Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Lake Manze - Experience adventure! Keep it natural! Feel the thrills of having an elephant eating Doum palm seeds right outside your tent. Hear the sound of its rumbling stomach and see how tender a mother is to her calf. We have so much to learn from our animal friends, teachings that can help us create a better world. We keep everything as it was before we arrived and this is why animals use the camp as much as our guests. Experience this magical, romantic camp on the shore of the Lake Manze with stunning lake views from your own veranda. Experience the sunrise on a walking safari. Enjoy a delicious picnic bush breakfast or lunch during your game drive as you spot lions and wild dogs. Take a fishing trip on the lake. Get close and personal with hippos and crocodiles and thousands of exotic birds on a sunset boat safari. Delight in a sumptuous candlelight dinner on the lake shore to the symphony of the surrounding. You'll never want to leave!
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Nestled in a remote yet stunning location, Lake Manze Tented Camp offers an unrivaled wildlife encounter, a fact that hasn't escaped the notice of many guests. The camp's atmosphere is frequently praised for its cozy tents and the sense of camaraderie fostered by communal dining experiences.
Reviewers are consistently impressed with the cleanliness of both tents and bathrooms, and the amenities—such as solar-powered fans and hot showers—are often highlighted for adding comfort to the authentic experience. The attentive staff at Lake Manze Tented Camp earn rave reviews for their personalized service and attention to guests' dietary needs.
Location
Remote
Atmosphere
Inviting
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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WOW!!!! We have just returned from a five night, 4 full day stay at this incredible camp. Us and our four adult children. Shaun and his wife Milly who run the camp are just incredible - fountains of local knowledge on wildlife, fauna etc, nothing is too much, calm, funny, wonderful stories, a discretely run tight ship!!! All the staff are amazing - the food - just awesome, we had one vegetarian and one vegan and two extremely large appetites amongst us and we all just loved everything. bush breakfasts are a must, a camp breakfast once, bush lunches - although we did have a snake drop in the truck, it was a harmless one but still a bit freaky!!! Mohande our driver the calmest, most experienced gentle soul and Zac our guide, eyes that spot everything and extraordinary knowledge. The camp says it's 'basic' but the tents are on fixed bases and really have everything one could possibly want with a separate shower and loo and sink. Candles and lamps in the tents, comfy beds, cleaned everyday. You lie in bed looking out at the lake and the animals walking past - we had elephants every day, sometimes twice a day, literally brushing the tents, giraffes, baboons, hippos, monkeys, etc etc, just as you sit and watch! Every evening we sat and played cards or backgammon which we took with us by candlelight by the main bar looking over the water, we had supper overnight under the stars with bush babies and monkeys around us. Incredible! All six of us cant suggest one thing to change that would have made our experience better - and with four young adults on board thats quite something!!!! Shaun and Milly thankyou, Miriam, Morten, Oliver, Cornelia, Tristan and Amelie.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded 3 weeks ago
Hi Woods family. Happy New Year to you all. Thank you very much, guys, for your fantastic review of your stay with us, which is highly appreciated by everyone here. Seeing your whole family from so many parts of the world get together here at the camp for this memorable trip was extraordinary. What makes this trip even more extraordinary is the amount of animals and their antics you saw. A lonely wild dog kill, although quite gruesome, a one-in-a-million sighting. The lions and leopard next to the vehicle. I mean the list of sightings goes on and on. We hope that the safari bug has bitten all of you and that you will be back one day. The whole family together. Safe travel. Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team.
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An unforgettable stay with Sean, Millie, plus the whole Lake Manze Camp family. We had a lovely few days in Zanzibar afterwards, but even on the white sands or Tanzanian beaches, our thoughts regularly strayed back to the sights, sounds and smells of the bush.
We’d been promised an authentic yet comfortable tented safari experience in the less popular (AKA busy!) south of the country and the Lake Manze Camp more than delivered! The majestic main camp building is constructed of natural materials while the tents are spacious and clean. You soon realise you’re in the middle of nowhere, with the best of African nature for company, when every walk to your nighttime accommodation is accompanied by an experienced Masai host, who will keep you safe with eagle eyes and ears.
We were initially surprised (mildly) by the lack of wifi but soon came to appreciate this rare break from screens - other than using our phones to capture some breathtaking and up-close animals including lions, hippos, crocs, hyenas and giraffe. Sean and Millie are such laid back, yet passionate hosts - as are all the people working there - and every evening was another chance to enjoy an excellent, three-course meal by fire, candle and starlight - sharing stories and keeping an eye out for nocturnal camp visitors like genet and civet.
There is no mains electricity but there is solar and batteries, meaning a central charging point for phones (AKW cameras) and big fans in the tents, plus torches and so on. The shower was awesome (totally private but ‘outdoors’ at the back of the tent) - always hot and plenty powerful.
