Ultra-luxe Zimbabwe and Botswana

Set by the Zambezi River in Mana Pools National Park, 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.

Set within the pristine Matetsi Private Game Reserve along an exclusive 15km (9 mile) stretch of the Zambezi River a little upstream from Mosi-oa-Tunya, Matetsi Victoria Falls perfectly combines fine safari with easy access to the thrills and adventure of Victoria Falls. The lodge comprises of two intimate camps of just nine suites each, including two family suites. All the suites are modern yet of the vernacular, with clean lines softened by local craft pieces and repurposed materials. En-suite bathrooms boast indoor and outdoor showers as well as a deep bath which looks out over the Zambezi. A private veranda offers a refreshing plunge pool and a peaceful sitting area that overlooks the river. At the heart of each camp is a communal area with a variety of dining spaces, an interactive kitchen, convivial bar area and an al fresco area that encircles a blazing fire bowl, all with unifying theme of a wood and copper, the ‘red gold’ of the country’s historical mining industry. There’s also a large central pool, massage sala, fitness centre and wine cellar. For the utmost privacy, Matetsi River House is an exclusive use villa with four bedrooms, its own kitchen, dining areas, pool and a complement of staff, including a dedicated guide, private vehicle, chef and butler, ensuring a tailor-made safari unlike any other. The 50,000ha (124,000 acre) private reserve is home to large herds of elephant and buffalo as well as an assortment of plains game and predators including kudu, sable and roan antelope, hippo, lion, leopard, African wild dog, spotted hyena, and 366 bird species. Explore the concession on expertly guided game drives, horseback safaris and bush walks, or head out onto the water on canoeing excursions, fishing trips and sunset river cruises. You can also discover Victoria Falls and the famous adventure activities that surround it such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, scenic flights and zip lining.

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.

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. In your separate lounge area, an antique wooden chest contains a top of the range Canon camera and lens for your exclusive use whilst in camp (the camp manager will give you the low-down on how to use it). A polished copper bath tub and fireplace adorn the bedroom. The camp is set inside the 320,000 acre Selinda Private reserve, created to conserve and protect the wildlife of the area and provide corridors for migration around Botswana. This 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.

DumaTau – meaning ‘roar of the lion’ – is a luxury camp located in the private 125,000-hectare Linyanti Wildlife Reserve which borders the western boundary of Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. It is situated close to the source of the Savute Channel on one of the many lagoons within the Linyanti Swamp system, which makes for varied and wildlife rich safari experience. The camp itself sits raised at the edge of a hippo-filled lagoon under a shady grove of trees, raised off the ground. There are 10 spacious tents, two of which are family units, under canvas with sliding doors and windows that allow for wide-angled views. There is an airy, expansive dining and lounge area and a pool, all looking out to the water. DumaTau has a very light carbon footprint and runs on solar energy. For a really special night in the wilderness, a 45-minute drive brings you to DumaTau’s Star Bed. Overlooking the game-rich Zibadianja lagoon, spend a evening watching wildlife congregate in a truly pristine area shared with no one else. 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 hyaena 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).

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 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.

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.

Positioned on Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta, where seasonal floodwaters cause wildlife to congregate in great numbers, you cannot get closer to the wildlife of this rich habitat and in more natural luxury than at Chief’s Camp. Each of the 12 luxury bush pavilions are vast with their own private decks, plunge pools and a dining area. Bathrooms enjoy showers both inside and out and a large bath tub with beautiful floor to ceiling windows and folding glass doors with a stunning outlook over the surrounding waters of the Okavango Delta. There’s also the exclusive Geoffrey Kent Luxury Suite, named after the luxury safari pioneer Geoffrey Kent, that can host 4-6 people with its own lounge, boma area, kitchen, bar and a private vehicle, guide and waiter. The camp is located in part of the Moremi Game Reserve, often termed the ‘predator capital of Africa’ in that nowhere else will you see such a range of these natural hunters in one place: wild dog, cheetah, leopard, lion, not to mention a large concentration of elephant too. With great guides who take you out on Mokoro (dug-out canoe) safaris when the waters are high, this offers a unique and intimate angle to tracking wildlife and spotting the bountiful birdlife of the delta. There are also 4WD game drives and helicopter air safaris available, although the latter is an additional activity, but well worth it.

Little Mombo is the smaller more intimate sister to 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. 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 rhino re-introduction, 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).

This atmospheric safari camp offers a remarkable game viewing experience. The camp is made up of nine very spacious and elegantly appointed tents, each built on a raised platform giving fantastic views across the plains. Set deep in the Okavango Delta, the design of the camp perfectly captures the spirit of its wild surroundings while also providing unparalleled luxury. Each tent comes with a private thatched ‘sala’ for observing passing wildlife or enjoying the panoramic sunsets. The suites also have an indoor and outdoor shower, a cosy and beautifully designed lounge and plush king-size bed. The main communal area sits under thatch with a small library and a plunge pool to relax during the afternoons. Enjoy delicious, traditional 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 part of your rates go towards preservation projects. There is also no wi-fi, with the promise of helping guests have a deeper connection and immersion in the wilderness.