Selinda Camp

Selinda Camp is built on a shady island overlooking the waters of the dramatic Selinda Spillway, an ephemeral waterway which is the focal point in a vast private concession in northern Botswana. With its large, game-rich floodplains Selinda offers a unique wildlife experience.

Selinda Camp overlooks the Selinda Spillway, a unique seasonal waterway which links the Okavango Delta with the game-rich floodplains of the Linyanti Swamps.

Selinda's 9 spacious, luxury tents are erected under cool thatch canopies, with all units having exceptional views across palm-studded floodplains. Each tent has en-suite facilities, a stone bath being the highlight. The bathroom is uniquely "open air" with lots of natural light, yet is screened and virtually insect-proof. The tents are spacious and beautifully appointed with furniture and features that have been collected from around Africa. Four-poster mosquito nets and overhead fans are standard.

The main area comprises a series of expansive decks that invite soaking up the spectacular views and wildlife that are a visual constant of the camp. The design of the main area is such that there is never a barrier to these views: whether guests are relaxing in the lounge, having brunch under the cool shade of the uniquely designed thatched roof, or sampling the fine cuisine of a three-course dinner on the open "star deck". Set apart from the main area is the photo/art gallery built above a temperature-controlled wine cellar and curio shop. Guests can also enjoy a small plunge pool and the traditional campfire.

The Selinda is characterised by its game-rich floodplains which are host to a variety of bird life (300+), antelope, zebra, cheetah, wild dog, lion and dry season elephant concentrations. Nocturnal species could include serval, porcupine, springhare and possibly leopard. Daily activities revolve around morning, afternoon and night game drives with experienced, professional guides in custom-built 4x4 Land Cruisers. Short walks from camp accompanied by a guide are encouraged to get to know some of the Selinda's smaller creatures.

Conservation:

Selinda is owned by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, award-winning filmmakers for National Geographic for over 25 years. They have spent many years spent filming in and around the Selinda area. Dereck and Beverly Joubert's films have focused on the bolder animals: lion, elephant, rhino, zebra and now leopard and, in their words, "because we need to focus attention on the intrinsic value of nature, and if we can't see it in lions, whales or elephants, then what hope would there be for the lesser known and often far more endangered species?"

Their mission in life is conservation - and filming is a means to show the stunning beauty and spiritually satisfying value of nature and in particular wild places in the world. Their films consistently yet subtly talk about "the lessons we learn from the wild, about ourselves. These are often disturbing, lions hunt down a hyaena, the scene makes us look at what it is about hyaenas we don't like and what it is within us that rises to that question." The couple have lived in Botswana for over 25 years, have made films for National Geographic and Walt Disney Pictures, winning awards from around the world where their films have been screened in over 50 languages, seen by a billion people, and used in schools and universities.

The development of a herbarium at Selinda (with duplicate samples held by the National Museum of Botswana and Kew Gardens in the UK) has been supported by the owners of this concession and a number of other research projects involving subjects as diverse as herbivores, dragonflies and parrots are ongoing or completed across the various Wilderness Safaris camps and concessions in northern Botswana.

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