Tag: african bush camps

Kanga Camp: the Home of the Armchair Safari

Posted on by James

Most safari lodges have you feeling like you should be out and about, exploring the area, wondering what might be going on around the next bend in the road.
But Kanga Camp, set on a private concession in Mana Pools National Park of Zimbabwe, offers such prolific wildlife viewing from the comfort of an armchair on the camp deck, the only place you’ll feel you need to go is to the charging station to replace your camera battery.

Kanga is a seasonal camp, open between the months of April and November. The wet season when it is closed features surface water everywhere, which means animals aren’t drawn to the Kanga Pan itself, which during the dry months is essentially the only standing water for miles in any direction.
Elephants in particular are an almost constant procession to the valuable drinking water of the pan (the Zambezi River itself is almost 20 kilometres away), and there are few places on earth that you will be able to get as close to these magnificent creatures, at eye level.

Kanga Pan is a photographer’s paradise in particular. The unique, close-up angles you can get of all manner of wildlife coming down to drink at all hours of the day means that both that long lens and wide-angle will get their fair share of use. Meal-times are regularly punctuated by the rumble of breeding elephant herds only a few feet away, and the nocturnal roar of the local lion coalitions forms the most authentic African serenade you can have.

In line with African Bush Camp’s sustainability approach, the camp is solar-powered. It comprises six tents all raised on individual wooden platforms for an elevated view over the Pan and surrounding bush. The Meru-styled tents are elegantly styled, featuring floor-to-ceiling mesh windows that allow for refreshing air flow and make you feel completely immersed in nature, whilst keeping out any bugs that may be buzzing around (although there are very few to be found during the dry season).

All tents are replete with fans, en-suite bathroom, flushing toilet, outdoor shower, hot running water and a secluded veranda. Kanga also has a family tent which boasts a wraparound terrace facing the pan with private seating and dining areas. Children over seven years old are welcome at the camp, although waling safaris are restricted to kids over the age of 16. The camp plunge pool offers respite from the heat during the warm days at the beginning and end of the season.

It’s not all about out the Pan itself though. Experienced rangers take insightful game drives to explore the wider park, including trips down to the Zambezi River itself, which offers a completely different experience to the inland terrain around Kanga. The Ana tree forests of the Zambezi floodplain and the multitude of wildlife it attracts will leave you speechless.

All in all, Kanga offers the same dedication to hospitality that we’ve come to expect from the African Bush Camps portfolio. It is as comfortable as you could wish, the experience is unique, and in the context of a wildlife destination, especially in an area like Mana Pools, there isn’t a much higher accolade than that.

Lolebezi: Wild, Remote, Luxurious

Posted on by James

The Zambezi is one of Africa’s largest and most iconic rivers.

Originating in the highlands of Zambia, it sweeps out to the west into Angola, then back south through Zambia before forming the border between Namibia as it turns to the east, then the border with Zimbabwe, and eventually crossing into Mozambique where it continues its path to the Indian Ocean.

Wildlife is to be found all along its almost 3000km length, but one section in particular is a verdant paradise; the 150km downstream from the Chirundu border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is part of the Lower Zambezi Valley, and it is here that you will find some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing in one of the most spectacular areas in Africa.
It is here that you find Lolebezi Camp, in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park.

Lolebezi is the latest offering in the African Bush Camps portfolio, and is one of the most special. An exclusive kilometre of Zambezi River frontage has guests waking up to one of the continent’s great waterways within a few metres of the deck of their rooms, more often than not with an elephant or two in attendance, and at the very least the local pod of hippos. The river teems with life here, especially in the dry season (July – October), when the inland pans evaporate and animals have to flock to the riverbank to drink.

Elephant herds congregate under the Ana trees to eat the fallen pods, impalas and baboons feed together, both acting as sentries for each other, and where there is a multitude of herbivores, the predators are never far away.
Leopards and lions abound here, and the openness in of the area towards the end of the dry season in particular makes the sightings of these big cats more common.

Large packs of the endangered African Wild Dog have made their home in the park, one of the few areas that provides the space that these enigmatic animals require to operate effectively in the huge home ranges they need, whilst simultaneously allowing for a large enough population to establish itself that ensures healthy genetic flow.

The camp itself is paradise.

