NEWS FROM ZIMBOLAND SAFARIS | VIEW IN A WEB BROWSER

Dear {name}, read all about our recent visits to the newly upgraded Bumi Hills Safari Lodge on the far shores of Lake Kariba, the child-friendly Ruckomechi Camp in Mana Pools National Park and Camp Amalinda in the Matopos and Somalisa Acacia Camp in Hwange National Park. I HOPE THIS GIVES YOU SOME INSPIRATION to travel to Africa  – and just a few ideas on where to go – we have so many!  Until next time – famba zvakanaka!

Belinda

BRAND NEW BUMI HILLS SAFARI LODGE – Recently we were invited to view the newly upgraded Bumi Hills Safari Lodge on the far shores of Lake Kariba – African Bushcamps new acquisition and proud new addition to their growing portfolio.

Wow, what a transformation! No expense has been spared in the shushing up of this old, much-loved, camp. The swimming pool is still their iconic feature as you walk in, it is a welcome relief to see, blue and sparkling.  The bar has moved to the expanded terrace below, covered by a vast white tented top, offering panoramic views while you sip your sundowners. The rooms are all have a spectacular lake view and have fresh, new décor, air conditioning, modern bathrooms with both bath & shower, refreshment station that offers hot & cold drinks – your every need is thought of. Glass sliding doors open onto your private balcony where you can sit and watch the sun rise or sunset. There is a Family Room which consists of 2 standard interleading rooms and a Suite which has a lounge separating the 2 bedrooms, perfect for families or friends travelling together.

Fishing, game drives, walks, bush & beach dinners, village visits are all available in the company of professional guides. There is a beauty spa and gymnasium if you are feeling like a bit of pampering too. Game viewing for green season was surprisingly good, including big families of elephant and impala with their babies, buffalo have returned to the shores, the ever present hippo and crocodile – lion spoor everywhere, although we didn’t see them on this trip. Birding in its height with the usual Little Bee Eaters, Lilac Breasted Rollers and Hornbills in abundance. Fishing was amazing, with the help of our very enthusiastic young guide, we each caught a mixture of tiger, bream and some noisy unfortunate squeakers.  Tigerfish are on a catch-and-release fishing basis.

Safari Logistics can fly you from Harare or Victoria Falls, in just over an hour you will land at their private airstrip and whisked into camp – this is the most divine destination to disappear to when life gets too much!  Seriously, whats not to love?

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FAMILY-FRIENDLY SAFARIS – Taking your children on a safari has to be one of the greatest life-experiences we can offer to them. My lucky two daughters have been on a few with me, these are some recent places we have been and they have loved:

RUCKOMECHI CAMP & LITTLE RUCKOMECHI – MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE – Last school holidays we packed our bits and drove to Mana Pools National Park to stay at Ruckomechi Camp – one of Wilderness Safari’s signature camps.

It’s a long, but interesting drive, the last 2 hours through the national park with much stopping for photos along the way. Ruckomechi Camp is on its own private concession with its tents stretching along, and overlooking, the Zambezi River. What strikes you as you drive in is the abundance and variety of game that frequent the floodplains behind the camp, around every corner we encountered bushbuck, zebra, eland, elephant, impala, buffalo, baboon, warthog in large numbers – even lion sheltering in a thicket. Birds of an overwhelming variety – both water and land dwelling, you need to keep your camera on your lap and ready.

The tents at Ruckomechi are vast, luxurious and beautifully designed. The Family Tent is the first tent next to the main area, which is a relief when you have children, you don’t want to have to walk too far in such a wild place. It consists of 2 bedrooms, separated by a lounge, each room has its own shower/bathroom – the rooms are separated by a canvas wall but is all one unit – something I found comforting knowing my children are under the same roof as me. The main area is on a raised deck where you meet for meals and drinks and enjoy some fabulous meals under the stars.  

We were allocated our very own private guide who specialises in child-friendly game drives and activities and who I consider an absolute saint as he patiently untangled fishing rods, handled flapping fish and worms strewn all over the boat. Game drives were fun as we stopped to look at bird nests, miniature mongeese, butterflies, ant lions and all the little things kids find so amusing …. We had sunset drinks & snacks out in the bush one evening after our game drive, enjoying one those postcard red/purple/pink sunsets while sipping some cold white wine and marvelling at the utter peace of this amazing wilderness – life doesn’t get better than this, believe me.

Little Ruckomechi is the little sister camp a few kilometres down river, situated on the old site of the original Ruckomechi Camp. It’s small and intimate, designed for sole use by a family or group – it has just three to four tents. Set under a grove of shady albida trees, this is a perfect little camp for those of you who would prefer a quiet, place of your own. You can share the camp with other guests if you are on your own though, it does not have to be booked entirely. The camp has a main dining tent, small swimming pool and bar area and you are looked after by the ever-professional Wilderness Safaris staff and guides.

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SOMALISA ACACIA CAMP, HWANGE NATIONAL PARK, ZIMBABWE – Over New Year we took our friends from Wales on that obligatory long drive around Zimbabwe, taking in Camp Amalinda in the Matopos and Somalisa Acacia Camp in Hwange National Park. We were so lucky to have had hot dry weather, although it had rained previously, so Hwange was gorgeously green and gold and the animals were feasting fatly on the thick grass.

Green Season in Hwange is a delight for so many reasons – beautiful warm days, lush green bush, huge herds of everything with their babies, many species of birds including the migrants and, importantly, lower rates.

Somalisa Acacia Camp is the smaller, family-friendly camp next to the main Somalisa Camp. If you are in any doubt about staying at a tented camp – don’t – these camps have taken ‘glamping’ to all new levels – why not treat yourself to a bit of luxury, you are on holiday Our Family Tent was vast – consisting of a parents bedroom with a kingsize bed and a small passage linked the children’s bedroom with twin beds. Each bedroom has its own bathroom complete with indoor and outdoor showers and a huge ball & claw bath tub. The tents each have their own wooden decked veranda with a hammock and easy chairs – all have views over the waterhole where elephant are frequent visitors. The main area is raised up on decks with a bar, lounge area, dining area, small plunge pool – but the best feature is the elephants drinking pool they have built on the end of the deck where you can sit literally meters away from these gentle giants and watch and listen to their slurping, swallowing, sighing and gentle tummy rumbles.

Being on their own concession deep in the park, the game viewing is exceptional – in one day we saw Cecil’s family, his offspring consisting of a pride of young female & male lions, who frequent this area and a very handsome pair of cheetahs, who showed their incredible hunting skills and took down an impala while we watched. The Ngweshla Pan was a hive of activity with numbers of zebra, kudu, impala, elephant, wildebeest, warthog, ostrich and a couple of black-backed jackal. We drove back to camp in the evening feeling elated – a huge day!

Evenings were spent around the fire after a delicious 3-course dinner – the sky is so clear you can see the Milky Way. We spent hours quietly watching groups of elephant drift in to drink by the light of the full moon and listening to the sounds of the bush around us. Special moments we’ll treasure and be so grateful for.

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NEW OFFICE ADDRESS – Shop 37, Arundel Village, Quorn Avenue, Mt Pleasant (upstairs from Zilala Travel) Phone: (263 4) 369741-9, Mobile: (263) 775 548 528 Skype: belinda.whitaker Email: belinda@zol.co.zw

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