Reviews of Selinda Camp
(95%) From 39 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
| 
Great start to holiday at Selinda Camp
A good first camp, we were made to feel very welcome and that nothing was too much trouble. On being picked up from the airstrip we were given a game drive by our guide Bebe which included sightings of wild dog, elephant, giraffe and many more, our guide was very informative to all the different species of birds and animals that we encountered.
The food was plentiful and well prepared, house keeping was also good and facilities well maintained. The game drives continued at a high level only lions weren't seen during the three day period.
When the time came to leave we were really sad, Ella made sure everyone new was introduced to all other guests which made you feel very welcome and sitting around the camp fire helped getting to know everyone and talking about their drives that day.
Luxury in wild surroundings
Very happy, friendly and welcoming staff.
Inspite of wet season we had very positive game viewing.
Selinda Camp review
I bought 3 CD's to save my pictures with the camp's computer. I had to pay 20 Pula for each CD to burn my data. But the computer did not allow it. I also had to pay the 20 Pula for each CD. 20 Pula for one CD is too much and not acceptable for such a location.
Read more about the whole safariExpert Africa comments
Having again looked at this issue in the light of these comments - we're very pleased to report that Selinda Camp has, In June 2008, decided to make CDs available free to travellers who want to download their pictures and burn them to disk.
There is a 'guest PC' available in the camp for this purpose - and Selinda's sister-camp, Zibalianja Camp, also has the same facilities.
Selinda Camp review
Selinda is a very nice location. However, game drives at this time of the year yiled very few sightings. At Selinda, game drives are done without a tracker, which means that the driver stays on the tracks for most of the time. Without a tracker, our guide was not very keen to track down game. It is probably much better to visit Selinda during the dry season, when game is abundant.
Read more about the whole safariExpert Africa comments
Selinda's management comments that Botswana has had their wettest rainy season in over 20 years (2007/2008) and these rainy season conditions dispersed the wildlife tremendously resulting in sparse wildlife during this wet period.
Because of the rains guides have been purposely staying on tracks as much as possible, as from experience leaving the track in these conditions is an invitation to get stuck & a number of guides have had to be towed out by tractor in the past because of going off road during the rains.
Selinda's management has also explained that each of their guides are accomplished trackers in their own right and do track, and indeed are keen to track down game if the opportunity arises and conditions allow.
Selinda Camp review
Lots of animals, very good sightings, over all a very exciting experience
Read more about the whole safariSelinda: luxurious but lacking
There were many things we loved about Selinda: the gorgeous public areas and beautiful views, excellent food, an enthusiastic and helpful staff, a great wine cellar (from which guests can choose a bottle for sundowners or dinner). But it doesn't quite come together as the terrific experience it could be.
I found the rooms almost over the top. Why spend so much on a stunning bathroom (great though it may be) and still have older, less comfortable vehicles? Most important, why not put more resources into getting or training experienced guides...rather than more luxurious surroundings?
The experience just seemed quite uneven -- not uniformly excellent the way it was at Shinde. Our guide, BB, seemed bored with guiding (unlike his younger brother Alberto who was our Footsteps guide and clearly loved what he was doing.)
So we saw interesting animals but without him exhibiting the enthusiasm and interest of all of our other guides...and without sharing additional information as our other guides did. Even if our guides at Jib were less experienced, they tried harder.
Selinda Camp review
The tents were the highest standard on the trip and the position of teh lodge was fab. A really friendly welcome.
Read more about the whole safariSelinda Camp review
Sad only to be there for one night - probably the most comfortable camp we stayed in.
Outstanding guide - Mats - made the most of the luck of seeing wild dogs etc
Better food than average too
Would happily have had 2 nights here (despite having done the walking trails first - you see very differnt things)
Off to a good start!
Of our more famous camps this was our least favorite for safety yet our all out favorite for what we saw.
We witnessed 3 lions chasing a warthog across the veld, across a wide but shallow part of the delta and then it dove into an aardvark hole and survived!! Our guide, the camp manager (can't remember his name, sorry, a wonderful Greek name), was knowledgeble and passionate about the Delta and the animals!
On our last morning 3 lionesses paraded past our vehicle with 5 adorable cubs! They were followed by the most healthy male lion we had yet seen!!
Upon arrival at Selinda we were assigned to the last tent out. On the walk there we saw many trees, some quite large, ripped apart - by elephant, we were told. That night at 1230 a.m. a bull elephant spent 1 1/2 hours leaning against our tent whilst ripping 2 trees down right next to the tent. I was afraid that a branch would come right thru the tent. My 13 yr old grandaughter and I devised a plan for hiding should that or anything else happen. We had no way to call for help had we needed it.
I feel that the last tent, knowing that elephants were around at night, should not have been given to a single woman with a child. Also we should have been given some way to get help. This event was not exciting, even in retrospect. I was responsible for my grandaughter's safety and the camp should have been more responsible for our safety.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