Everything like the beers behind the bar to the hand soap in the bathroom is sourced locally and you can tell how passionate the hosts are about both sustainability and conservation. They have decades of experience in safaris, as do the brilliant drivers and guides. We were lucky enough to have one of the big Land Rovers (along with super stars, driver Abu and guide Enos) to ourselves. Such memorable days… Each one unforgettable in different ways. I think we got lucky, but we witnessed an entire lion hunt, kill and feast - plus a croc taking an impala - on the last morning of our stay! All that drama and wonder before being dropped back at the airstrip…
Huge thanks to all the phenomenal staff at the camp who each worked like perfect parts in a fine Swiss timepiece to ensure everything was as smooth as possible. Highly, highly recommended. An outstanding place to visit.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Nov 1, 2024
Hi guys Wow. You are making the staff feel like saints. They really and truly appreciate this excellent positive feedback. Without a doubt, they will strive to improve the service and attitude given. We know that you had some awesome animal sightings. Lion kill- wow - and then, to top it off, crocodile hunting. Some serious sightings that the most guests come back time and time again to see. Nothing is impossible in the bush. We hope to see you guys again one day, as there is still so much more to see. Maybe a leopard will kill next time. Safe travels. Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team
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We had high expectations heading into our stay at Lake Manze based on a write-up in the NYT from a few years ago, and it exceeded them in every regard.
Prior to the trip, our contact at Essential Destinations, Gabriel, was super helpful with questions, travel arrangements, etc.
The camp itself is beautiful, with a central, open-air lodge and the tent sites scattered around at discrete distances. Our tent was comfortable and airy with good mosquito netting and a fan. The bathroom, which is located in the tent, had ample hot water and, though the tents themselves do not have electricity, there are lanterns and candles provided so we had plenty of light.
There are no fences and a highlight for us was listening to all of the animals (including elephants) passing by at night.
One of the big advantages to Lake Manze is the location, which is well within the park. This allows for early starts to the morning game drives since you are already in a prime animal viewing area and don't need to waste valuable morning hours traveling. It also means that the camp itself has quite a collection of animal visitors. We saw baboons, genets, civets, bush babies, monkeys and lots of elephants. The elephants in particular were a highlight as they usually visited the main lodge in the mornings allowing for very close viewing.
The staff at Lake Manze are incredibly helpful and friendly, the food was delicious, and Sean and Millie are fantastic hosts.
Our guide, Abu, was a magician. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the plants and wildlife, patient with our many stops for photos, etc., and did an incredible job finding wildlife - including lions and a leopard. We could not have been more impressed and really enjoyed getting to know him.
This was our first safari, so we don't have anything to compare Lake Manze to, but we could not have had a better experience. Thanks to all.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Aug 10, 2024
Hi Zaw family, Your many compliments and positive feedback to all the staff involved in your stay are really appreciated. Your praise will drive them to try even harder to make all our guests' experiences here as enjoyable as possible. Yes, the chefs deserve a big pat on the back for the great dishes they produce here. We are fortunate that we are situated on an awesome spot on the lake, which attracts many animals and birds for a visit. Hopefully, you will return here one day. The bush is always full of surprises. Safe travels Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team.
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A real chance to experience the African bush in a small personal tented camp. The tents had everything needed with an attached area with a shower and flushing toilet! A solar operated fan helped cool the tent at night. Our guide, Enos, and driver Rashid took excellent care of us, were good company and did their best to find the animals, never in a rush to return to camp. They are flexible options for a bush breakfast/ bush lunch or a full day out towards the mountains. Dinner was a lovely sociable time, eaten under the stars with other guests and the genet and civic cat looking on. The food was simple but well cooked and tasty. All the staff were friendly and helpful and clearly proud of where they work. Shaun and Millie do a great job. Love that their is no Wifi. Thank you for a great time.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
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Location
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Oct 22, 2024
Hi guys. It was our pleasure to be allowed to host you here in camp. Thank you for taking the time to to give your input on this forum. it is very much appreciated. Your compliments to your guiding team and the staff go a long way in them stepping up to do even better. Hopefully we will see you again one day. Safe travels. Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team.
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If you want manicured gardens, fenced in protection from the wildlife and roll top baths in your tents, then this isn't the camp for you.
If you want an intimate camp, run by fantastic hosts, with an excellent team, good hot food and excellent access to beautiful scenery and game viewing, then this in the camp for you.
Sean and Millie are a lovely couple who make you feel very welcome. If it is within their gift to do something for you then they will make it happen. One of our bags was left in Heathrow and they got it back for us within two days.
The camp was stunning. This is a true back to nature experience. The camp could be lifted out and within a short time, you wouldn't know it had been there. Elephant and other animal guests wander through the camp on the lake edge which is beautiful.
