Ultra-luxe Zimbabwe and Botswana

Overview

Set by the Zambezi River in Mana Pools National Park, Wilderness Ruckomechi Camp is located by the elephants’ much-loved albida trees, favoured for their pods, which makes the camp ideal for being able to view these massive mammals without even having to leave the lodge.

From the camp’s position on the banks of the river, you can see the Great Rift Valley on the opposite side of the Zambezi, a view which you can take in from the comfortable star-gazing deck. Each of the ten tented rooms have indoor and outdoor showers, and there’s a dining and lounge area, plus an infinity pool for cooling off after a safari.

When it comes to exploring the land, there are a variety of options. You can discover the area on foot on a walking safari, or take to the water for a cruise in a nine-seat pontoon, six-seat speed boat or even a canoe. Naturally, game drives leave every morning and afternoon, too.

Birds are prevalent, with species including the western banded snake-eagle, three-banded courser, Arnot’s chat, African golden oriole, and Meve’s starling. Other types of wildlife you can see on safari from Ruckomechi (aside from the resident elephants) include leopard, hippo, Burchell’s zebra, lion and buffalo.

Overview

Located in an exclusive, private wilderness area on Mana Pools’ eastern boundary, surrounded by wildlife-rich woodlands, floodplains, pans, islands and rivers, sits Wilderness Chikwenya. A tented camp, sustainably constructed that delivers a high level of luxury and comfort through its stunning design, facilities and incredible attention to detail. Chandeliers are created with cotton and wood or strung with stones, large four-poster beds are swathed in white fabric (also acting as mosquito protection) and old-style lanterns light up the alfresco dining areas come evening.

The seven-tented suites (including two family units) are surrounded by a dense forest of albida and Natal mahogany trees, which provide shade in the heat of the day. The tents stand on low decks with wooden walkways that link them to the raised main area. 

The lounge, dining and bar areas boast beautiful views and with comfortable furniture including large sofas, as well as dining chairs and tables, these areas are perfect for relaxation. A refreshing swimming pool, deck and fireplace complete the camp’s list of luxurious spaces guests can enjoy. 

The camp includes daily wildlife viewing activities including game drives, nature walks, seasonal boating, canoeing and river cruises. Huge amounts of elephants are known to roam close to camp along with high concentrations of buffalos, while predators such as lions, wild dogs, leopard, and cheetah are often sighted. Greater kudu, Burchell’s zebra, impala, warthog, and common waterbuck can be seen on the surrounding plains and the grunting of hippo can be heard all day.

Overview

Zarafa Camp is set inside the 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve, created to conserve and protect the wildlife of the area alongside connecting Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Linyanti waterways. This reserve is home to a diverse and rich abundance of species similar to those found in the Savuti and Chobe National Parks, but with the exclusivity of a private reserve.

Simply one of the most beautiful tented camps in Africa, Zarafa is a triumph of conservation and attention to detail. There are just 4 immense tented suites set on raised wooden platforms overlooking the floodplain of the Zibadianja Lagoon. The tents are decorated in a style befitting of the explorations of the early 20th Century, matched with modern comforts and technological surprises. Outdoor decking wraps around each guest suite and offers guests a private plunge pool, private outdoor shower, and outdoor seating.

Within the suite your lounge flows into a well-decorated bedroom and an open layout indoor bathroom that is adorned with a polished copper bath tub and fireplace. The main camp, made up of a generously-sized main lounge, library, dining area and bush boutique, is nestled under a canopy of  trees a slight distance from the suites. An outdoor gym and in-room massages are also available.

Environmentally, Zarafa has a number of initiatives in place to ensure they have as light an impact on their surrounding as possible, from solar power and water filtration systems, to vehicles that run mostly on vegetable oil. The camp also supports the notion that conservation can only be successful if communities living alongside wildlife and protected areas are given opportunities to learn, interact, and benefit from these conserved areas.

As part of Great Plains Conservation, Zarafa is involved with the Great Plains Foundation’s launch of the Great Plains Academy, which provides enrichment opportunities for a community in the upper reaches of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The academy will supply vocational training, supplemental education, and scholarships with a conservation and tourism focus. All programmes seek to invest in the skill and capacity of the individual whilst displaying respect for natural heritage and a solid conservation ethic.

Overview

Perched above the Zibadianja Lagoon, Zarafa Dhow Suites is an understatedly opulent retreat, exclusive for your family or group of friends. Oozing old-world elegance, this award-winning private tented villa echoes the 1920’s style of Zarafa’s main camp – but on a more personal scale.

A lavish lounge and dining room, filled with deep leather sofas and beautiful campaign furniture, sits at the centre of the property and is bookended by two sumptuous suites. Inspired by the unique flavour of Eastern Africa, the rooms are dressed with ancient Zanzibari doors, fireplaces and grand cropper baths overlooking the lagoon and untouched wilderness.

Drink in these elevated bushland views, spotting the resident wild dogs, big cats and elephants, with your suite’s professional Canon camera and Swarovski binoculars. Then, get up close to the incredible wildlife on game drives and bush walks with your expert guide, bush picnics, afternoon tea and canapés. Dining here is first-class, at Relais & Chateaux standard, and most magical when enjoyed under the vast expanse of African stars.

Overview

With uninterrupted views over Osprey Lagoon, and a fantastic vantage point from which to watch the areas mega-herds of elephants, Wilderness DumaTau and nearby Wilderness Little DumaTau are perfectly located for making the most of your stay in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.

