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Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp
Impala Camp

Impala Camp: Our full report

Impala Camp is situated on a wooded stretch of the stunning Rufiji River within the Nyerere National Park ...

... (formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve). Simply though stylishly designed, it offers a varied safari experience.

Impala Camp's breezy lounge and dining area sit on spacious wooden decking with spectacular views across the river, making it a wonderful place to watch game come down to the water to drink. A number of individual tables are set up for guests (the camp does not do group dining), and attentive staff are on hand to offer you a drink. There are plenty of lounge chairs, all made of solid carved wood with woven seats and backs of natural fibre. Touches of African art dotted around give the central area a homely feel. Here’s a place to stretch out, put your feet up, and leaf through some of Impala’s wildlife and bird books, or just enjoy the view.

Across a short walkway, in the bar area, high chairs are set against a small bar made from an old mokoro (dug-out canoe), and a few comfortable sofas with beautiful rustic-coloured cushions line the edge.

Extending further still from the bar area you can enjoy an evening drink around the campfire whilst relaxing on canvas directors’ chairs.

Walk a short way through the acacia woodland to your privately located tent on the river. Raised high up on decking, each of the eight Meru-style tents has a veranda with two comfortable chairs and a table from where you can enjoy a lovely view of the Rufiji River and land beyond. A family unit comprises two en-suite tents sharing a single platform.

Inside, Impala Camp’s tents are reasonably spacious with wooden floors, large (and very comfortable) beds with kikoi-style bedspreads and a writing desk. The rooms make use of plentiful creams and neutral colours, giving them a traditional safari feeling. Each room has a fan, electronic safe and a USB charger for phones. There are no plug sockets in the rooms, but items such as camera batteries can be given to camp management for charging. Impala’s tents all have large gauze windows that help to protect against the mosquitoes, though (even visiting when it was raining steadily) there are so few that nets are not necessary. Canvas flaps can be let down for increased privacy.

At the back of each tent, curtains separate a fairly spacious en-suite bathroom. Here you’ll find large white ceramic ‘his and hers’ sinks set into a beautiful wooden surface. Behind a partition is a proper flush toilet, and a second partition conceals a hot shower. There is also hanging space for your clothes. Soap, shampoo, shower gel and mosquito spray are useful extras.

Safari activities at Impala Camp include game drives in open-sided 4WDs and boat safaris along the Rufiji River and on the nearby lakes. We really enjoyed our time on the water with Impala Camp, spending time watching African Skimmers against the setting sun. Walking safaris are also available at additional cost, as is fishing, with the main species caught being catfish, mudfish, and the prized, predatory, tigerfish. The more adventurous might try a night or two fly-camping. In the bush you will always be accompanied by a camp guide who has a good knowledge of the game found in the area. On one stay we had a lovely Prosecco sundowner after a leisurely bird walk. And one morning included an entertainingly informative bush walk. For relaxation between safari activities, guests can enjoy a swim in the pool while looking out over the river.

Impala has very good 'back of house' infrastructure, which you are welcome to visit - allow 30 minutes for a guided tour, which includes the water treatment system and their impressive laundry and battery banks.


Our view

On our last safari here Impala Camp had a really friendly atmosphere with an attentive team who tried their utmost to ensure you enjoy your stay. It’s a comfortable and down-to-earth camp that doesn’t charge top prices and has become a firm favourite in Nyerere National Park.

Claire Scott

Claire Scott

Tanzania expert

Geographics

Location
Nyerere National Park, Tanzania
Ideal length of stay
3 nights to make the most of all the activities.
Directions
From Dar es Salaam, it’s a 45-minute flight into Nyerere National Park, where you will land at an airstrip 14km from Impala Camp. It’s then a short safari drive or boat ride back to camp. Alternatively, it is around a six-hour drive from Dar es Salaam – depending on the weather and therefore the state of the roads.
Accessible by
Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Full Board & Activities
Food quality
The food at Impala Camp was beautifully presented when we last stayed, with lunch and breakfast being served on large wooden platters and in little coconut-shell dishes. Everything was very fresh and tasty, and the meals offered a real mix of international cuisine.

Breakfast at Impala Camp is usually fruit, a variety of cereals, bread and homemade jam. The chef will cook hot breakfast items to order in front of you on the large gas BBQ.

Lunch is a two-course meal with a main course and side-salad, followed by fruit for dessert. On our last visit we had Nile Perch with potato rostis and a colourful salad, followed by a tasty date and cashew pie.

For dinner you can expect a four-course meal, with a few main-course options. We found it tough to choose between the beef steak in a curried sauce and the calamari risotto!
Dining style
Individual Tables
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Drinks included
At Impala Camp filtered water, tea and coffee are included, but other drinks are extra (eg US$3 for a glass of wine, US$2.50 for soft drinks, US$3.50 for a beer).

