The Selous National Reserve, Tanzania
The largest wildlife reserve in Africa: one of the most unique East African Safari destinations
Standing high on the banks of the slow, brown Rufiji River, with glorious views down to the plunging torrents of Stiegler's Gorge, the Serena Mivumo River Lodge offers just twelve luxurious rooms, each of which is housed in a timbered chalet with private viewing deck and plunge pool. Traditionally thatched, with high vaulted ceilings and picture windows, each room features an engaging mix of classic safari antiques and ultra-modern leather and rattan styled furniture. Softly lit and breeze-cooled, the Serena Mivumo River Lodge offers the ultimate escape to one of the world's last undiscovered wilderness frontiers.
Overlooking the Rufiji River, the spacious central dining room, lounge, library and bar each have their own spacious timber and thatched chalets, which are interconnected by broad wooden walkways offering excellent views of the hippos and elephants of the riverbank. High on the river bank is a spectacular ‘infinity' pool and sundeck; also an exclusive aromatherapy spa, where a wide range of entirely natural massages, scrubs and body wraps are offered.
Serena Mivumo River Lodge facilities include
• Just twelve opulent air-conditioned rooms
• Each with private sundeck and plunge pool
• All rooms with LCD TV
• Luxury bathrooms with al fresco showers
• Central dining room with magnificent views
• Safari bar with river view
• Library and lounge
• Aromatherapy Spa
• Infinity pool and sundeck
• Bush breakfasts and sundowners daily
• Wedding planning and honeymoon venue
• Gift shop, business centre, WiFi
• Extensive selection of sports and activities
The Selous National Reserve
The spectacular Selous Reserve, a World Heritage Site and the largest expanse of game reserve in Africa, covers a massive 55,000 square kilometres of rolling savannah. About four times the size of Serengeti and larger than Switzerland, this East African Safari destination is home to the largest concentration of elephants in the world. The Selous is named after Frederick Courtenay Selous, naturalist, conservationist and hunter, who was killed in World War 1 in the Beho region of the Selous.
Despite its abundant array of hippo, buffalo, crocodile, lion and rhino, this magnificent East African Safari reserve remains virtually untouched by man. Irrigated by the meandering network of lakes and tributaries that make up the Rufiji River, the Selous also offers some unique boating safaris. One of Tanzania's most glorious East African Safari destinations, the Selous is renowned for its bird-watching, game drive opportunities, Tanzania safari lodges and wide range of East African Safari wildlife and ornithology.
East African safari location: Serena Mivumo River Lodge
Serena Mivumo River Lodge stands at the heart of the Selous National Reserve. The reserve lies in south-east Tanzania, south of Mikumi National Park.
By air: the flight takes around 45 minutes from Dar es Salaam International Airport.
A meet and greet service is offered from Stiegler's Airstrip, which is just a half-hour's game drive away from the lodge.
By road: the reserve is 145km from Dar es Salaam via the Kibiti-Mkongo road (which is only partially surfaced), a usual journey of 7-8 hours to the tented camp. The reserve is 350km from Dar es Salaam via the Morogoro-Matombo-Kisaki road, which enters the northern section of the reserve (4WD required): a usual journey of 8-9 hours to the Serena Mivumo River Lodge.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: background
One of the last untouched gems of Tanzania's reserves, the Selous offers a unique opportunity to see Africa the way the early East Africa Safari explorers found it - pristine, alive with game, empty of tourists and utterly awe inspiring. By virtue of its immense size, the Selous protects vast numbers of animals: it contains the largest buffalo concentration in Africa (more than 110,000) and over half of Tanzania's elephants (57,000).
Serena Mivumo River Lodge Selous luxury Safari: East Africa safari wildlife highlights:
This East African Safari reserve offers most representatives of East African safari wildlife, including 200,000 buffalo, 57,000 African elephant, 100,000 impala, 80,000 wildebeest and the country's largest populations of crocodile and hippopotamus. 440 species of birds have been recorded.
When to visit this East African Safari tented camp
The best time to visit Serena Mivumo River Lodge is in July-October. The East African Safari camps and lodges are often closed in this East African Safari reserve at the peak of the Tanzania wet season from Easter-June, when the rains render many of the roads impassable.
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: accommodation
Serena Mivumo River Lodge offers only 12 exclusive rooms. Widely spaced amongst the indigenous forest, each is accommodated in its own wildwood chalet, whose brushwood thatched roof is high vaulted to allow maximum play of light and breeze. Slightly raised on sprung wooden floors, each room features a charming mix of Edwardian crystal chandeliers, marble basins, classic safari antiques and subtly understated modern leather and rattan furniture. The spacious and opulent country-house-inspired bathrooms also feature an exterior shower with wilderness views.
Each Serena Mivumo River Lodge room has its own extensive private sun-deck, loungers, plunge-pool and river views.
