My 26 yo daughter and I stayed here for 3 nights on our recent tour of Tanzania. This is a tastefully classy place. Beautiful setting, right on a major bend in the Rafiji River. Our hut (#3) had a great view up the river, with hippos right outside our door - yes they do make noise!

After spending 3 nights in a very nice tent camp, the step up in quality here was instantaneous. Of course the cost was also higher too.

We were met by our guide/driver Ian when we landed at Kebi airstrip. Ian was immediately likeable and proved himself a very knowledgeable guide. He saw things that we would never have seen! We went on a boat safari up the river, seeing 100's of hippos, crocs, elephants.
Later we did a walking safari, coming within 50m of a young bull elephant. You can smell elephants long before you'll see them!

The lodge served extremely well prepared continental styled food. And tons of it. For some reason, we were always hungry after coming back from a safari activity. Chloe and Mark (managers) ate dinner with us each night. Delightful. As you'd expect, high quality wines came with the deal.

All of the facilities are obviously high end and blend into the african setting. The Land Rover we used was unstoppable with Ian driving.

We enjoyed our time at the Sand River and recommend the lodge for those who are seeking (and willing to pay for) a premium lodge experience.

We stayed at Sand Rivers as part of our trip to Katavi and Mahale, and this camp pales by comparison in terms of its ambience. The camp accommodates similar number of guests but it actually felt crowded. The rooms, although quite nice, are very close to each other and we could hear people talking next door.

For wildlife... the morning river cruise (longer than the afternoon sunset cruise) is highly recommended. It took us all the way upstream where we had a picnic breakfast and the guide was very patient and knowlegeable. However, the game drives were less productive then we expected, as compare to Selous Safari Camp where we've stayed previously.

Overall, although it was a pleasant experience, I felt that it fell short on my expectations both for a Nomad camp and for Selous. It's definitely not a camp I would recommend for "seasoned safari goers'. I would go back to Selous again if we have the chance, but probably to another camp.

We spent 3 nights and had a wonderful safari experience here. We were met at the landing strip by Frank, who was to be our guide during our stay. We had him all to ourselves and he turned out to be an extraordinarily knowledgeable guide with an excellent sense for the extraordinary. To us city dwellers a few birds flying around were just that but to Frank, they signalled vultures circling above a recent kill and as we approached, he turned out to be right. You get the picture.
We chose this area because we fancied the alternatives on offer between water based and land based activities. We weren't disappointed. You don't have the concentration of animals here that we have experienced elsewhere but it is more than compensated by the complete feeling of wilderness. We did not see a single other vehicle whilst we were there.
Highlights were the walking safari and the bush breakfast assembled with every item anticipated by the capable Frank.

In the lodge itself, the regular hosts were away but were well deputised by the Group mangers, Jill and Klaus. Both very experienced and knowledgable and easy going. Food was good if not fantastic. The sort of rustic fairly amateur cooking you expect in this area. A fairly cavalier approach by our hosts to flies in drinks - "good protein" as Klaus described them, left us feeling a bit queasy and covers for our glasses were quickly produced.
There were only three couples in the lodge whilst we were there. Both of the others were travel professionals - so guess which two were upgraded to the suites (a little galling if you are the only full rate paying guests in the place). Also this was apparently the reason why we had our own private jeep and guide. Important to clarify that when you book. Nevertheless we really loved our room (no.1). It was the closest to the lodge which meant shortest walk in the dark, and had a magnificent view to the river and the grazing hippos below. The rooms are open front and back and in the bathroom. We soon adjusted to the bats at night -great for keeping the insects away-, the monkeys gawping at you in the shower, and the hippos snorting below.
The Lodge itself was comfortable and well thought out. The viewing terrace was a great place for a sundowner and the pool, useful for a ore lunch dip after a hot game drive. Willing staff provided drinks on tap.
A mishap with a fall into the unlit pool at night was met with the news that this had happened a few times but still no light was provided on subsequent nights. The area in question is the one part of the Lodge with cellphone reception and Klaus's rather strange comment was that keeping it dark and unsafe discouraged mobile phone use!
All in all a really good safari experience.

Imagine Africa organised a fantastic holiday for myself and my husband which included an amazing 3 days safari staying at Sand Rivers, Selous.
Chloe, the lodge manager, was amazing as were all the staff at the lodge.They made you feel very special and welcome. The food was amazing and we ate together with the other guests on a large table in the evening. You could choose to sit by yourself, but listening to stories from the other guests about their safari day and what the monkeys had tried to eat from their rooms was the best experience.
Our guide was excellent, with his great knowledge and enthusiasm. Although we never found the elusive leopard we saw everything else we had expected and more.
This was the best 3 days I have spent.