Where to go on Safari? A tough choice for sure. Where to stay? An even tougher choice.
I'd say that Selous is a good choice. I'd say that once you choose Selous, The Retreat is an excellent choice.
The only thing I will say about the game drives (those are very personal and everyone has a different experience) is that our driver was excellent and our family of three got our own vehicle for the whole trip. That was very nice.
The resort is unique and excellent. We had a river suite and it was great. An outdoor bath tub, a nice area to relax and drink your morning coffeee (or afternoon beer). We spent a lot of time on the deck watching the river wildlife.
The rooms themselves are very nice. Spacious, comfortable, and clean. My only complaint was that being so remote, ice is hard to come by so the drinks in our room were warm.
One thing I warn is that because of the topography, the rooms are very spread out and far from the main house. This is nice for privacy but you need to be driven to the room from the main house so getting around the property has its challenges. If you like things in close proximity and like the ability to walk to the lobby when you want to, this might pose a problem. You can always radio for your driver to come get you or have somebody bring something to you, but be aware that this is the case. They always come when they say they will so your never are waiting for a driver.
The food is was high quality, great variety, and well presented. There resort is not that big so there aren't a lot of people so meals are quiet and personal. Sometimes one or two tables set up near you but often very private. The staff was very helpful and kind. The "bush dinner" was a lot of fun, our first dinner upon our arrival.
Room Tip: River suites are lovely and close to the pool.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC