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Zibadianja Camp re-opened in June 2008 with a beautiful new design and spectacular new location to rave reviews and critical acclaim. National Geographic Adventure magazine in its November 2008 edition has just honoured Zibadianja as one of the world's top 50 eco-lodges. The camp inherited its name from the old Zibalianja Camp. As very few guests have been able to pronounce or remember Zibadianja, from 1 January 2009, Zibadianja Camp will change its name to Zarafa Camp. Zarafa literally means "the lovely one". The true story of Zarafa is about a Maasai giraffe presented to Charles X of France in 1826 by the Viceroy of Egypt. Zarafa was giraffe that inspired all who came to see her. The new Zarafa Camp does all that and more.

Zarafa Camp is blessed with an extraordinary location in the eastern sector of the Selinda Reserve. The site is about 2km south-east from the old Zibadianja camp and is situated overlooking the vast savannas and floodplains of the Zibadianja Lagoon under cool and shady Jackalberry and Red Ivory forests. The uninterrupted views from every part of the camp over these productive floodplains is truly breathtaking. The enormous shady trees, the palm fringed savannahs, the high wildlife and birdlife concentrations out front characterise the camp as does the elevated views across the flood plain that forms an extension of Zibadianja Lagoon's southern shores.

Please click onto the tabs to the left to view what this remarkable camp has to offer.

Zarafa is a true story about a young Maasai giraffe who, in 1826, appeared at the port of Marseilles as a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt to Charles X of France. Her journey to France began with her capture and taming in the Ethiopian highlands, whence she travelled 3500 miles down the Blue Nile and the Nile, and then across the Mediterranean.

She was accompanied by three cows that provided her with 25 litres of milk to drink each day. From Alexandria, she embarked on a ship to Marseilles. As she was so tall, a hole was cut through the deck above the cargo hold through which she could poke her neck. After a voyage of 32 days, she arrived in Marseilles on 31 October 1826. She was carefully walked the last 900 km to Paris and crowds of people were captivated by the 'beautiful African'. She was the first living giraffe Europe had seen in almost 350 years. Zarafa's arrival in Paris caused a sensation. Over 100,000 people came to see her, approximately an eighth of the population of Paris at the time. An enthralled Charles X made sure that Zarafa was exhibited daily in the Jardin du Roi. Soon songs, poems, satires, clothes and hair fashions were reflecting the impact of her arrival.

Zarafa remained in Paris for a further 18 years until her death. Her body was stuffed and displayed in the foyer of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris for many years, before being moved to the museum at La Rochelle, where it remains today.

In 1999 the American author Michael Allin wrote a book about this giraffe and refers to her as Zarafa (Arabic for "Giraffe", literally "charming" or "lovely one"). The book is entitled Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story, from Deep in Africa to the Heart of Paris, published by Delta books and is available on Amazon.com

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