SINCE 2013
BAKER & SONS SAFARI COMPANY
along the wild Rufiji River, Selous
I really wanted an authentic safari experience in the Selous (Nyerere). Baker & Sons ticks all the boxes.
Nigel | TripAdvisor
In one of the last wild places, where the lion and elephant freely roam, Baker & sons have established a safari company.
with lodges built high on the banks of the Rufiji River, flowing from the old Selous Game Reserve (nyerere), the largest and oldest protected animal sanctuary in all of africa.
there are no fences, no boundaries, just the unspoiled heart of tanzania, as in the days of explorers like livingstone and stanley.
Family cottage
Open and spacious, with a private balcony and large bathroom/shower
$230/couple with meals
fits 6 explorers, features a double-decker bunkbed for children made from boat wood salvaged out of the Indian Ocean
riverside cabin
Stone walls, writing desk and intimate dhow wood bed
$145/single with meals
fits 2 explorers, ensuite bathroom and shower all sourced from a local stone quarry, satellite television built into a bespoke box
backpacker lodge
Brand new building, shared kitchen facilities and common room
$55/solo bed + breakfast
larger groups or solo travelers, ideal for the tourist-on-a-budget, upscale backpackers with fully-equipped kitchen and outdoor bbq
BAKER & SONS HAS THE BEST HOME-COOKING ON THE RIVER.
BBQ BEEF SKEWERS
This three-course meal begins with a spice pumpkin soup, served warm to the table. Choice pieces of tender cut are cooked on our grill over open fire and Tanzanian hardwoods like acacia, matched perfectly with crispy deep-fried french fries and skewers of fresh vegetables, tomatoes, onions, green peppers. A red meat pairs with a nice red wine and a classic view as the sun lowers on the horizon of the wild Rufiji River.
Sausage bake
Pork sausage grilled to bbq perfection, oven baked pumpkin, a fresh vegetable salad and a side of garlic bread knots… you might never want to leave the safari lodge! Soup is delivered as a matter of first course, the sausage bake fills the table for the second, and a fried breaded banana coconut treat lands the third course dessert. An ice-cold pint of local beer is the drink of choice for many a weary explorer who’s sat down for a hearty meal.
Bush Style Fry
A lodge favorite, mixing southern cuisine with an East African touch. Fried chicken plus a blend of spices, a starter dish of cucumber salad, a generous bowl of white rice and two sauce options, one tomato-based and the other Mama Nico’s famous spinach peanut sauce, all fresh ingredients sourced locally. Upside-down pineapple cake rounds off this feast. Consider adding a chilled white wine from our selection.
breakfasts
There are many early risers at the lodge, as the optimal time to track the African animals on safari game drives are in the wee hours of the morning. Whether early or sleeping in, we serve a full breakfast at Baker & Sons, french-press coffee, teas and all the fixings!
Pulled sandwich
We do lunch too! Homemade samosas, chicken wraps, deluxe chips-mayai and pulled BBQ sandwiches are among the things we do well. The southern-style sauce is made fresh in our kitchen, the chicken is cooked and pulled and tossed in our BBQ seasoning. Even the pickles to garnish on top are made in-house. You can’t miss with an ice-cold coca-cola in a glass bottle. We serve lunch at the lodge and packed for safari.
All meals are included in Full-Board Lodging, or can be purchased separately with a bed + breakfast reservation. To book your stay and meals at Baker & Sons, click here
Note, not all meals are served each night and ingredients can change with seasonal availability of fresh produce from the local market. We also have vegetarian and halal options for lodge guests, and we do our best to cater to any food allergies; please advise at time of booking so we can prepare the best menu for your arrival.
At Baker & Sons, we have the best cooking on the Rufiji River…
It was a brilliant first safari experience with our guide. We saw so many amazing animals and birds including the majestic African elephant and lions. Of course with no fences in this enormous park…
AMY | FACEBOOK
The lodges were perfect, decorated with rocks and local wood. The dining areas were elevated on top of the houses with wonderful views of the river.
Jason | Google
BAKER & SONS SAFARI COMPANY PRESENTS
SAFARI EXCURSIONS
Of the Great Selous and Mighty Rufiji River
Safari Game Drives
the ‘Essential African Adventure’, in classic retrofitted safari vehicles we’ll track the movements of elephant herds and lion prides, more giraffe than one can count…
SAFARI GAME DRIVES
of the Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere)
The Iconic, ‘Essential African Adventure’. In the classic retrofitted safari vehicles we’ll track the movements of elephant herds and lion prides, more giraffe than one can count. The majestic kudu and impala and almost every animal the continent offers including the elusive wild dog is found in our park, Selous, the largest and oldest reserve in all of Africa.