Ali and Zack were our guides and treated us to some beautiful sightings especially the leopard. Everything was so healthy and plentiful this time of year. The evening sun downers were fantastic.
Ali took us out on the lake and Zack on a walking tour, both just with the two of us.
We always marvel how the cooks produce what they do in the middle of the Bush, and this cook was no exception. After a hard day sat on our bottoms in the back of an open sided land rover (no silly enclosed vehicals here) a good hot meal awaits and a bottle of wine or three from the well stocked bar.
We wondered if we were going to be removed from the camp when we learnt that Sean previously had pink hair ( will let him tell the story to you when you visit ) and my wife likened his head to a Baboon standing on his head!!!!
We have previously stayed in Selous in a luxury camp with the roll top bath. It was a far better experience this time.
If you want to go to Selous and enjoy the location in the best way possible and enjoy the company of great hosts, then we can't recommend Sean and Millie highly enough. We had the best time.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Jul 9, 2023
Hi to the Barnsby's, The staff has really appreciated the positive feedback you have provided on your stay with us here in camp and your review says it all. Your compliments to all are highly appreciated and will spur everybody on to do even better. Your description of the camp puts it all in perspective for many a traveler in the future. Back to nature or as close to nature as we can. Now that the serious stuff is out of the way we have to go back to the upside-down baboon part of your review. We will definitely have different perspectives on these animals in the future. Hopefully, I am not scarred for life. :-) It was our absolute pleasure to be given the opportunity to host you here and to get to know you better. If you are ever back in this vicinity let us know so we can stock up on the Sauvignon Blanc. Safe travels. Shaun , Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team. .
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What a wonderful place. The hosts Shaun and Milli have created a friendly oasis, with excellent staff and lovely communal meals around a big table with really good home-cooked food. The location is remote which meant we never saw another car except when on the main road to and from the airport. It was as if we had our own private wildlife reserve. The option to take a boat or a walking safari, as well as a car, increased the variety of experiences and meant we saw wildlife from different perspectives (such as a crocodile chasing a fish out of the water right beside the boat). The local elephants came through the camp twice while we were there giving an opportunity to see these wonderful animals from just a few metres away. Our guides (Zak and Ali) were great - fun to be with as well as extremely knowledgeable. All in all a great experience.
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Date of stay: February 2024
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Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Feb 22, 2024
Hi Hindmarsh family, Thank you very much for your flattering review of your stay with us. The staff appreciates the positive feedback from satisfied guests and this endorsement will spur them on to do even better. Freelancing Elephants in camp and tending to the gardening duties is always a plus. To observe how delicately and with vigor they strip the green grass and brush. Being alone in this massive expanse of bush must have given you the feeling that the whole national park is " yours " to enjoy. Hopefully you will be back one day as there is still so much to experience. Safe travels. Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team.
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We have now returned to the UK after the most magical holiday in Tanzania which was arranged by Isabelle at Audley Travel. Without doubt, the highlight of our holiday was the 4 night stay at Lake Manze.
We were fortunate to have guide extraordinaire, Enos and the superb driver (and spotter) Emmanuelle. It was also fantastic to hear fellow travellers praise their guide and driver combo's too. Enos and Emmanuelle made sure we were comfortable and spotted as much as we could. We enjoyed the 'search' for leopard and were pleased when they spotted him - it was one of the highlights of the holiday. Game drives were enjoyable, informative and with an injection of humour proved to be extra special.
The accommodation was comfortable and the fan which worked the whole night running off the solar battery was brilliant. The tent was well appointed and kept spotless during out stay.
We ate very well and certainly enjoyed the communal meals. The evening meals were brilliant and coupled with the visiting wildlife while we were dining made the whole experience something else!
All staff were helpful - the lovely bar and waiting guys, the Masi guards who escort you to and from the tents were great - these were just the ones you see. There is a real team at Lake Manze who make sure your stay is perfect. Special mention must also go to Milli and Sean - brilliant managers who do everything to make sure things 'just happen' without you even knowing you needed it! Perfect hosts and I am already scheming to revisit!
Thank you again from Caroline & Sue (Mum) xx
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
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Service
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Oct 21, 2024
Hi Caroline and Sue. Thank you for your excellent review of your stay with us. It feels more than just a thank you or a pat on the back on your part. This comes from the heart and will motivate all staff to take one more step forward to create the best service possible. Glad that you got to see the Leopard and meet the camp "kids". If you do return here again one day they will probably still be here to greet you. See you again. Safe travels. Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team
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'My mum and I stayed in Lake Manze this January having never been on a safari, or to Africa, before. And I can honestly say we had the most amazing time.
We chose to stay in the Nyerere National Park as we wanted more greenery and like birds, so loved the idea of 450 different species living in the area, alongside all the other animals. We hoped that by staying at Lake Manze Tented Camp we'd get to experience the wildlife up close and we really did - including an elephant walking past our tent at 6am and a leopard strolling around whilst we had dinner. We were a little apprehensive when we arrived, but Shaun and Milli made us feel totally at ease and we felt at home with them and the bush in no time.
