Lake Manze Adventure Camp opened in 2007 on a prime location overlooking Lake Manze; one of the more northerly of a series of lakes and rivers within a rich alluvial floodplain of the Rufiji River. Set in a grove of borassus, doum and wild date palms, it lies at the heart of Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve and was set up as a deliberately rustic camp to provide guests with simple comforts and a strong sense of wilderness.
Location
Lake Manze Adventure Camp opened in 2007 on a prime location overlooking Lake Manze; one of the more northerly of a series of lakes and rivers within a rich alluvial floodplain of the Rufiji River. Set in a grove of borassus, doum and wild date palms, it lies at the heart of Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve and was set up as a deliberately rustic camp to provide guests with simple comforts and a strong sense of wilderness.
Rooms
Guest accommodation consists of 12 walk-in tents. Each is Meru style – an outer layer of canvas extends well over the inner layer to create a shady veranda. Set with a couple of campaign chairs and a fold-up table, as well as a deckchair or two, this is a great spot to relax and watch the wildlife wander by! The tents are elevated above ground level on a paved plinth, to maximise views across Lake Manze. Inside, you’ll find a double bed or twin beds, a shelf behind the bed/s for lanterns, a standing fan, a lockable chest, and an open storage unit. The shelf forms part of a tall board, separating the bedroom from the washroom. The latter space contains flush toilet, washbasin with mirror over, and step-up shower with hot and cold running water. There’s no electricity in any of the tents – they’re lit with storm lanterns, which lends a very adventurous feel! A third and even a fourth bed can be added, and three tents are positioned quite closely together, which is perfect for a group or family.
Communal Areas
Lake Manze Camp’s communal lodge is made out of timber and thatch, blending beautifully with the surrounding bushscape. The structure’s roof is high pitched, allowing cool breezes to waft through all areas. In the lounge, there are plenty of wood-framed pink-cushioned sofas and armchairs around coffee tables – this is a pleasant location for watching the local wildlife! The bar is conveniently situated between the lounge and the dining area. In the latter space, tables of various sizes are available, all flanked by classic campaign chairs. Usually, the camp provides a buffet breakfast, light lunch, and hearty three-course dinner. Everyone eats together, making meals a really social occasion! Often al fresco dining is enjoyed, at a range of places around camp including the campfire. Finally, there’s a small shop, which stocks an assortment of souvenirs and essential items.
Activities
Like all the camps in the Selous, Lake Manze Adventure Camp’s activities incorporate 4WD safari drives, boat safaris, fishing and also walks. The camp has ten vehicles, and each game drive is accompanied by a guide and driver. Walks are with a guide and an armed ranger and generally take place in the morning before the heat gets too much. Boat trips are best in the afternoon to catch sunset over the lake and switching to a solar-powered battery motor when cruising allows you to glide close to animals and birds without startling them. Half-day and full-day game drives, the latter taking in Selous’ grave and the hot springs, are on offer. It is worth noting that the safari walks are at an additional cost of 55 US dollars per group, and fishing incurs an additional 10 US dollars park fee – both payable in camp.
Fully inclusive
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
WET SEASON
This is a rather unpredictable time of the year with frequent, brief showers or thunderstorms. The heat combined with humidity can be a little uncomfortable, especially during the middle of the day, and travellers may find that roads are more difficult to navigate. All in all, this is not an ideal time to visit, unless you are very keen to sight migratory birds.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
A brief dry interlude before the more intense long rains in March, April and May.
The proximity of Selous to the equator means that temperatures throughout the year are very consistent. The variable at play is altitude, which varies greatly across Tanzania. With perhaps the exception of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, daytime temperatures are warm-to-hot throughout the year, while mornings can be surprisingly cool. So if you intend to visit an inland safari region, we always recommend bringing a warm fleece.
There are two wet seasons in Tanzania. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between November and December. There are some exceptions to this: the Southern and Western safari regions tend to have a more continuous wet season from November to May.
The best time for a safari in Tanzania is determined by the type of experience you are seeking. Generally, the Northern Circuit parks (The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara) are good year-round. Tarangire is the exception in the Northern Circuit, and, along with Selous and Ruaha (Southern Circuit) and Katavi and Mahale (Western Circuit), is generally at its best during the drier times of the year. Saadani is at its best when the plains are very well watered, and thus is best visited just after the rains.
Coastal and island destinations are generally best visited during the dry season, when the weather is sunnier and more consistent.
DRY SEASON
A brief dry interlude before the more intense long rains in March, April and May.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
A brief dry interlude before the more intense long rains in March, April and May.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
A brief dry interlude before the more intense long rains in March, April and May.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
This is a more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies. During this period, as the land dries up following the long rains, the Rufiji and its adjoining lakes become a magnet for wildlife.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
This is a more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies. During this period, as the land dries up following the long rains, the Rufiji and its adjoining lakes become a magnet for wildlife.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
This is a more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies. During this period, as the land dries up following the long rains, the Rufiji and its adjoining lakes become a magnet for wildlife.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
This is a more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies. During this period, as the land dries up following the long rains, the Rufiji and its adjoining lakes become a magnet for wildlife.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
DRY SEASON
This is a more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies. During this period, as the land dries up following the long rains, the Rufiji and its adjoining lakes become a magnet for wildlife.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
WET SEASON
The start of the wet season. This is a rather unpredictable time of the year, with brief afternoon showers and thunderstorms occurring frequently. The heat combined with humidity can make things uncomfortable, especially during the middle of the day, and roads can also be tricky to navigate.
Depending on rainfall levels, this can still be a great time to visit Selous, since its wildlife is yet to disperse.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
WET SEASON
The start of the wet season. This is a rather unpredictable time of the year, with brief afternoon showers and thunderstorms occurring frequently. The heat combined with humidity can make things uncomfortable, especially during the middle of the day, and roads can also be tricky to navigate.
Depending on rainfall levels, this can still be a great time to visit Selous, since its wildlife is yet to disperse.
Its proximity to the equator means that Selous Game Reserve has consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even though there is a large altitude difference throughout the park (from 40 to 1,317m/131 to 4,321ft), the game-viewing regions in the north are generally low-lying. Temperatures therefore remain high, usually averaging around 30°C/86°F at midday. Temperatures can exceed this, sometimes reaching peaks of 40°C/104°F before the beginning of the rains. Mornings are a more pleasant 21°C/70°F on average, so our advice is to get up early to take advantage of these cooler temperatures.
Unlike most of Tanzania, where there are two distinct wet seasons, Selous has just one long extended wet season, lasting from November to May. This wet season is characterised by brief afternoon thunderstorms; it is unusual to have more extended periods of rain.
Selous is a seasonal area, with superb game-viewing in the driest months of the year when vegetation thins and wildlife becomes more densely concentrated around the Rufiji River and its adjoining lakes. Ideally, it is best to visit Selous during the height of the dry season.
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What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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Jamie was excellent. Once I described what we wanted I knew he would come up with the business. ..and he did!!! 5 stars
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