An authentic safari experience, the Selous (recently named ‘Nyerere Park’) is an unknown commodity. Unlike the more famous parks in Northern Tanzania, there are no prescribed routes or roads the vehicles must follow, and there is very little congestion from other safari vehicles. In this southern gem it’s possible to come upon a fresh kill, a mother nursing her cubs, or the perfect african backdrop with layers of giraffe, elephant, warthog, impala, hippo and be the only one there with a private showing to appreciate the moment.
Combined with the lodge meal plans, our kitchen prepares a pack lunch to enjoy in the park. We wake you up before sunrise with a warm breakfast and coffee, and get you to the gate at opening. It’s our plan at Baker & Sons to be the first vehicles into the reserve – that’s the prime time to find the animals – as the mist rises off the open plains from the first rays of sunlight. | FULL-DAY
*Optionally, at no additional charge, during the Game Drive (road conditions permitting) we can take you to the Selous Hot Water Springs, a ‘Garden of Eden’ setting with a number of pools each hotter than the last. Bring your bathing suits and take a dip, Malawian cichlids swim in the lower spring and will gently nip at your toes.
Price: $250 + park passes (6-7 guests)
| PARK PASSES* | ADULTS | CHILD (ages 5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Rate | $90 | $30 |
| Resident Rate | $45 | $15 |
| Citizens | $10 | $5 |
- low season (15 March – 15 May) passes drop slightly in price, contact Baker & Sons for availability and opening during rainy months
- includes vehicle, driver/guide, 6am-5pm
Sunset Boat cruise
of the Famous Rufiji River
Typically on the river you’ll find basking nile crocs, beautiful nesting tropical birds and the rare black & white colobus monkeys swinging in the riverbank canopy. The highlight, your boat circles around large pods of river hippopotamus, bobbing and breaking the water’s surface – an activity not to be missed – best enjoyed in the evenings as the sun sets without fail for another glorious sky on the Rufiji River | 2.5hrs
Price: $50/adult
| ADULTS | Kids (ages 11-15) | Child (ages 5-10) |
|---|---|---|
| $50 | $25 | $10 |
- typically launches from the dock daily at 4pm until sunset, boat cruise can also be scheduled for the morning
- 4 years old and under are free of charge
HIKING SAFARI
with the local bushman
Different from the previous days, this safari is on-foot, following bush trails outside the reserve with a very entertaining local ‘bushman’ guide dressed in period clothes of a bygone African age. Each walking safari is unique. We find many small and sometimes large animals on our journey, as the bushman teaches about tracking footprints of fauna, identifying homes and scat and medicinal uses of native flora. Up to a two-hour hike that includes a special local tea setup in the bush at the end of your trail | 2hrs
Price: $40/adult
| ADULTS | Kids (ages 11-15) | Child (ages 5-10) |
|---|---|---|
| $40 | $20 | $10 |
- can be scheduled as a morning or evening activity
- 4 years old and under are free of charge
Sunset River Cruise
imagine, sharing the water with one of the most powerful and fascinating animals on the continent, the hippopotamus, bobbing and breaking the surface with a spray of mist…
Hiking with Bushman
on foot, following bush trails outside the reserve with an entertaining local ‘bushman’ dressed in period clothes of a bygone African age. Creatures great and small…
SPORT FISHING
in a game reserve
…a Baker & Sons premium activity, can you land the coveted East African Tiger Fish? The Tiger Fish has a boney jaw, he’s an expert at throwing the hook. He’s a sport fish, so he likes to chase his meal. Fresh meat preferred. His teeth are coated with an anticoagulant. In the wild, he bites his prey and opens a wound that will not seal. He follows the trail of blood through the water until the fight has left his victim.
Tigers have a muscular body with large sharp fins, designed for cutting through the water. Fishing pros say only 1/10 who take the bait will be successfully pulled into the boat. You’ll be competing with Nile Crocodiles, who would like nothing more than to take the fish off your string. If you do catch a Tiger Fish, then shoot that classic photo. But remember, he’s got one final strike left in those sharp teeth. If he nicks you with one them, that cocktail of anticoagulant will leave an impression and you’ll be left with a little scar. A remembrance of the trophy fish you landed one time in Africa on the wild Rufiji River.
