Laba Siwandu
Location
The camp is reached via a short flight to the nearby Siwandu airstrip, placing guests deep inside Nyerere National Park, formerly the Selous Game Reserve. This vast wilderness is renowned for hippos, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife. The reserve was named after explorer Frederick Courtney Selous – a British Victorian author and explorer – and later renamed to honour Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s founding president and visionary of Ujamaa self-reliance.
Accommodation
The tents themselves are raised on stilted decks and rest in the shade of Makuti thatched roofs. Interiors are spacious and refined, with ensuite bathrooms featuring zellige-tiled showers open to the sky. Each suite extends onto a private decked terrace facing Lake Nzerakera and comes complete with a freestanding copper bathtub, lounge seating, and dining table; all are perfect vantage points for observing wildlife in comfort.
Hungry after a day of excitement, you’ll find that dining is a highlight, further enhanced by the blend of elegance with authenticity. Meals are served in elevated spaces or al fresco under the stars, with menus showcasing fresh, locally inspired ingredients prepared with finesse. The atmosphere throughout is one of understated luxury, combining the romance of classic safari style with thoughtful modern comforts.
Experiences
- Twice-daily game drives allow you to explore the diverse landscapes of Nyerere National Park in open-sided game vehicles, spotting animals like elephants, giraffes, wild dogs and lions.
- Glide silently over Lake Nzerakera and the braided waterways of the Rufiji River. You’ll see hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds up close.
- Take a walking safari. Guided treks through the bush reveal smaller wildlife, tracks, and plants often missed from vehicles.
- Try your hand at fishing. The lake and rivers might yield a tiger fish or catfish, or perhaps just a few stories about the one that got away.
- If you are out on one of the boats, you’re likely to enjoy a meal or glass in a breathtaking location. Breakfast, lunch or sunset cocktails are easy to arrange.
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes toWe prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to
A 12–14 day journey linking the Western Serengeti, Chem Chem and either Mahale or Zanzibar, this three-centre trip is a classic African safari experience in places where you’ll have an intimate, personal and slow-paced encounter with the essence of Tanzania.
Spanning a huge array of diverse environments, Tanzania offers an unmatched range of African safari experiences. It’s renowned for the Great Migration of the Serengeti, but that’s just the start of the unforgettable possibilities. Whether you are planning a family safari, seeking seclusion and exclusivity as a couple, or options suited to an individual, Tanzania has locations and seasons perfect for everyone. Luxury safaris in Tanzania, with guaranteed amazing spectacles for all, are more than just feasible: they are a reality.
The best time to visit Tanzania will depend on the activities you are interested in and the wildlife you'd like to spot. Read our month-by-month seasonal guide, and responses to your most popular Tanzania safari questions
At Journeysmiths we take you out into the wilds to enjoy all kinds of activities with expert, personable guides. Read our top ten Tanzania family safari experiences.
We’ve collated a list of our ten favourite Tanzanian experiences to show you what’s possible in this incredible country.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are truly spectacular settings filled with great herds and big cats. We take you far from the crowds and minibuses with your own private guide, staying in exclusive accommodation. Families with older teenagers will love the wildly remote Selous, Ruaha and Mahale, where you can walk, canoe and even track chimpanzees. Round it off on exotic Zanzibar.
Create memories of a lifetime together on an epic family safari in Tanzania. Witness the endless, game-filled plains of the Serengeti, explore the natural wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater and experience the magnificent wildlife in Tarangire.