Visitors to Sand Rivers are truly spoiled in the lodge's spacious stone and thatch cottages. Situated on the riverbank slope and built atop stilts, these cottages offer spectacular views of the incredible Rufiji River landscape. There are five standard, en-suite riverside cottages and three hillside suites, each equipped with a large bed, ceiling fan, extra lounge and private plunge pool. The rooms have whitewashed natural stonewalls and the open front offers uninterrupted views of the river and the animals that pass by.

The main building houses a restaurant, lounge/bar and large pool. Various decks look out over the lake and enable guests to watch the hippos often found wallowing right in front of them. Breakfast is a highlight at Sand Rivers and is usually a time when visitors slowly awake with the intake of freshly made coffee and realise just how beautiful the world can be.

Kiba Point is a chic and intimate little camp that can be booked privately by a family or group of friends (min. four adults, max. eight adults plus two children). Kiba point is situated just five minutes drive downstream from Sand Rivers. Its four stone and thatch cottages are situated on the very edge of the river and come equipped with a plunge pool and large veranda. The rooms are open-plan and airy, stylishly furnished, comfortable and of a quality similar to the suites at Sand Rivers. A further pool for those hot, lazy days can be found at the main building, which is also the place for meals and feasts. Kiba Point comes with its own cook and private guides.

-> Have a look at Kiba Point

Nyerere National Park, formerly known as northern part of the Selous Game Reserve, covers 30'893 km2 of wilderness and is twice as large as the Serengeti. The area was declared a National Park in 2019 and is since the largest National Park in Tanzania. At 600 km long, the Rufiji River is the longest river in East Africa and the park's life-giving vein. This ramified river system includes five large lakes (from east to west): Lake Tagalala, Lake Manze, Lake Nzerakera, Lake Siwandu and Lake Mzizimia.

The park comprises 75% miombo woodland, but most noticeable are the many wonderful palms, particularly the borassus and doum palms, as well as the many candelabra trees (euphorbia candelabrum).

Nyerere National Park is accessed by light aircraft from Dar Es Salaam and can be seamlessly combined with a trip to Ruaha National Park. The flight to Ruaha National Park takes approx. 1 hr 30 minutes; the flight to Dar Es Salaam takes approx. 35 minutes.

Sand Rivers has its own airstrip (Kiba Airstrip). The drive from the airstrip takes approximately 15 minutes. The camp is situated south of Lake Tagalala on the edge of the Rufiji River.

Nyerere National Park is renowned for its concentration of wild dog. Various packs of between 6 and 20 animals roam the game drive area. The park, however, is huge and a little luck is still needed to spot them.

Lion and hyena are quite numerous and almost guaranteed; leopard are more difficult to find and cheetah not at all. The dry season is good for elephant, buffalo, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest and impala, all of which quench their thirst at the river and lakes. Nyerere is home to an extraordinary number of giraffe - a popular animal with guests. High concentrations of hippo and crocodile can also be found in the rivers and swamps, and more than 430 species of bird are known to live here. The lakes are popular with many types of bird, including pelican, marabou, stork, osprey and vulture - to name just the largest!

The lodge offers game drives in open 4x4 vehicles and walking safaris.

Boats stop right in front of camp when the water level is high enough (high season). The guide usually takes guests upstream before letting the boat drift back downstream - a fantastic experience.

There are several hot springs located in the vicinity where guests can bathe.

Nyerere is a highly diversified park that is not only discoverable on foot or by vehicle, but also by boat.

Fly camps are erected on a sandbank or close to one of the lakes. Guests can stay overnight on a mattress with only a mosquito net for protection - a warm bush shower and open-air WC adds to the sense of adventure. The experienced team prepares all meals on-site, including a three-course candlelit dinner. This activity must be booked in advance and comes at an extra cost.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
Dammstrasse 27
8702 Zollikon
Zurich, Switzerland


Telephone: +41 (0)44 451 40 51