SPORT FISHING PRICE (click)
- Park Passes* + $60/adult and $40/child
- Boat (incl. rods/tackle/bait) $400 (up to 5 fishermen)
| PARK PASSES* | ADULTS | CHILD (ages 5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Rate | $90 | $30 |
| Resident Rate | $45 | $15 |
| Citizens | $10 | $5 |
Tribal Visit
with maneating lion tour
…truly a unique opportunity, the Tribal Visit + Man-Eating Lion Tour. It’s Baker & Sons effort to pay homage to the cultural and untamed nature of the area. Not just the local wildlife, but the convergence of human settlements overlapping with the boundary of the animal reserve. Where the lion and elephant roam, there are no fences. See how family communities live and farm in these parts, and hear a story along the way when the thin line of order and respect between man and beast was broken.
Nigel, United KingdomHighlights of our stay, in addition to the game drives and seeing some awe inspiring animals, definitely included the visit to the Tribal Village, followed by a first hand recounting of the tale of the Man-Eating Lion. This was both a fascinating and a chilling experience which brought to life what it must have been like living, being the hunted and coming face to face with this Infamous Lion. I was particularly impressed and humbled with the unique Tribal Village experience, where we were invited into every aspect of the family life and were welcomed to look around the living areas within each adobe house.
TRIBAL VILLAGE + LION TOUR (click for price)
- $60/adult and $30/child (ages 11-15), $10 (5-10)
- ages 4 and under free of charge with parents
- requires the use of a vehicle, personal or rented
Vehicle Rental: $250/daily rate (up to 7 guests)
Night Game Drive
through the Selous Game Reserve
…this is a new activity, not offered in previous years, to journey through the largest park in Africa under the cover of darkness! At roughly 7pm we start. We send you with a trained guide who knows the nocturnal patterns of the creatures, great and small, a park ranger who joins us as we pass by the gate and stays with the vehicle until midnight, and a genuine Maasai blanket, a souvenir from Baker & Sons Safari Company for each night rider to keep you warm.
The blanket is yours to keep, as are the memories of wandering into the territory of the prey and predator, as day gives way to night, visibility wanes, the balance shifts and the hunt begins.
NIGHT GAME DRIVE PRICES (click)
- Park Passes* + $75/adult and $45/child
- Vehicle + Ranger + Flashlights $350 (up to 7 passengers)
*comes with a genuine Maasai blanket from Baker & Sons for each rider to stay warm and keep as a souvenir!
| PARK PASSES* | ADULTS | CHILD (ages 5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Rate | $90 | $30 |
| Resident Rate | $45 | $15 |
| Citizens | $10 | $5 |
Boat Safari
on the Rufiji River and Interior Lakes
…gain a whole new perspective, entering the Selous Game Reserve from a river access and exploring her lakes. Find the watering holes, the elephants, giraffe, buffalo and herds that gather to drink, keeping a keen eye for the predators on the move. Enjoy a picnic lunch, served on-board the boat, cold drinks and a landscape as old as the eyes of the ancient explorers who first gazed on this beauty. They accessed the boundless interior of Africa through these channels.
ALL-DAY BOAT SAFARI (click for prices)
- Park Passes* + $30 per passenger
- Boat Fee $300 (1-5 guests), $350 (6-8 guests)
| PARK PASSES* | ADULTS | CHILD (ages 5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Rate | $90 | $30 |
| Resident Rate | $45 | $15 |
| Citizens | $10 | $5 |
premium activities
Sport Fishing in the reserve
the Selous Game Reserve opens up to travelers and fishermen in this one-in-a-lifetime experience of casting your line in waters shared by hippo, nile crocs, with a backdrop silhouette of elephants, giraffe, cape buffalo, kudu and lions. This is sport fishing at its finest! Travel from Baker & Sons, upriver into the untouched lakes and tributaries that form this Tanzanian National Park. You’ll be on the water alone, fishing holes that have rarely been visited, out of reach of the local fisherman. The chances of catching are significantly higher. Bait, rod and tackle are provided, or bring your own. Lake tilapia and monster catfish varieties can be hooked. However, the goal of any sport fisherman visiting East Africa is to land a Tiger Fish. This predator fish is equipped with sharp, long teeth, stripes down it’s meaty frame and an orange tail fin that propels it through the water. A metal leader is a must. Goodluck! | FULL-DAY
premium activities
the TRIBAL VILLAGE VISIT + MANEATING LION TOUR
within a couple hours’ drive from our lodge, into more rural villages and tribal settings we’ve established a new excursion, offered only through Baker & Sons, involving our neighboring Tribe SUKUMA + an INFAMOUS LION. We drive off the bush road to visit this tribe, their farm and little children dressed up in beads. We demonstrate their way of life, livestock, mud-thatched homes and community arrangement. As a company, we built this relationship with these tribal villages in order to offer this unique experience to outside visitors. It’s an authentic setting. As such, a portion of the proceeds goes back to the local families involved.
