Welcome to Selinda Camp

You could easily spend a lifetime in this amazing place and still find wonder in everything you see...

“When I designed Selinda Camp as a real indoor/outdoor experience when on safari in Botswana, I wanted to pay homage to elephants, what we have done to them, and how we should apologise in many ways. The art in the camp, starting with life-sized elephant skull sculptures as you enter the main area, reflects that. My brother, Keith Joubert’s art, hangs on the wall, and Beverly’s images adorn the suites. Selinda is a handmade camp in so many ways. Moulded around the trees, Selinda visualises five essential elements: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Metal. The managers will tell you, though, if you are interested. But as a result, I think that Selinda Camp has a perfect balance. Oh, and elephants swim in front of camp too!” says Dereck Joubert, CEO and owner of Great Plains Conservation

Read more

Set in one of the most pristine wilderness areas left on our planet, Selinda Camp rests on the banks of Botswana’s Selinda Spillway as it enters the Linyanti River. The area has a sense of remoteness, a true spirit of Africa. It is an excellent example of a perfect safari in Botswana, with the bush embodying various species and rare animals. The private 130,000-hectare Selinda Reserve boasts large elephant herds, regular sightings of the Selinda pack of African wild dogs, and the famous Selinda lion pride recently featured in the National Geographic film “Birth of a Pride” by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.

Unique in their design, the three expansive guest suites each feature an indoor en-suite bathroom, a large private veranda with outdoor seating, and a private swimming pool. Every space enhances what Livingstone would have had, what he would have travelled with and found along with his expeditions. But beyond that, we go back to the Robinson Crusoe feel, including rope textures, suites under thatch, hammocks, lots of space, nautical elements, and salvaged wood.

In addition to the three main suites, the separate 2-bedroomed Selinda Suite (like its fellow Dhow Suite at Zarafa and the Duba Plains Suite) consists of a two-bedroom tented suite. The Selinda Suite operates exclusively, as guests enjoy their private vehicle, safari guide, chef, manager/butler, and entrance to their residence.

The open vehicle safari drives, guided bush walks, boating, tracking, birding, and other bespoke viewing activities are designed to place you in front of the best wildlife the area offers. The unique one-on-one life-changing experiences include sightings of leopards, elephants and hippos. Guests can also expect to tick off as many of the 200 or more bird species when on safari in Botswana.

Selinda Camp, a Great Plains Conservation Réserve-Collection safari camp, is one of only a handful of Botswana-based Relais & Châteaux member properties. The other members are our Selinda Suite, Duba Plains Camp, Duba Plains Suite, and Zarafa Camp, with its The Dhow Suite at Zarafa.

The Great Plains Foundation’s Solar Mamas developed the initiative to address the lack of economic opportunities and electricity deficit in remote villages bordering Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Nine Solar Mamas left their villages in Botswana to attend a six-month solar power training program in India through Barefoot College International. They each returned home with the skills to build, install and maintain solar home lighting systems. These Solar Mamas are empowered to establish and run a business and provide sustainable energy for their community. The project’s current phase aims to supply equipment for the Solar Mamas to electrify rural households in this remote region where only 35% of homes are electrified, thereby improving the quality of life in our surrounding communities.

Selinda Gallery

In addition to our own programs, Great Plains Foundation keeps a list of school needs in the countries where we work.

Needed items can be hand-carried by travellers or we can help purchase them locally. To learn more or to help support students and educators as part of your trip please reach out to info@greatplainsfoundation.com