Family safari holiday adventure

7th February 2011

For a truly unforgettable experience, and before your children leave for college or university, there’s time for one last great family holiday together. Take them on a safari adventure-of-a lifetime and go in search of elephants, wild dogs, lions and zebra with The Selous Safari Company in Tanzania. What’s more, with low-season rates available during certain high-season dates, rest assured of a great price for a holiday the family will talk about for years to come.

The Selous Safari Company offers two very different boutique, tented camps in southern Tanzania, each unfenced so guests can sit back and watch the African bush unfold from their verandah, while eating breakfast or from the swimming pool.

For the ultimate off-the-beaten-track experience, the whole family will love Jongomero, the only camp situated in the remote central south-western sector of the Ruaha National Park. A hidden gem with just eight tents, a swimming pool and fabulous food, Jongomero promises a great vantage point from which to take in the sights and sounds of the African bush.

The Ruaha’s greatest secret lies in its extraordinary diversity of animals, plants and birds with elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala and lion to mention a few. Due to its isolated location, the daily game drives in specially adapted open 4×4’s are often the only vehicles for miles around so families are privileged to have so much amazing game viewing all to themselves.

Head south-east and situated within an open palm forest on the shores of Lake Nzerakera is the 13-tent Selous Safari Camp, which is in one of the most prolific and thrilling game viewing areas of the Selous Game Reserve. In addition to daily game drives, guests can take a boat safari on the Rufiji River and see the largest crocodile and hippo population in Africa. For larger families, a section of the camp can be exclusively booked and comes with use of safari boats, vehicles and walking guides as well as a private dining and lounge area and separate pool.

From the Selous Safari Camp, those aged 16 and over can try a new bush walking safari experience with a night at a satellite camp. Explore the terrain on foot and see the animals in an authentic and unobtrusive way, then dine under the starry sky around a fire as the sun sets – the perfect way to share a family safari experience with memories that will be treasured forever.

To round-off the safari adventure head to the beach and to Ras Kutani, an exclusive retreat on the shores of Tanzania. Offering a true family castaway experience with long stretches of unspoilt white sand beaches and lagoon forests to explore, the nine cottages, four suites and family house all have views of the Indian Ocean. There’s the chance to see dolphins, whales, turtles hatching (in season) and even a shipwreck. Complimentary snorkelling equipment, kayaks and boogie boards are also available. A perfect end to the last, great family holiday.