They made such an effort to greet us after every drive, ensured we had everything we needed and told us brilliant animal tales at dinner. Their love for nature on every level, made the experience even more special. As did the amazing service from the entire staff. All the food was freshly made, the tent was impeccably clean, the Maasai warriors were always on hand to take you to your tent at night and everyone was always so welcoming.
But we couldn't leave a review without personally thanking our guide James and driver Ali Kamkumba. Whether it was birds on the boat safari, trees on the walking tour, or larger game on the drives, James was so incredibly insightful about everything he pointed out, explaining not only its role in the ecosystem but also the other species it connected to. He answered our numerous questions with endless patience and a clear passion for wildlife. Thanks to him we left Lake Manze with a truly holistic picture and love for the place we were staying.
Alongside James, Ali K worked tirelessly to ensure we saw every animal possible. We had no expectations to see a lion at that time of year but when Ali K caught wind of one nearby, his expert driving and tracking skills got us to it in record time. What made it even more special and another reason we chose Lake Manze, is that once we found the lion, we were the only ones there. We could take the time to observe it, something Ali and James always ensured. We felt like we had the park to ourselves, could choose what we saw each day, but always learning and laughing with Ali and James. We couldn't have asked for better people to share our safari with and would 100% recommend them and Lake Manze Tented Camp as a place to stay and will absolutely return one day!'
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Date of stay: January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Feb 1, 2023
Hi Megan and mum, It is extremely gratifying for all here at Lake Manze when you can read about the experiences our guests have had with us. The staff really appreciate the positive feedback and without a doubt spurs them on to do even better. Thanks for your awesome review. Yes, the bird life is prolific and we are happy that your team could show you so much. They really appreciate that their efforts are recognized and they really enjoy sharing their experiences and knowledge with guests. You had some great sightings and experiences in camp. A leopard strolling past - priceless. It seems the African bug has bitten and we sincerely hope that you will be back one day to satisfy that desire to see more. Thanks again. Safe travels. Shaun, Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team
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We visited Camp Manze during December 2023. We stayed for a week, and it was simply spectacular. The camp is well managed by Sean and Millie, who are very welcoming and committed to you having an excellent stay at the camp. The food and accomodations are excellent, in spite of the fact that you are in a remote location within the Julius Nyerere National Park. The guides are very knowledgeable and the drivers truly skilled. A big thanks to Chombo and Omari for their efforts to see that we had a very exciting set of game drives. What can I say about the game spotting other than it being simply fabulous. Perhaps the most attractive feature of a safari out of Camp Manze is its remote location, as you will not encounter the tourist crowds that now visit the game parks of Northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. I highly recommend that you visit Camp Manze, and quite sure that you will enjoy your stay.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lake Manze Camp D, General Manager at Lake Manze Tented Camp
Responded Jan 15, 2024
Hi John, Thank you very much for your array of compliments on the staff which they highly appreciate and these accolades spur them on to greater heights. A pat on the back and acknowledgment for a job well done goes a long way. It does feel as if you are the only people in the expanse of Neyere National Park due to its remoteness as you experience the tranquility of your surroundings and the many sightings of animal and bird life. We hope that this experience draws you back here one day as there is still so much to see and experience. Safe travels. Shaun,Milli and the Lake Manze Camp team.
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Few times in my life have I been so excited. A wonderful tent where you can sip good wine in the private terrace and enjoy the scents and sounds of the savannah. Spacious and clean tent, has everything you need. The very kind host organizes a dinner protected by the Masai. We were very lucky because during the aperitif the mother elephant with her cub came to greet us two meters away from us. All truly magical. Don't miss the boat tour!
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This may seem counter-intuitive, but I have often found that booking direct in Africa is more than through an African travel agent. I did not book Lake Manze direct, so I cannot compare. But I have compared numerous other camps or lodges and direct was not less, surprisingly. However you get there, you'll love the time you spend at Camp Manze!
Hi, yes drinks are not included, while water and coffee/tea are included. Water is mineral water that is purchased in gallons and served in the tent in smaller metal flasks and in glass jars in the tables, so safe to drink. There is a water dispenser at the dining for refilling of a personal flask that you will be given as present at arrival.
Wine bottles price range from 20 to 30 usd, we serve also house wine by glass at 4 usd. We are working to restore the credit card payment in camp, i cannot confirm with you yet that it will be already working in august, you can check with us again approching your departure. Hope this helped. Looking forward to hosting you soon!
There are more places to choose from in the Selous Game Reserve area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
lake manze tented camp, selous game reserve hotel selous game reserve
LOCATION
TanzaniaLindi RegionSelous Game Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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