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Lake Manze Tented Camp

Our rating

7/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Rustic tented safari camp
- Wilderness Location
- Comparatively good value
- Excellent wildlife

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Overview

Lake Manze is a simple and great value wilderness safari camp in a prime wildlife area at the heart of Southern Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve.

The Selous is the largest reserve in Africa, double the size of its famed counterpart, the Serengeti. Renowned for its low density of camps and vehicles, it offers a genuine slice of African wilderness. The reserve has a good wildlife population with hippo, lion, elephant and buffalo well represented. The variety and freedom of activities are key here, with bush walks, boating safaris and fishing all on offer in addition to the more usual game drives. The Selous is well connected by air and combines well with some time on the beach in Zanzibar, and trips to the neighbouring Ruaha Game Reserve or the busier northern parks.

Lake Manze Adventure Camp has a lovely lake-shore setting under a tall canopy of palm trees. There are no neighbouring camps in the vicinity, so it is rare to see other safari vehicles. The main area comprises a rustic, open-sided and thatched-rooved area with lounge, bar and dining zones set out on sandy floors. All meals are served at a communal dining table and, weather-permitting, outside dining with staff and guides can be arranged. Power is supplied by a generator and batteries can be charged in the main areas. Storm lanterns provide lighting in the evenings.

The intimate accommodation comprises 12 slightly elevated tented rooms with views over the floodplain and palm trees overhead to keep them cool. All tents are spacious, with proper double or twin beds and an enclosed en-suite bathroom with running water, flushing toilet and open shower.

Children over the age of 6 years are welcome and the low key, unfussy atmosphere is well suited to families. Each tent can sleep two people, extendible to three with an extra bed. Three pairs of the tents sit close together which makes them ideal for families of four or more. Note that children under 16 are unable to participate in walking safaris and, as with other wilderness camps, there is no fencing and animals are free to roam, so parents must keep their children under close supervision.

Lake Manze Tented Camp provides a traditional, ‘no frills’ safari experience in a beautiful setting with superb wildlife on tap.

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 545 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • It really was absolutely amazing. Faisal was wonderful (our driver for the majority of the trip) – such a lovely person and made everything feel so easy and relaxed. The whole experience was incredibly well put together and completely seamless from start to finish. The Sahara Desert was definitely the highlight for me – truly unforgettable – but honestly every part of the trip was special.

    MissingMandy S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 05 May 2026

  • I just wanted to say thank you so much for organising such an amazing holiday.
    We absolutely loved it, even though Jessica was ready to give up walking for good ????
    Our guide, Mustafa, was great. Really helpful, friendly and informative.
    We loved all the accommodation, and especially the first night and the Riad.
    All of the staff at every location were so friendly and helpful.
    Thanks again for organising such a great trip.

    MissingRebecca H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday on 09 April 2026

  • Nicola and I had a brilliant time - the weather made it pretty
    challenging at times, but Mustafa and Mohammed looked after us
    superbly. We loved the variety of scenery and places - as you mention,
    the only downside is the rubbish in the villages, such a shame. The
    meals that Mohammed drummed up on the hillside tracks were amazing - I
    am glad we knew that our mule would eat the leftovers because there was
    no way we could finish them! The standard of the breakfasts were far in
    excess of the bread and jam you mentioned, even in the basic gite which
    was freezing - we were warm once in bed, but the temperature in the
    living room was a bit depressing after a very windy descent, sitting
    wrapped in coats, hats and blankets while we waited for our dinner! The
    sleeping bags provided were excellent and we were toasty with our fleece
    liners and an extra blanket. We were very grateful that Mustafa's boss
    upgraded us to the eco lodge the next night (don't know whether this was
    because of the gale force winds on our descent the day before...) - it
    was lovely.

    We were incredibly lucky with precipitation - although we were walking
    in a few inches of snow on day one and it absolutely poured that night,
    we experienced no rain during the day until we were lining up for our
    farewell photo at our pickup point, when the heavens opened!

    Due to the weather, I think I'd describe the terrain slightly
    differently - a few good paths, but often we were on very stony ground,
    slippery wet mud (oh, that clay does stick to one's boots!), slidy thin
    gravel or else just making our way down a hill after rain had washed the
    original route away. Occasionally we walked short distances on roads,
    which Mustafa was apologetic about, but it was hardly the M6! We took
    our time and never felt unsafe, but people with dodgy knees or hips
    might need to be careful. Mustafa looked after us very carefully in the
    high wind gusts (as a sailor, I reckon at least Force 9 - over 50 mph on
    a bare hillside), promising Nicola that he wouldn't let her mother blow
    away!

    Although we needed to be back in Marrakech on the fourth night, I think
    if I were going again, I would prefer to trek for four days and spend 3
    in Marrakech, which I found a bit overwhelming, but this is just
    personal taste!

    Our room in Daar Housnia was lovely, and we appreciated the heating -
    the rest of the building is definitely built for summer! There seemed
    to be some confusion over our arrival - the manager said we had
    originally been booked into the downstairs suite with double bed and
    bath in the middle of the room, but that he thought it was more suitable
    "for two ladies, not a couple" to upgrade us to exactly the room you had
    shown us photos of! The breakfasts were delicious. The wifi was fine
    for Nicola's meetings.

    MissingMonica S reviewing Morocco Trek & Marrakech Holiday on 16 February 2026

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