Okavango Delta, the northern reserves receive water from rivers fed by rains in northern Angola, the amount varying year to year. The Kwando River forms the border between Botswana and Namibia, and much like the Okavango River further west, it also empties into a trough of Kalahari sand, creating the Linyanti Swamp, a much smaller version of the Okavango Delta. The Linyanti Swamp empties eastward into the Linyanti River, which becomes the Chobe River further to the east.

The Selinda Reserve is a very good destination for seeing lions and other predators.

In some years, and usually in multi-year cycles, the rain water flowing down the Kwando River is sufficient enough to cause the Linyanti Swamp to overflow to the south, where it may flow east into the Savuti Channel or southwest into the Selinda Spillway. The Savuti Channel empties into the Savute Marsh in Chobe National Park. The Selinda Spillway flows back into the northern part of the Okavango Delta.

Both of these waterways have historically gone through long periods of total dryness, becoming rich grasslands, and then suddenly flowing with water again, bringing rich sediments and new water along their courses. Like the Okavango, water flows are dynamic over time, with rains in the Angolan highlands and tectonic movements far beneath the surface of northern Botswana affecting the quantity and direction of the water in these river systems.

Away from the major rivers in the northern portion of these reserves, the southern portion of the northern reserves is dominated by dry woodland, consisting of Kalahari apple-leaf bush, mopane trees and Acacia trees on deep Kalahari sand.

Elephants wander through as they travel between the Okavango and the northern rivers, and there are impala, greater kudu, roan antelope, sable antelope, but this area is mostly not used for safaris, with the safari camps located along the waterways to the north.

Wildlife viewing along the waterways in the northern reserves is outstanding, particularly between July and late October, when the bush is dry and the animals stay close to the permanent water. Elephants gather in large numbers at this time and head to the waterways to drink twice daily, sometimes swimming and playing in the deeper water. Herds of buffalo, zebra, and impala are also present in good numbers. Other herbivores include include greater kudu, giraffe, red lechwe, tsessebe, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, and warthog.

The Selinda is well known for being an excellent place to see African wild dogs.

Common predators include lion, leopard, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, and African wild dog. The northern reserves are one of the best places in Africa to see the wild dogs, which have their young around June each year, the pups are truly something to see if you get lucky. Cheetah are here in modest numbers and can be seen in the open grassland areas. Hippo and crocodile are abundant in the Kwando, Linyanti, and Chobe Rivers, as well as in the Linyanti Swamp area. Chacma baboon and vervet monkey are found in the riparian forests.

Birding in the northern reserves is outstanding, with a diverse mix of grassland, woodland, raptors, and water species found. A typical safari day can easily produce 100 species.

ROOMS INCLUDES & EXCLUDES CHILDREN FACILITIES ACTIVITIES

Accommodation

5 guest accommodations in total comprising:

4 luxurious, double-bedded wood and canvas suites. A twin-bedded setup is also available.
1 two-bedroom tented suite (Dhow Suite). Read more about the Dhow Suite directly below.

Each guest accommodation is constructed atop elevated wooden decking with views of the Linyanti swamp and vast grassland beyond. The fully-plumbed, en-suite facilities include a copper-encased clawfoot-bath, indoor shower, outdoor shower, double-basin vanity, and separate toilet.

The guest suites are connected to the main camp area by sandy footpaths on the ground.

Guest suite interior at Zarafa Camp.

Dhow Suite
Located at the far end of the camp, the Dhow Suite is an exclusive-use, two-bedroom tented villa covering 2 260 square feet (210 sq meters). The suite includes a private guide and safari vehicle, a dedicated butler, and privately-served, chef-created meals.

Huge, ornate, wooden doors, open onto a spacious central lounge and dining space with the two bedrooms flanking this communal area on either side. The lounge features a couch and lounge chairs, a dining table, a fully stocked bar with refrigerated drinks, and a coffee-and-tea station. The lounge opens onto the outdoor deck in the front of the suite.