Serena Mivumo River Lodge room facilities include:
• Air-conditioning
• Laundry, valet and shoeshine services
• LCD satellite TV in-room
• Mineral water and toiletries
• Bathrobe and slippers
• Snacks and drinks room service
• Safe and hairdryers (from reception)
• 24-hour medical service
• Children's meals, beds, babysitting
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: dining and bars
Slightly raised on timber decks above the famous Rufiji River, the open-sided dining room of the Serena Mivumo River Lodge offers a selection of exclusive seating areas, an elegant library, a charming lounge and a safari bar. All overlook the river with uninterrupted views of the hippos, elephants and crocodiles that congregate on its banks.
Bush dining at Serena Mivumo River Lodge
We are expert in arranging breakfasts, lunches, dinners and cocktails in the bush. We have a number of dedicated sites, which are typically presented with tables, safari chairs, ‘bush bar' and a ‘bush kitchen', where a broad range of meats, poultry, fish and vegetables are cooked on-site (supplemented by fresh soups, salads and puddings from our hotel kitchens). In the evenings, ‘sun-downer' cocktails are traditionally served around a campfire and can be followed by a lamp-lit ‘bush dinner'.
Conference and event facilities at Serena Mivumo River Lodge
Serena Mivumo River Lodge does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings.
Weddings and honeymoons at Serena Mivumo River Lodge
The Selous makes the ideal honeymoon choice. Pristine, undiscovered and the last of the great safari frontiers, it offers a multitude of unique experiences ranging from river safaris to wilderness picnics. As for the Serena Mivumo River Lodge, our supremely private and spacious chalets are specifically designed to deliver the ultimate ‘get away from it all' experience. Each one also features a private deck with plunge pool for two.
Additionally Serena Mivumo River Lodge can offer:
• Welcoming fruit and flowers
• A special table for two in our dining room
• Dinner in your room if you would prefer
• Private dinner for two on your candle-lit deck
• Honeymoon breakfast in bed with sparkling wine
• The option of breakfast for two in the bush
• The option of a massage for two in your room
Tanzania luxury tented camp safari: Child-friendly
We regret that due to the unique nature of Serena Mivumo River Lodge, we do not consider it suited to children under the age of six.
We appreciate the importance of quality family time. We are also committed to ensuring that you can relax, secure in the knowledge that your children are having as great a holiday as you are. With this in mind we offer a wide range of family-friendly accommodation options; children's dining; baby-sitting, and plenty of adventure, sports and educational entertainment for children of all ages.
Family accommodation at Serena Mivumo River Lodge
We can arrange for adjoining rooms for the accommodation of families. We can also offer triple rooms or additional beds. Cots and child-minding services can be provided (prior notice appreciated). Children sharing with parents are charged at 35% of the adult rate with a maximum of 2 children per room.
Children's meals at Serena Mivumo River Lodge
All our meals are generous buffet-styled presentations, with something to suit absolutely everyone. High-chairs can be provided, as can baby-friendly food. We are also delighted to offer slightly earlier children's meals (as early as 12 noon and 6.00 pm) - tailored to suit your children.
Children's entertainment at Serena Mivumo River Lodge
The lodge offers its own swimming pool (supervised by a qualified life-guard but not suited to small children other than under parental supervision).
We also offer a wide selection of board-games and books on Africa and the wilderness. Our professional nature guides also offer nightly talks and video presentations on wildlife.
Serena Mivumo River Lodge Maisha health, beauty and wellness facilities
Our signature ‘Maisha' brand covers a range of health facilities and spas, which are featured in all of our city hotels, coastal resorts, safari lodges and tented camps. The extent of services offered varies - from provision of a full health club and spa facility to simple massage, manicure and pedicure services.
At the Serena Mivumo River Lodge, we offer:
• Manicure and pedicure
• Relaxing après safari massages - ideal for easing the tensions of travel
What to see and do on your Tanzania luxury tented camp safari
The choice of things to do and see at the Serena Mivumo River Lodge includes:
• Spectacular game drives around the stunning Selous ecosystem
• Boating safaris down the Rufiji River
• Gentle nature trails around the Lodge in the company of our resident naturalist
• A full safari breakfast, cooked in the bush
• Bush dinners overlooking the river
• Atmospheric ‘Sundowners' in the wilderness
• ‘Maisha' health, beauty and wellness facilities
• Swimming or sunbathing at our ‘vanishing horizon' swimming pool.
The Serena Mivumo River Lodge boating safari
Our custom-built open-sided river boats are built for comfort, safety and panoramic viewing. Piloted by dedicated safari guides, they also feature refreshments on-board and radio-links for fast location of game. Utterly unique, the Rufiji River game-viewing experience promises abundant sightings of hippos (both in and out of the water), basking crocodiles and elephants. It also offers the rare chance of seeing a lion come down to the river and drink.
Offering a profusion of water birds, the river is typically lined with thousands of African skimmers and is one of the few places in Africa where one can spot the rare Pel's fishing owl. In the dense Borassus palms that line the banks, huge numbers of African palm swifts whirl, while the dense tree cover offers sanctuary to black and white colobus monkeys, vultures and African fish eagles.
Mivumo River Lodge - Selous National Reserve • Tanzania Safari lodges
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