Uncharted Outposts

Premier Camp 4 Rooms

Accommodation at Zarafa Camp consists of spacious tents with verandas, positioned under cool and shady trees with breathtaking vistas of the Zibidianja Lagoon. A large bedroom, en-suite bathroom, featuring a copper bath and both indoor and outdoor showers, are standard. The main area at Zarafa Camp is furnished in the same 'campaign' style as the tents and evokes the traditional safari ambiance of the turn of the 20th century. Lounge and dining facilities may be enjoyed under canvas or on the full-length deck shaded by giant broad-leafed trees.

Selinda Reserve

Zarafa Camp overlooks the Zibadianja Lagoon - the source of the world-famous Savute Channel.

The Selinda Reserve is a private 135 000-hectare (330,000-acre) wildlife area which follows the floodplains of the Selinda Spillway, the waterway that winds its way through dry countryside to connect the Okavango Delta in the west to the Linyanti and Kwando wetlands and rivers in the east. The full length of the Selinda Spillway winds its way through the Selinda Reserve and forms a magnet for the wildlife of the region.

Year Round

Botswana is an all-year-round wildlife destination. However, there are certain seasonal concerns of which groups with special interests should take note: The best birding months are November - March, when the delta is brimming with migratory birds. The best botanical months are December - May, when the vegetation is lush and green and most plants are in flower. Botswana's popularity as a destination is such that seasonal differences are not as marked as in other African destinations. Traditionally, however, peak season is from July to October and middle season is from May to June. Note that availability is at a premium during these seasons so you will need to book well in advance. November to April is a less popular time for travel to Botswana. This is the wet season, and due to the abundance of water it is less certain that one will see wildlife at perennial water holes. Also, the heavy rains can make dirt roads impassable.

Day and Night Game Drives, Seasonal Fishing & Birdwatching.

- Day and afternoon game drives on 4x4 open-sided Toyota Land Cruisers; each vehicle seats a maximum of 7 guests
- Night drives with spotlights
- Short walks from camp and on game drives
- Fishing with a limited supply of basic equipment is on offer seasonally - catch and release basis
- Bird watching

Dereck and Beverly Joubert

Zafara Camp is owned by Dereck and Beverly Joubert - award-winning filmmakers at National Geographic for over 25 years who have spent much of that time filming in and around the Selinda Spillway.

Dereck and Beverly Joubert's filmmaking has revolved around the larger, bolder or more famous animals in the region (elephant, rhino, zebra and leopard) and, in their words, "because we need to focus our 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."

Having made films for both National Geographic and Walt Disney Pictures, Dereck and Beverly Joubert's efforts have been screened in over 50 languages, been seen by more than a billion people, and are used extensively in schools and universities. While their passion is in the need and desire to create meaningful films that can influence the way we all respond to the natural world, it is worth noting that their earnest intentions have won them Emmy, Peabody, and Jackson Hole awards. Some of their award-winning films include 'Ultimate Enemies', 'Relentless Enemies' and 'Eye of the Leopard' - all filmed around Zafara Camp.

"The details and patterns of nature that repeat themselves are where we find out most about ourselves. Our films try to lead the viewer into understanding the emotions that wild places and the animals evoke within us all. It is an ancient expression but our understanding of that seems to have been lost over the years. Basically we are storytellers, like the ancients around the fires, passing on stories and parables using animals to learn more about our own species."

Beverly's talented photographic skills have been seen by millions of National Geographic readers. She is one of the few female photographers ever to have been published on the front cover of National Geographic.