Both bedrooms have a unique-design fireplace for added warmth during cooler months and an open-layout bathroom that includes a copper-encased, claw-foot bath, indoor and outdoor showers, a twin-basin vanity, and separate flush toilet.

As with the standard one-bedroom suites, the Dhow Suite is constructed atop an elevated platform made from 100-year-old teak railroad ties. The expansive outdoor deck includes a private pool for relaxing during the midday, loungers, a campfire area with seating, and a dining table for al-fresco meals. The deck offers 180-degree views over the Linyanti swamp and grasslands.

The Zarafa Dhow Suite can accommodate 4 adults sharing or a maximum of 5 guests for families with children.

The standard guest suites cover 1 075 square feet (100 sq meters) and include all imaginable creature comforts while still delivering a classic, tented-safari experience.

The suites are constructed atop elevated platforms made from 100-year-old teak railroad ties with expansive front decks that offer panoramic views onto the Linyanti swamp and grasslands. The deck also includes a private pool for relaxing between activities.

Large and ornate, wooden doors lead into the open-plan interior, which includes a bedroom with double or twin-bedded setup and a lounge space with couch, comfortable chairs, fully-stocked bar with refrigerated drinks of choice, and a coffee/tea station.

Other features include a writing desk and chair, easy chairs, luggage rack, and mosquito netting for the beds. Hot water bottles and extra blankets are provided during the chilly winter months.

Other items and features in all of the guest units include:

Gas fireplace for the winter months.
Mosquito netting over the beds.
Electronic safe.
Standing fan and a unique evaporation-based bed-cooling system for warm nights.
Fully-stocked bar with refrigerated drinks.
Tea and coffee making facilities.
Hairdryer.
Yoga mats and free weights.
One pair of high-quality binoculars and a professional camera body and lens kit for complimentary use. Photos will be downloaded to a memory stick on guest’s departure.
WiFi in the guest suites and main camp area.
Multi-plug charging facilities for mobile devices.
Personal amenities, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

Zarafa Camp can accommodate a maximum of 13 guests in total: 2 guests in each of the four standard suites and up to 5 persons in the Dhow Suite.

Includes & Excludes

Includes:

All meals and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including premium brand spirits and Champagne.
Safari experiences (twice-daily or full-day game drives, bush walks, boating and canoeing subject to water levels, seasonal fishing, and birding) accompanied by an experienced guide.
Laundry services are provided on a daily basis (weather permitting, items will be returned on the same day). Laundry is dried by the sun and on most days any laundry placed out in the morning will be returned by the evening.
One pair of high quality binoculars and a professional camera body and lens kit for complimentary use. Photos will be downloaded to a memory stick on guest’s departure.
Return, scheduled, seat-in-plane air transfers from Maun and/or Kasane Airports, as well as inter-camp air transfers from properties in the greater Okavango Delta and Linyanti/Savuti regions to this camp (subject to a minimum 2-night stay).
Selinda airstrip transfers.
Wi-Fi access.
Tourism Levy & VAT.

Excludes:

Purchases from the Great Plains Boutique.
Spa services.
Scenic helicopter flights ranging in cost based on duration. Best to book in advance.
Any applicable wildlife fee, park fee, reserve fee, concession fee, other land-use fee.

Single Supplement
A single supplement may apply for any room booked by a single traveler; please ask us for pricing.

Children

Children aged 6 years and older are accommodated at Zarafa Camp:

Triples for children sharing with adults can be arranged upon request.
Child rates are applicable for one child aged 15 years and younger, sharing with two adults in a suite.
Children 15 and younger must share a room with at least one adult.
Children aged 16 years and older will pay applicable adult rates and be accommodated in a separate suite. Alternatively, families should consider booking the Zarafa Dhow Suite.
Families will be combined with other guests on all activities unless a private vehicle is booked at extra cost.
Children can participate in walking activities from 8 years of age.
Walking is possible from 6 years of age if guests are in the Zarafa Dhow Suite or have confirmed the additional services of a private vehicle.
Young children must be supervised by their parents, as the camp is not fenced and is located in an area with high predator densities and there is water surrounding camp. The camp also features raised decks and pools which are not covered.
The Great Plains Young Explorers program is thoughtfully designed to give children a range of experiences and topics from birding to cooking to art to wildlife tracking.