additionally, there’s an internationally ‘famous’ gravesite that you’ll visit in the village of Ngorongo. Not far from the tribal village, is buried a man-eating lion. Baker & Sons restored his gravesite, a national monument to what it is today. Hear the story of this man-eater as you journey along the river where the lion once stalked. Meet villagers who were alive during the lion’s reign of terror to get a firsthand account. This tour and monument, exclusively offered by our company, is dedicated to the locals along the Rufiji River who lost loved ones to this infamous lion | 6hrs
premium activities
Night GaME dRIVE
only until recently did the Selous open to allow game drives under the cover of night; the opportunity to enter the park as the sun drops, capture the last light with the camera lens as the animals pass bracing for the long African night. Not all creatures will see the sun rise again! We send in safari-goers with a vehicle, an armed ranger, a guide and a spotlight. In case the night temperature drops, we supply Maasai blankets. Slowly and carefully the vehicle proceeds through the park. The nightlife is very different from the day. Nocturnal creatures awake. Bush-baby monkeys with their oversized eyes hang with chameleons in the trees, crying in the still air. Impala eyes reflect the spotlight, huddled in large groups with other prey to increase their chances of survival. Hippos on mass exit the waters to graze inland. Elephants with their relatively small eyes and poor night vision continue feeding and crunching vegetation and calling with a low tympanic rumble. The vehicle passes through, in search of predators, hyenas, wild dogs, leopards and lion hunting parties. This activity is a thrilling one | 5hrs
premium activities
all-day Boat safari inside of the selous (nyerere) park
a brand-new activity, beginning at the boat launch in front of Baker & Sons Lodge after breakfast (9:30am), we head up-river crossing the boundary into the Selous Game Reserve (aka Nyerere National Park). After a quick check-in at the park gate, re-board the boat for this aquatic safari experience! Over the next eight hours we will navigate the extensive collection of rivers and lakes that flow from the Great Selous. Your boat captain/guide is tasked to locate the wild African animals from this unique perspective, drifting in on an amphibious approach. Find elephant families cooling off in the pools, long-necked giraffe bending low to take a drink with an eye-out for nearby predators, hippos and buffalo, female lions and adolescent males with tufted manes lapping the water. Meals and drinks are served onboard. If you have time, this is a worthwhile activity that ends with a sunset over the river | FULL-DAY
One of the best kept secrets in EasT Africa, the Selous Game RESERVE
just a 4-hour drive from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, up and over and the scenic Pugu Hills, to the largest and oldest animal refuge on the continent
BOOK WITH BAKER & SONS
features a private upper porch, king-sized bed, boat wood bunkbed, large ensuite bathroom and hot water shower, dhow writing desk, satellite tv, wifi
| BASE RATE | Add Adult | Kids (ages 5-15) | 4 years and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| $230 / couple per night | $70 | $15 | |
| includes x 2 Guests, Full-Board Lodging (all-inclusive meals) | max occupancy 6 guests | ||
features an ensuite bathroom and stone shower place, sun kissed hot water, handcrafted king sized bed, writing desk, decorations with satellite tv, wifi
| BASE RATE | Add Adult | Kids (ages 5-15) | 4 years and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| $145 / single per night | $70 | $15 | |
| includes x 1 Guest, Full-Board Lodging (all-inclusive meals) | max occupancy 2 guests | ||
features an outdoor bbq, indoor fully-equipped shared kitchen and common area with satellite tv, bathrooms and showers, adjoining or private rooms
| BASE RATE | Add Adult | Kids (ages 5-15) | 4 years and under |
|---|---|---|---|
| $55/solo per night | $35 | free | |
| includes x One Guest, Bed & Breakfast lodging | max occupancy 5 guests | add lunches + suppers to your stay $25/adult and $15/kid | |
ROOM AVAILABILITY CALENDAR
The location is just fantastic and filled with animals as the river is nearby and gorgeous trees all around hosting many monkeys, bush babies and the best music-making birds. The lodge is great for organizing all your safari activities like game drives, boat trips and the walking hike into the bush. The food is absolutely exceptional and a perfect experience to have it on the roof of the cottage in the company of the wilds… it’s been the best home cooking of all the places I’ve stayed.
Florence | booking.com
At Baker & Sons, we are what we leave behind.
Come join us at the largest reserve in Africa, along the wild river where the beasts still walk.
baker & sons safari co
Email Booking@BakerSafari.co
WhatsApp +255 69 246 0211
