Leaving the swaying palm trees of Zanzibar behind I boarded a tiny plane heading out to the vast expanse that is The Selous in Tanzania. Now I am a dreamer but really there was not a person or a vehicle for as far as the eye can see – I am sure that we were the only ones out there! However as you may have gathered – I do like my authentic experiences with a touch of luxury and again this is where my Serena did not disappoint me. Mivumo River Lodge sits high above the Rufiji River with the most amazing uninterrupted views. I stood on my deck looking down on the golden sands and could just imagine myself sitting there with my toes buried in that golden sand – that thought soon disappeared as an enormous hippo lumbered out of the water! However I did get closer to the water as I stepped with some trepidation into a tiny but sturdy boat for a cruise. It must be said that because of my husband’s love of crocodiles, they are now rather special to me too. Nothing prepared me for the sight of a mother taking her young down to the water’s edge one by one in her mouth and then plopping them in to swim – or sink! This magical experience had the perfect ending. Sitting on a sandbank in the middle of the river – sand finally between my toes – I want to say G & T in hand, but it was actually a vodka and coke! But I did watch the sun go down on my perfect Serena experience. I still had the knowledge that if I wanted to see this unfold from the privacy of my deck, I could have done that too in my Serena Lodge – Mivumo River Lodge.