Each spacious tented guest suite has been positioned to offer great views whether you’re relaxing on your deck, or cooling off in your plunge pool. You’ll also find the tents include spot-cooling, meaning you can find respite from the hot afternoons indoors. Spend time investigating the ‘curiosity boxes’ you’ll find mounted on the walls in your room and the drawers filled with fascinating artefacts and information. They’re a great way to learn more about the area’s wildlife and rich history. Look out for unique elephant and wild dog art in the rooms and library made from reclaimed snare wire.

Wilderness Safaris have constructed both camps to give maximum comfort and offer guests a large array of facilities. In addition to the in-tent cooling systems, you’ll discover that the central Osprey Retreat which sits between the two camps boasts a pool, drink and snack counter and a Safari Boutique area, offering you more space to mingle with your fellow guests if you choose to do so. Large decks, plunge pools and awnings are attached to each of Wilderness Duma Tau’s eight tented suites as well as at the four at Wilderness Little DumaTau.

The Wilderness DumaTau team continues to focus on the sustainability of wildlife corridors, as they have done since 1997. They believe that it is more vital than ever to protect large wildlife corridors of wilderness,  like those within the vast Linyanti Wildlife Reserve – especially for the African elephant and wild dog that cover extensive ground.

Staying at Wilderness DumaTau offers you easy access to the Linyanti floodplain as well as the Savuti Channel, in fact, it’s the only concession from which you can access both. The region has all the habitat diversity to make it a haven for wildlife, and is well-known for its elephant concentrations as they congregate along the waterways and lagoons during the dry winter months. General wildlife viewing is excellent year round including impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena are good. As well as day and night game drives, you can explore on nature walks or take to the water on motorboats or the river barge (depending on water levels).

Overview

This is one of the most luxurious camps in Botswana, with nine huge canvas ‘tents’ with thatched roofs set on raised wooden platforms. Each comes equipped with a private plunge pool, four poster bed, indoor and outdoor showers.

The camp sits overlooking the Linyanti River and the oxbow lake of Wilderness King’s Pool from which it derives its name. Communal areas include a lounge dining area, bar and a shared pool. These all sit on raised decking allowing for excellent armchair game viewing of the river and lake. This part of the Linyanti borders the Chobe National Park, meaning that great numbers of elephant frequent the area during the dry months as they visit the lagoon and river. Other game is abundant too during these months including giraffe, lechwe, zebra and impala, all helping to draw the large predators; lion, leopard, cheetah and wild-dog.

As well as game drives the camp offers seasonal barge cruises along the river (dependent on the river level) , basic fishing and walking safaris (on request in advance). The camp also has two wildlife hides, excellent for close up observation of game.

Overview

Open, relaxed and resting on the banks of the eastern Selinda Spillway in the heart of the 320 000 acre Selinda Reserve, this safari camp has a prime location within a territory rich with wildlife.

Having been recently rebuilt, the camp provides a blend of old colonial elegance, updated with contemporary amenities. This is an old-world luxury experience for the modern-day traveler.

Tucked away under its sweeping thatched roof, the camp remains cool in the midday heat, and commands excellent views out over the floodplains and savanna of the Selinda Reserve. The extensive raised decks surrounding both the main lodge and guest tents facilitate wildlife viewing directly from the camp, meaning you can sit back and enjoy a delicious meal and never keep your eye off the local animals.

When you want to get more up close and personal, the camp offers both day and night game drives, on which you will be highly likely to see antelope, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, elephant and buffalo. Whether you choose to travel by foot, boat or 4×4, you’ll have a unique experience of the African wilderness.

Overview

Wilderness Little Mombo is the smaller more intimate sister to Wilderness Mombo Camp, with just three elegant safari suites. Each are nestled under a shady canopy, each with their own en-suite bathrooms, outdoor shower and large deck to enjoy the views over floodplains that host some of the best big game viewing in Africa. The suites are linked together on the raised platform which allows wildlife to pass by underneath.

Wilderness Little Mombo has its own dining room, boma, kitchen, lounge and pool, making it an ideal base for a family or group of friends seeking extra exclusivity. A raised walkway leads back to the main camp’s communal lounge, gym and thatched decking area.

Dedicated to conservation, a solar farm powers much of the camp and wastewater is treated above ground. Your rate also contributes to various conservation projects including lion research and elephant monitoring.

While you are offered daily morning and afternoon game drives, many choose to stay behind and take in the prolific wildlife surrounding camp. Herbivore densities – especially of red lechwe, plains zebra, giraffe and impala – are extremely high and this supports one of Africa’s highest density lion populations. Spotted hyena and leopard are other frequently seen carnivores, the latter often in camp. Birding is excellent with a great mix of water birds (wattled crane, long-toed plover) and also those species associated with Kalahari thornveld (crimson-breasted shrike, pied babbler).

Overview

One of the most famous camps in all of Africa, Wilderness Mombo rightly deserves its reputation due to its remarkable game viewing experiences coupled with the service and luxury of the camp.

Rebuilt in 2018, the camp is made up of nine spacious and elegantly appointed tents, each built on a raised platform giving fantastic views across the plains. To reduce the environmental impact, most of the original material was used in the rebuild. Set in a thicket of giant mangosteen and fig trees, the eight suites boast sweeping views out over the floodplain which attracts a large number of animals. Each suite has a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, plunge pool and wrap-around veranda. Enjoy watching the passing wildlife and panoramic sunsets from your ‘sala’.

Head to the main communal area where you’ll find a small library and a plunge pool to relax in during the afternoons. Enjoy delicious meals in the dining area that overlooks the plains.

The camp is committed to conservation, with much of the power provided by a solar farm and donations made to preservation projects for each guest.