Jongomero

Accommodation at Jongomero is comprised of eight spacious and luxuriously furnished tented suites, each elevated above the ground on raised timber platforms with their own private veranda. The enormous, thatched roofs encompass a spacious private deck which overlooks a dry riverbed. These units feature an en-suite bathroom, shower facilities, electrical outlets, king size, double and twin beds and a host of complimentary amenities meant to elevate the guest experience.

Furnished in the classic East African Style, interiors invoke the essence of authentic Tanzanian safari, with canvas hues of cream and khaki, with handcrafted furniture and decorations throughout. You will often find animals ambling past your tent in search of water and food. Can accommodate 2 guests. Units can be interlinked to accommodate larger guest sizes.

Amenities Include:

• En-suite bathroom
• Shower
• Balcony / deck
• Veranda
• Lounge area
• Electrical outlets
• Fan
• Laundry service (complimentary)
• Mosquito nets
• Dressing gowns
• Pure cotton linen
• Safe

If the sound of 5-star bush cuisine and world class catering entices you, Jongomero may be your ideal destination. Enjoy atmospheric lantern-lit dinners set beside a tranquil riverbed in front of camp, offering an eloquent touch to the splendour of any evening meal. Three meals are served daily, featuring a hearty continental breakfast comprised of fresh fruits, pastries, cereals and juices, an al fresco picnic dinner served between activities and a lavish three course evening banquet.

Meals range from lite and healthy to lavish and indulgent, ensuring there are preferences to suit all guests. If you have any specific dietary requirements, be sure to inform the camp in advance so the appropriate accommodations can be made. With fully inclusive rates, you’re free to indulge in a comprehensive range of refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at your own discretion, as your time at Jongomero is one of indulgence.

The lite and airy feel of Jongomero Bar, with its thatched roof and fully stocked shelves will leave you reeling for a refreshing beverage amid the parching midday Ruaha heat. Talented bar staff are happy to fix you up the drink of your choosing, from pints to cocktails and everything in-between. Come and grab a drink in the evening and enjoy sundowners with friends and guides alike as you reminisce an exciting days’ safari adventure.

Embark on daily game drives amid scenic, picturesque plains of the Ruaha National Park. Experienced guides, familiar with the lay of the land and the abundance of wildlife that roams it will lead you safely through the lush landscape in search of the many staple safari creatures that roam the open plains and congregate around waterholes. Exotic Big 5 game viewing awaits your gaze, with regular sightings of all the big cats and predator and prey alike as you survey the landscape in open 4×4 safari vehicles.

Bush walks will allow you to soak up the intricacies of nature while traversing the land at a more intimate and insightful pace than conventional safari game drives. Knowledgeable guides will discuss with you the features of the land while pointing out local flora and fauna. Ruaha National Park offers high concentrations of plains game, making any excursion one to write home about. Here, game is shot only with camera equipment, and the fertile plains that surround you offer the perfect opportunity for world-class wildlife photography.

Ruaha National Park is an expansive wildlife area which features over 500 species waiting for you to discover. Bird watching here is phenomenal year-round, but at its absolute best during November through April. Not only is this when European and North African migratory birds are present, but it is also nesting time for resident species. Keep your eyes peeled for the likes of the black-headed gonolek, Fischer’s lovebird and Verreaux’s eagle.

Cast your eyes upon the speckled canvas of vibrant lights displayed by the Ruaha night sky while gathered around a cosy campfire in the company of friends and family. Untarnished by light pollution, the remote areas of the Tanzanian bush provide the perfect arena for a picturesque star-gazing experience. Marvel at the infinite sky, which features the Big Dipper in the northern hemisphere and the Southern Cross and Pointers in the south.

Embark on daytime excursions on foot as you discover the hidden depths of Ruaha on this one-of-a-kind bush camping experience. Sleep under the canopy of stars for either one or two nights, share stories around the campfire, shower beneath the cover of trees and enjoy delectable bush picnics while dining al fresco amid the jaw-dropping vistas offered by the bush. This walking safari experience in the big game terrain of the Ruaha NP, Africa’s largest area under conservation. Minimum of two guests and a maximum of six.

Selous Safari Company’s hiring policy is driven by discovering diligent, hard-working people from the local community to work within their camps. On hiring, staff are trained to the highest standard and this new skill set empowers them, offering a new scope of employment as well providing them with a steady salary and excellent medical benefits.

