Beho Beho is not really a camp in the true sense of the word, as it has individual bandas or stone built, palm-leaf thatched cottages, rather than the tented accommodation one might more readily associate with a camp. But also it is not really a safari lodge as it has only eight bandas, five on one side of the main house and three on the other, one tends to think of a safari lodge in terms of something quite a good bit larger. So we like think of Beho Beho as being more of a home, a very private home situated in the middle of the African bush.

A home which is a refuge from the outside world where you can relax and enjoy the wonderful experience of being in the bush, to enjoy nature without having to share it, to settle down and feel at ease, without having to pack and unpack every second day in order to move on.

The Bandas at Beho Beho couldn't be more different! Yes they are solid structures built out of local stone and palm leaf thatch and do indeed provide shelter from the elements - but they are also a comfortable haven from which to enjoy the delights of the true African bush of The Selous Game Reserve.

Totally rebuilt in 2003/04 the bandas came 'on-stream' in the new season of June 2004. They are spacious and airy and have been designed to capture even the slightest breeze - at seven degrees south of the equator this is an important consideration - of course there are a couple of wide-blade ceiling fans to assist nature if required. This feeling of spaciousness is accentuated by the fact that the main suite area has no front wall or windows, but is totally open on to the front verandah of the banda, with its magnificent views across the wilderness of The Selous. For those a little nervous of sleeping with just a mosquito net between them and the 'great outdoors' there is an ingenious arrangement of a curtain made out of tenting material, complete with gauze windows, which can be drawn across at night and securely fastened.

The brief for the interior designer was that the banda should be a comfortable home away from home for intrepid travellers and to be planned as a sophisticated haven where guests could relax in privacy in order to enjoy the 'holiday' part of their safari.
A separate dressing room with ample space to unpack and store clothes and belongings, including a personal combination security safe, leads into a fully equipped bathroom with twin wash hand basins, a high flush W.C. and a spacious open-air shower where it is possible to shower and view big game at the same time. The bathrooms are supplied with Charlotte Rhys toiletries, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and soaps as well as a hair drier.

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Beho Beho, being the first property to be sited in the reserve, was placed at the very centre of wildlife activity and diversity. Successive camps were sited along the banks of the Rufiji river giving close proximity to the many resident hippo and crocodiles.

- Boating safari

-game viewing

From Beho Beho it is possible to explore a unique array of varying biodiversity, from riverine forest, miombo woodland and plains to the fascinating lake regions of Tagalala and Mwanze. The speciality of the camp is to go on guided and guarded walking safaris, usually starting early in the morning before the heat of the day, the walks can last from an hour to three hours culminating in breakfast at a prearranged shady spot or at a rendezvous with a vehicle to go back to camp for a relaxing brunch. Afternoon walks can also be very rewarding, along the Beho Beho river or through the first World War trenches to meet a vehicle well supplied with welcome 'sundowner' drinks, before the darkness comes and it is time to head back to camp.

Beho Beho also has a number of boats stationed at Lake Tagalala, about 30 minutes drive away from the camp. This excursion, usually done in the morning, gives a very close encounter with the resident hippos and crocodiles as well as an amazing number of bird species, culminating in breakfast under a shady tree and a walk to the nearby hot springs for a therapeutic swim in the warm mineral waters.

But it is not always necessary to leave the camp to witness excellent game viewing as there is always something 'happening' around Beho Beho. The camp appears to be on a crossroads of animal migratory routes, the animals seeming to appear totally unconcerned about the human habitation. Whether it is elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, giraffe, wild dog or hyena to name just a few, wandering through the camp at any time of the day or night.