Facilities

The camp is situated overlooking the clear water of 'Zibadianja Lagoon', which is part of the Linyanti Swamp and is the source of the Savute Channel. Every area of the camp offers superb views of the lagoon. The water in front of the camp attracts a variety of wildlife, particularly elephants.

The main camp area consists of a large tented space atop an elevated deck constructed using 100-year-old, reclaimed, teak railroad ties. The space includes an expansive lounge, library, indoor dining space, and wine storage with a bar. The main area opens onto a large front deck with campfire and outdoor dining space.

The entire camp was constructed using only recycled hardwoods and canvas. Moreover, all of the camp’s electricity comes from its solar farm, while ‘bio gas’ plants recycle waste into usable cooking gas. Zarafa Camp has no equal in terms of its environmental credentials and careful appointments.

Main guest area facilities include:

Central lounge, library, dining room, wine cellar with small bar, and a coffee/tea station.
Expansive deck with fire pit, seating, and dining table.
Dining is typically communal, but private dining is available on request.
All dietary requirements are catered for, from regular to vegan to children; prior notice required.
The Spa at Zarafa offers guests two treatment areas with a range of treatments available. All ingredients used in the spa treatments have been personally chosen by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, in conjunction with Spacology. Spa treatments are at an additional cost.
Open-air gym where guests can make use of the following equipment: Treadmill, spinning bike, rowing machine, orbital walker, yoga mats, a selection of various weights and dumbbells.
The Great Plains Safari Boutique offers locally and regionally-produced crafts, many of which support local community projects in the nearby Okavango panhandle. The Boutique also stocks Dereck and Beverly Joubert's clothing line, which is a bespoke range of clothing they typically wear and which is ideal and cool while on safari, yet also elegant when in the city. All materials are responsibly sourced.
Complimentary Wi-Fi access.
Mobile phone signal unavailable.
Mineral water is provided in the main camp areas and in the guest suites.
The camp is run by an impressive solar farm of 170 panels with generator back-up. The system produces 220-volt, 24-hour electricity to the suites and main areas. There are universal plug points in each suite.

Activities

Activities included in the rate:

Twice daily (or full-day with picnic lunch) game drives. Drives after dark are also offered. The vehicles are custom-built Land Cruisers that are designed specifically for the conditions around the camp and photography (fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug inverters) with seven individual bucket seats.
During winter months, hot water bottles (on early morning game drives only), blankets, and lined ponchos are provided.
Guided walks led by licensed guides with firearm training.
Each guest suite includes the use of a professional camera body and lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a USB flash stick on guest’s departure. The suites also include a pair of high-quality binoculars for use during your stay.
Birding.
Boating on the Zibadianja Lagoon. The HES Zib, Zarafa’s special pontoon boat, is an utterly unique experience. The 275-square-foot deck is complete with couches and a dining area and bar, where guests can comfortably enjoy a floating brunch or sundowners while watching hippos and elephants in the water. It is also an exceptional platform for birding. Boating is dependent on water levels.
Seasonal (between March and December) fly-fishing on the lagoon. A rod-and-reel kit is available for those who want to try their casting at the local bream on a catch-and-release basis.

Optional activities at additional cost:

Private activities are on offer (subject to vehicle availability which needs to be booked in advance). Note that guests staying in the Zarafa Dhow Suite are assigned their own private guide and game-drive vehicle.
Scenic helicopter flights ranging in duration from 30, 45 to 60 minutes. The activity is best between 11:00 and 15:00, when animal densities are high. Must be booked in advance.

Example of a typical day:

Early morning wake-up call. Morning wake-up and activity times vary according to the seasons, activities on offer, and wildlife sightings.
Light breakfast before departing on the morning activity.
Return to camp for a meal and rest period.
Meet for afternoon tea and snacks (savory and sweet choices) before departing on the activity.
Return to camp - freshen up or meet for drinks, followed by dinner.
Enjoy a nightcap or discussion around the fire before retiring.