Buying supplies from the local community not only helps the camp lower the carbon footprint but also gives a steady trade to the growers and merchants. Selous Safari Company sponsor a farming project by purchasing necessities such as seeds, equipment, pumps and pipes so they can grow vegetables for the camps in Selous Game Reserve.

Selous Safari Company support a wide range of spectacular local charities which achieve sustainable results within their chosen scope. Charities include: SeaSense, Southern Tanzania Elephant Project (STEP), the annual Goat Races, Wonder Welders and African Rainforest Conservancy, which supports the Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group. Support is granted by providing cash donations, as well as free holidays which can be given away at raffles and sold at auctions, raising much needed funding. To foster a steady economy, Tanzania needs to create the right environment for companies to flourish.

Charles Dobie, director of Selous Safari Company, has campaigned tirelessly for over a decade as Vice Chairman and Treasurer of HAT (Hotel Association of Tanzania). Over the years, many kind-hearted and diligent guests have enquired as to what they can bring with them to support local communities should they have a few extra kilos to spare. This kind gesture has been greatly appreciated and has led some guests to bring suitcases of donations with them. Donations for the schools, such as stationery, dictionaries and reading books; the children, such as toys, games and footballs; and the clinics, such as basic medical supplies and health charts, are always well received.

However, many items have a short life span and only help a few lucky villagers and for this reason, Selous Safari Company recommend supporting longer lasting projects which help the community. Sometimes the biggest impact in a community comes from a single project, something that simply makes daily life easier. Selous Safari Company have listened to the village chairmen and councils to see what would affect the biggest change, and over the years have installed water pumps and wells, giving constant, clean water to the whole community; providing pumps and pipes to create irrigation systems; built a desperately needed police station for a population of over 5,000; and actioned several building and maintenance projects and recently installed new flooring and desks for both teachers and students at Makifu School near Ruaha National Park.

Selous Safari Company believe that real change in Africa is only achievable through education and community support, which is why they have initiated several educational programmes. In the Selous community of Mloko, Selous Safari Company have sponsored teachers with increased salaries and training. Most of the education in Tanzania is expensive, approximately $400 per year, and leads to high numbers of dropouts. For this reason, Jongomero have raised funds to sponsor over 20 secondary school children and still financially support several 12 to 15-year-olds to receive an education.

Since inception in 1988, Selous Safari Company have been actively investing in the future of Tanzania. Over the years, their investment has taken on different guises from policy reforms and wildlife protection to community education programmes and supporting local charities. These initiatives have been funded by Selous Safari Company as well as generous donations by benevolently minded guests.

Power in camp is 240 VAC powered by solar panels and a generator. Each tent is lit, there is a fan and two wall sockets (British three-pin) that can be used all day for charging electronics. High electric consumption items (hairdryers) can only be used during generator hours. By incorporating initiatives such as these, Selous Safari Company ensures that energy is preserved wherever possible, utilising the abundance of sun inherent to the land to great effect while negating the use of diesel-powered generators that are detrimental to the environment.

Selous Safari Camps endeavour to be as eco-friendly as possible without interfering with the guest experience. This includes using a state-of-the-art solar invertor system which allows guest to have 24-hour power and hot water while minimising the use of a generator. Additionally, they have also installed their own filter, which is used for purifying drinking water and provides aluminium bottles for all guests, thereby negating the need for plastic bottles which are currently throttling Africa.

When building and maintaining their camps and properties, Selous Safari Company venture to use local, sustainable building materials as well as locally sourced labour. All recyclables return to Dar es Salaam, comprising paper and cardboard to glass, tins and plastic. Effectively and responsibly managing waste is imperative for the sustainability of the planet.

Ras Kutani is located in a rare coastal forest and since opening in 1992, Selous Safari Company have endeavoured to protect the local habitat for future generations. With the help of Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group, a project was run for 10 years to introduce tree husbandry to the local community. This initiative aimed to train local communities on how to plant and nurture different trees, including hard wood trees, which had all been eradicated to make charcoal, and cash crop trees, which could be used for building and charcoal production.

Following this project, the Ras Kutani Institute was created to protect the local environment, and their work can be seen today with the Jongomero Forest Walk. Wildlife is fundamental to their business, and protecting these amazing species is not only something that must be upheld, but also something Selous Safari Company feels very passionately about. The turtle hatchings at Ras Kutani are supported by staff members who help protect the nests from poachers, who also serve as guides for guests. In Selous Game Reserve, many companies have augmented much needed anti-poaching patrols, support which is continually granted to this day.