Ridge collection · Nyerere National Park
Rufiji River Camp
Thatched suites, private plunge pools and the slow brown Rufiji at your feet
- Collection
- Ridge · Mid-range to upper mid-range
- Destination
- Nyerere National Park
- Area
- Nyerere National Park (Selous)
- Style
- Riverside thatched camp
- Best months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
About Rufiji River Camp
Rufiji River Camp sits beside the great brown river that gives Nyerere National Park its character. Thatched tented suites look out over the water, and the days here tend to follow the river as much as the roads. Some mornings belong to a vehicle, others to a boat.
That mix is the real appeal. Nyerere is a park where you can watch hippo and crocodile from the water, then swap to a game drive for lion, elephant and, with luck, the wild dogs the area is known for. The camp makes a comfortable, characterful base for both.
Evenings are unhurried. The photographs show a wooden deck lit beneath a huge tree, private plunge pools and a shaded communal pool under a thatched umbrella. It is a lodge for guests who like their wilderness with somewhere cool to sit when the afternoon heat arrives.
- Private plunge pools on wooden decks beneath large shade trees
- Game drives and boat safaris from the same base
- Thatched tented suites with views towards the Rufiji
- A communal pool under a thatched umbrella for hot afternoons
- Hippo, crocodile and birdlife along the river channels
- Strong wild dog country within Nyerere National Park
Setting
The camp occupies the bank of the Rufiji River in the Selous side of Nyerere National Park, a landscape of channels, lakes, riverine forest and open woodland. Large trees shade the decks and pools, and the water below is the focus of daily life. Expect the sounds of hippo at night and a steady parade of birds and other animals along the river edge. It feels green, watery and quite unlike the dry plains of the north.
Rooms and tents
Accommodation is in thatched tented suites, seen at dusk in the photographs with a warm, lamp-lit glow. Several have their own plunge pool set into a wooden deck, positioned to look over the river from beneath a spreading tree. Expect a proper bed, en-suite facilities and a private place to sit outside. Ask us which suites have the plunge pools and which face the water most directly.
Dining
Meals are taken at the camp's own restaurant, with the river never far from view. Breakfast is usually early to fit around morning outings, while lunch and dinner are more relaxed affairs after a drive or boat trip. Expect a comfortable, full-service setting with meals served in the lodge, and let us know about dietary needs well ahead so the kitchen can plan around them.
Things to do from here
- Game drives through Nyerere's woodland and open ground
- Boat safaris along the Rufiji channels and lakes
- Guided bush walks with an armed ranger, where permitted
- Birdwatching from the deck and the river
- Sundowners above the river as light fades
When to stay
The dry season from June to October is the best time for Nyerere, as animals gather near the water and the bush thins out for easier viewing. Boat safaris run well in most months. The short rains arrive around November and December, and the long rains from roughly March to May bring lush scenery, heavier heat and some road difficulties. Ask us how the season will shape your plans.
Good to know
- Nyerere is usually reached by light aircraft, and Lemala arranges flights and transfers as part of your itinerary.
- Plunge pools belong to particular suites, so ask us to confirm which room type suits you before booking.
- Hot and humid conditions are typical, so pack light, breathable clothing and good insect repellent.
- Wildlife is wild and sightings cannot be promised, though the river setting gives plenty to watch.
Gallery
Inside Rufiji River Camp
On these itineraries
Trips that include Rufiji River Camp
7 days
Southern Wilds: Nyerere and Ruaha in a Week
River boats, wild dogs and big lion country far from the northern crowds.
10 days
The Wild South: Rufiji to Ruaha
Boats on the Rufiji, a waterfall swim in the Udzungwa and big-cat country in Ruaha, with almost no other vehicles.
11 days
South to the Spice Island
Rufiji boats and Ruaha predators, then three barefoot days on Zanzibar's coast.
2 days
Nyerere Fly-In Escape from Zanzibar
One night on the Rufiji River, by air, between two days of beach.
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Stay at Rufiji River Camp
Tell us your dates, group and budget, and we will build the trip around this stay.