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Lake Manze Camp is in the centre of Tanzania's Nyerere National Park ('The Selous'), one of the oldest and largest tracts of protected land in Africa. The area is home to a plethora of habitats, with diverse wildlife to match. As the Rufiji River passes through on its way to the Indian Ocean, there are 100-meter-deep gorges, vast Miombo woodlands and sprawling wetlands. While lauded as a gem for biodiversity and wildlife conservation, only the northern sector (five percent of the reserve) is dedicated to photographic safaris; the rest of the reserve is comprised of hunting concessions. The camp itself is low-key, and tends to be popular with a budget-minded crowd. Simply accessed by plane, the camp is open seasonally - June through March.
From $420 person/night
The easy-going atmosphere is fun in the old-fashioned way and the relaxed, shared dinners next to the fire and hearty food are good for the soul.
The camp's position in the heart of the bush gives you a front-row seat for wildlife viewings, especially the elephants and baboons that frequently wander through camp.
The camp runs on generator power which is limited to a few hours a day - leave your hair straighteners at home!
A large, thatched overhang covers the dining room/lounge. There are no floors; just the natural, sandy surface that forms the edge of the lake. Furnishings are basic: canvas director's chairs and tables in the dining room, and wicker, cushion-covered chairs in a few small seating areas. Outside, tall palms and acacias provide dappled shade. Perhaps the most notable feature of the camp is its setting as a wildlife thoroughfare, with elephants frequently wandering through on their way to the lake.
You'll find twelve basic, two-person, Meru-style canvas tents, each set back from the lake's edge. Rooms are simple, though adequately kitted: double or twin bed configurations, ensuite bathrooms with flush toilets and outdoor showers. Electricity is limited but the showers are solar-heated and fans solar-powered. Out front, there's a lovely shaded veranda with a chair or two - perfect for easy, arm-chair safari viewing of the well-worn elephant trail.
There's a wide range of activities here, from traditional 4x4 safaris and guided walks, to motorboat excursions and meals in the bush. Besides abundant elephant, buffalo and hippo, there's a myriad of plains game. Lion and wild dog are also seen occasionally, with very rare sightings of cheetah, leopard and black rhino. Game drives are enhanced by the fact that driving off-road to pursue sightings is permitted. Drive times are flexible, but vehicles will be shared with other guests if need be (if this is a major impediment, be sure to communicate this in advance).
Show all wildlife
The vast Nyerere National Park benefits from a variety of habitats, including expansive grasslands, Miombo woodlands and rolling swamp regions, stretched over a huge tract of land—the perfect environment to nurture a diverse range of wildlife species. While exploring, keep an eye out for large prides of lion, herds of buffalo, wild dog, hippo, giraffe, numerous antelope species and the rarely seen black rhino. Scanning from the ground to the tree tops, enjoy splashes of colour with more than 400 species of birds ruling the branches.