One of the first camps to be established in the Selous Game Reserve, Rufiji River Camp has a fantastic location in the eastern extremity of the photographic northern area of the reserve. High up on a bank above the Rufiji River, the views from the front of the camp are impressive - watch the hippos relax in the waters by day, and listen to them honking throughout the night!
The camp has a rustic African feel to it, with thatch roofs, stone floors and the occasional carved piece of furniture. Well laid out pathways lead through the camp to 20 ensuite standing tents, shaded by thatch. These tents are spaced along the river in a lush stretch of woodland populated by monkeys and numerous birds – and occasionally visited by more exciting large mammals. Though a little close together, the rooms are still private and comfortable. Read more on the Permanent Tents.
When we last visited Rufiji River Camp in October 2011, they were still in the process on renovating the camp. There are now 14 riverside tents – including three family tents which sleep up to four people, and are connected by a wooden platform between them. There are plans to add splash pools to these tents.
Rufiji River Camp has a large central area with wonderful views over the Rufiji River. The lounge and small library, bar and dining area are all under one high thatch roof with lovely stone floors and comfortable soft furnishings. There are a few old board games dotted around for playing before or after dinner. The camp also has British, European and American sockets for people to use in the lounge area. In front there is an outside area with some simple wooden seating around a campfire.
Set a little further back from the river, near the reception is Rufiji's shaded swimming pool which stays very cool in the heat of the day. There are loungers around the pool for those wishing to relax and sunbathe in between safari activities.
The camp offers boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking safaris from the camp and game drives encompassing the 3 nearby lakes, including a full day safari with a packed lunch. For the adventurous who wish to experience more of the bush, there is also the option of fly-camping for a few nights. On all of the activities you will be accompanied by one of the camp guides who are very friendly and have a reasonable knowledge of the wildlife.
Our view
On our last visit we found the staff to be friendly and the service efficient bearing in mind Rufiji is not a luxurious camp; it has a pleasant unpretentious air and reasonable prices.
Directions: Rufiji River Camp can be accessed by fly-in and transfer – the Selous is a 35-minute flight from Dar es Salaam and then the camp is only a 5-minute drive from the airstrip. Alternatively, it is around a 6-hour drive from Dar – depending on the weather and therefore the state of the roads.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality:Breakfast at Rufiji River Camp is served at 7am before the morning activities and usually consists of eggs (either boiled, fried or as an omelette), toast and fresh fruit, as well as cinnamon rolls.
Lunch is a buffet served at 1pm, consisting of two courses. On our last visit we had gazpacho, followed by fishcakes with rice and salad and then pancakes.
Dinner is then at 8pm and is a 3-course set meal. A classic menu might be something like tomato soup, followed by beef with dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables, then cheesecake to finish. If the camp is particularly busy dinner may be served as a buffet.
The food was simple yet tasty, and all tables overlooked the river. A lot of the food serviced here is grown on a local farm.
For a full day safari a packed lunch is provided. With some notice, the camp is able to accommodate dietary requirements and provide child friendly food.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor Dining
Room service: No room service – this is a safari camp.
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Tea and coffee are free. Other drinks are not included. Beer is around US$4, a large bottle of water is US$2. Wine is around US$20 a bottle.
Special interests
Solo Travel: Rufiji is a relatively large safari lodge and therefore attracts a variety of travellers and there are often other solo travellers around to get chatting to. People congregate around the bar area before dinner which can be quite sociable, though the dinning is at individual tables unless requested otherwise.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for solo travel in Tanzania
Birdwatching: Rufiji River Camp is situated right on the banks of the Rufiji River which attracts many different species of bird such as the tiny and beautiful malachite kingfisher and the impressively regal African fish eagle. The activities manager, Jacob, is a keen birder.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for birdwatching in Tanzania
Wildlife safaris: The Selous has good wildlife all year round, and during the dry season game congregates around the river to drink. You can expect to see good numbers of giraffe and impala and there is also a reasonable population of lion. If you are lucky you might also be fortunate to see wild dog which do pass though the Selous from time to time. There a plenty of hippos and crocodiles in the river which are fantastic to see whilst on a boat safari.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife safaris in Tanzania
Children
Attitude towards children: Responsible older children are welcome in accordance with the below restrictions, however they are very much the parents responsibility.
Age restrictions: 5 years and over. Children under 16 are not allowed on the walking safaris.
Activities: There are no child-minding facilities here, children are the full responsibility of the parents at all times.
Equipment: No specific equipment is provided, though there are triple rooms for parents to share with a child.
Generally recommended for children: Yes if they are responsible and mature.
Notes: Though there are no special facilities for children at the camp, there is a lovely pool to keep kids occupied when not out on safari. The camp is quite large, so the staff here do not have the capacity to help look after children staying at the camp. Parents should also be aware that this camp is not fenced and wildlife can pass through at any time – children should not be left unaccompanied.
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: For all intents and purposes you should consider yourself out of contact. There is intermittent mobile phone reception at Rufiji, however for the sake of the other guests and to maintain the peace and quiet - use is permitted in the reception area only.
TV & radio: There is no TV or radio – this is deepest Africa!
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: On site first aid can be administered and various medications are kept in the camp. In severe emergencies Rufiji can arrange for clients to be flown out from the nearby airstrip.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: The Selous has a large population of dangerous game and Rufiji River Camp is unfenced, so all guests are escorted to their rooms after dark. There are also camp guards on duty 24 hrs a day.
Fire safety: There are a number of fire extinguishers in key areas of the camp – such as the reception, kitchen and workshop. All guests are informed what to do in case of a fire at the welcome meeting.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry is complementary.
Money: There are no money exchange facilities here.
Accepted payment: The camp prefers payment for any extras in US$ cash. They do also except Euros and Tanzanian shillings, though the exchange rate for these currencies is very poor. You can also use travellers cheques but again the rates are poor. Visa and MasterCard are accepted but there is a charge for their use.
Rufiji River Camp review
Great location high above a bend in the river with fabulous sunsets. Undergoing a refurbishment while we were there so the restaurant was a building site. We had a fancy new tent. Very nice to be able...
Excellent team -
A simple camp ( although large - 20 tents!), but run by seriously committed people. For us safariing is all about seeing the wildlife and the team at Rufuji is very enthusiastic about this. It all st...
Great view on the hippos in Rufiji River Camp
We spent 3 nights in Rufiji River Camp. That was our first safari, so that time we could not compare to anything else. The location is just wonderful with a great view on the river. We can see the hip...
We want you to understand more about Rufiji River Camp. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Lodge homepage A recently re-done website that is now very smart indeed - in many ways rather more slick tha than the camp itself!