Sunsets like no other as the sky and the river itself are bathed in golden, red and purple hues. Fish eagles calling from the trees above and the chatter of monkeys from the tree tops serves as constant reminders that you are not separated from nature here; you are immersed in it.

The contemporary design of Lolebezi seamlessly blends modest elegance with a simplicity that can only be found in the African bush. Designed for both family and romantic escapes, Lolebezi has four superior suites and two double family units. The lodge is fully airconditioned, with a private plunge pool and thatched Sala on the river.

The eco-conscious traveller should look no further, as the camp is powered by an off-the-grid solar farm, and the water supply and wastewater are managed to ensure that no pollution enters the river. Everything is done to minimise the human footprint on the land.

 

Lolebezi is a family friendly lodge, welcoming children of all ages (with the restriction of children over the age of 16 being able to join walking safaris and canoeing).
The small number of suites assures an intimate experience, whether you are travelling as a couple or in a slightly larger group.

The main dining area of Lolebezi is designed out of old railway sleepers, harking back to the long-forgotten days of exploration and giving it a distinctly adventurous atmosphere. The all-day café and pizza bar ensure that you won’t be going hungry whilst on safari here. If you’d rather opt for a more secluded dining experience, you can eat in your own dining room or take advantage of the river-pods for picnics.

Lolebezi is truly a special place. The combination of its immersion in one of Africa’s greatest wildlife areas as well as its superb accommodation and attention to detail make it one of the best offerings in the region.
A short flight from Lusaka (Zambia’s capital) will set you down at the airstrip just two kilometres from camp, and only a short game drive down the road you will be on the banks of the Zambezi, sipping a G&T while taking in the river and its accompanying escarpment in all their glory.

Get in touch to find out more…

Somalisa: the Elephant Heart of Zimbabwe

Posted on by James

Hwange National Park in the west of Zimbabwe is a land of contrasts. From dense teak and acacia forest to vast open savannah, which offers visitors an exhibition of raw and diverse Africa.

Somalisa Camp, under the African Bush Camps umbrella, is tucked away within a quiet Acacia grove on a private concession in the heart of Hwange, and offers the ideal intimate base from which to explore the expansive ecosystem and varied ecosystem of which it forms a part.

Hwange is famous for its elephant herds, and Somalisa provides the perfect place from which to view these iconic African animals. The waterhole right in front of camp provides an oasis for them even during the dry winters, and herds flock down to drink daily. It is not uncommon to have multiple herds come to drink during the course of an afternoon, and their rumbles serve as a constant part of the wonderful African ambience filtering in from the open plain.
Game Drives provide access to the greater reserve, in which Africa’s large predators abound. Lions dominate the viewing and their roars can be heard most nights. Up to 700 of these majestic cats roam the Hwange ecosystem, and the area is in constant flux as prides vie for dominance. Wild Dogs are regularly encountered, and even unusual species like Roan antelope and Brown Hyena often form part of the game viewing.
Experienced Somalisa guides know exactly where the best viewing is to be found, so have your camera ready!

Back at camp, seven elegant and spacious sail tents provide simple luxury, and the small number of guests in camp ensures an intimate safari experience.
All tents are replete with a charging station for camera batteries and phones, a wood-burning fireplace (an amazing addition on those cold winter nights), and a private viewing deck from which you can observe any game that happens to come sauntering down for a drink.
The heat of the African day is rendered almost negligible by the carefully designed tents which are optimal for airflow, allowing a cool breeze to be a constant presence as you lounge in opulence.

Somalisa is leading the way in low-impact tourism and was the recipient of the first GOLD Green Tourism Certificate in Zimbabwe. With a full solar farm and water purity system, the camp is able to be off the grid whilst recycling about 80% of its water usage.

Nature and luxury intertwine seamlessly here, and with Hwange National Park being the largest natural reserve in Zimbabwe – and also one of the oldest, being established in 1928 – there are few places as good in which to fully immerse yourself in an African wildlife experience.

Hwange’s proximity to Victoria Falls means Somalisa is just a short charter flight from this centre of African adventure, so we strongly recommend including Victoria Falls in your itinerary.

With unbeatable specials currently running, particularly our Best of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Cape Town option, there’s no better time to book…