Great Good Fair Poor

WHEN TO GO

The Selinda region of northern Botswana offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year, but there are definitely seasonal variations in terms of weather and the densities of wildlife that may be a consideration when planning your visit.

The high season in terms of tourist demand is during the dry months between June and October. The latter part of the rainy season (February through April) is the low season.

The winter (June through August) is dry and cool and wildlife may be easier to locate as rain water is evaporating and the Linyanti, Kwando, and Chobe rivers and and substantial waterholes become more frequently visited by the animals as water becomes more scarce.

During the middle and later stages of the rainy season, the grass becomes tall and the bush becomes lush and thick, which makes for lovely colors, but makes spotting wildlife more difficult.

Zarafa Camp is open year-round.

Summer / Rains

Northern Botswana, including the Selinda region, receives most of its rain between December and February, which is the summer season. November and December are superb months to visit the Selinda, with only occasional rainstorms and most rain coming in short showers, bringing welcome relief to the thirsty land after the dry season.

January and February typically experience afternoon downpours on most days, but all-day rains are uncommon. By the middle of March, the rains become much less frequent and the grass and bush have grown long and thick. Mornings become cooler by the end of March.

In spite of being summer, the rains keep temperatures from becoming overly hot, although humidity and insect life are at their peak. Days are mostly overcast or partially cloudy, with dramatic skies and a lovely green color to the landscape. Afternoon temperatures average 88°F (31°C), but mornings are very comfortable at around 65°F (19°C).

Baby animals are in abundance, especially impala lambs and warthog piglets. Migratory birds arrive to breed and dramatically increase the number of species and overall numbers, particularly in the lagoons and pans, which are full of rain water and food for the aquatic species.

Unlike the dry months (May through October), when the middays can be very warm, causing wildlife to minimize activity and seek shade from around 10am til mid-afternoon, the overcast skies during the summer often mean that animals are active throughout the day, offering many more hours of game viewing.

Autumn

March, April and May are Fall season months and the beginning of the dry season in the Selinda, with rains very uncommon from around mid-March. The landscape is still lush and green, with sunny days and comfortable temps; afternoons average 84°F (29°C). Mornings are comfortable, but a fleece and base layer may be needed for the first hours on game drive.

Migrant birds fly north and water in the lagoons and rain pans is drying up. Permanent waterways, including the Kwando, Linyanti, and Chobe rivers, are actually rising however, as the 'flood' water from the Angolan highlands is now reaching into northern Botswana. As a result of the rains abating and the waterholes away from the river becoming dry, animals begin to spend their time closer to these rivers, and wildlife sightings become better and better.

Morning temps are around 54°F/12°C and afternoons average 79°F/26°C.

Winter / Dry Season

June through August is winter and the vegetation is drying and going dormant. The water in the Linyanti/Chobe river system is peaking but the surrounding landscape is mostly brown and yellow. Dust and sand particles in the air is on the rise. Game viewing is superb, with elephant and buffalo herds congregating along permanent water.

Mornings can be chilly to very cold at around 45°F (7°C). Warm clothes, including winter hat and gloves are needed for the open-air game drives. Dress in layers, as the temps do rise quickly during the day, with middays reaching 79°F (26°C).

Wildlife sightings are superb in the northern reserves during the dry winter months.

Spring

September and October are the driest months as the landscape and animals eagerly await the coming rains. Game viewing is phenomenal, with all rain pans now completely dry and animals are congregating around permanent waterways, particularly along the Linyanti, Kwando, and Chobe Rivers. The grass and vegetation are very dry.

Days are warm, sunny, and often cloudless and by mid-morning, most animals are seeking shelter in the shade and awaiting the evening temps to drop. October can be brutally hot and dusty and even smoky as sporadic grass fires can occur.

Safari camps are mostly full to capacity, with guests adhering to guide books saying this is the only time to visit (not true of course). Temperatures in October can easily reach 95°F (35°C) or even hotter. Game viewing is superb.