Special interests

Family holidays
At night when you mustn’t walk unaccompanied on the ground, Impala’s family tents allow passing between two tents as they’re set on one platform. Come with up to three children (all ages) for boat trips and flexible durations of drives on your Tanzania family safari.
See ideas for Family holidays in Tanzania
Honeymoons
Impala Camp has a beautiful and romantic setting, on the edge of the Rufiji River. The rooms are very private, each with its own veranda and wonderful views. The team have told us the efforts they go to for spoil honeymoon couples – an ideal treat for a Tanzania honeymoon.
See ideas for Honeymoons in Tanzania
Birdwatching
While birdwatching in Nyerere National Park on our last visit to Impala Camp we spotted malachite kingfishers and regal African fish eagles. We were also fortunate enough to see dozens of carmine bee-eaters building their nests in the river’s banks.
See ideas for Birdwatching in Tanzania
Wildlife safaris
Nyerere National Park is an excellent game reserve with great populations of big game from elephants and buffalo to lion, leopard and a good population of wild dogs.
See ideas for Wildlife safaris in Tanzania

Children

Attitude towards children
Impala Camp welcomes families with children aged 6 or older.
Property’s age restrictions
Only children over the age of 16 years may go on a walking safari or fly-camping.
Special activities & services
Impala Camp are flexible about the length of their safari activities – they will happily do shorter drives and boat journeys for families with children.
Equipment
There are special children’s lifejackets available for boat-trips.
Generally recommended for children
Yes – there is a family room here that consists of two tents together.
Notes
Parents should be aware that Impala Camp is not fenced and dangerous wildlife can, and does, pass through at any time – so children should not be left unaccompanied.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Impala Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Impala Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Giraffe

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Lion

95% success

Wildebeest

95% success

Zebra

95% success

Elephant

94% success

Spotted Hyena

94% success

Buffalo

89% success

Eland

65% success

Wild dog

53% success

Leopard

11% success

Striped Hyena

11% success

Aardvark

0% success

Black Rhino

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes
The lights and fans in the tents work 24 hours a day. There is a back up generator but this is rarely needed.
Communications
Impala Camp has a satellite phone and basic email in the office, but these are for camp use and emergencies only. Although there is now intermittent cellphone reception in Nyerere, the camp requests that guests refrain from using phone in the public areas. There is no WiFi.
TV & radio
There is no TV.
Water supply
Other
Water supply notes
Water is pumped from the river and filtered, with jugs of drinking water provided in the rooms. Bottled water is available on request.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
Yes
Medical care
There are first-aid kits at Impala Camp in the office and on all of the vehicles for minor injuries and illnesses and some members of the team are trained in basic first aid. For emergencies, Impala has links to the flying doctors’ service in Dar es Salaam, which is a 45-minute flight away.
Dangerous animals
High Risk
Security measures
The camp is not fenced and wildlife does occasionally pass through, so traditionally dressed friendly Maasai, armed with spears, will always escort you to and from your room; there’s also an armed park ranger at the camp. Every room has a safe for valuables.
Fire safety
Impala Camp has a pump to pump water from the river in case of a fire and there are extinguishers in all rooms.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Boat trip

    Boat trip

  • Fishing

    Fishing

  • Fly-camping

    Fly-camping

  • Guided walking safari

    Guided walking safari

Extras

Disabled access
Not Possible
Laundry facilities
Included. Usually returned within 24 hours weather permitting.
Money
No money exchange is offered. Electric safes in all tents for storing valuables.
Accepted payment on location
Credit card facilities are not available. Payment for any extras should be made in cash. US dollars, Tanzanian shillings, English pounds or Euros are accepted.

Room types at Impala Camp

Selous Impala's tents are sturdy, traditional safari tents…
…set on sizeable decks…
…overlooking the river.
While inside they're not huge, the beds are comfy…
…and other fittings and furnishings are good.
And the hot showers in the ensuite bathrooms do their job.
1 of

Tented rooms

Walk a short way through the acacia woodland, to your privately located tent on the river. Raised up on decking, each tent has veranda and two comfortable chairs and a table from where you can enjoy a lovely view of the Rufiji River and land beyond.

Impala Camp's tents are reasonably spacious with wooden floors, large and very comfortable beds with kikoi-style bedspreads and a writing desk. Much use is made of colourful, local fabrics to create a comfortable feel. Each room has a fan, electricity and a useful power point, with a UK style plug socket. There is also an electronic safe in every room.

Impala's tents all have large insect screen windows with canvas flaps that can be let down for increased privacy. These help to protect against the mosquitoes, though even we visited when it was raining steadily, there are so few that nets are hardly necessary.

As you walk through to the back of each of Impala's tents, you pass through kikoi-style curtains into a spacious en-suite bathroom. Here you find large white ceramic twin wash basins set into a beautiful wooden surface.

Behind a partition is a proper flush toilet and then behind a second partition, on the other side, a hot shower. There is also hanging space for your clothes. Little touches such as soap, mosquito spray, shampoo and shower gel are welcome additions.

Other lodges in Nyerere National Park

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


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