Global Show 2026 - Imvelo Lodges

Morning, afternoon and night game drives lead by experienced and knowledgeable guides will be done in an open-sided safari vehicle. During the safari we'll lookout for wildlife including elephant, giraffe, buffalo, sable antelope, common duiker and a variety of bird species such as ostrich, brown snake eagle, lilac-breasted roller and swallow-tailed bee-eater. Our vehicles hold a maximum of 6 guests, so everyone has a "window" seat.

These will be taken by an experienced guide for a more intimate experience of the sounds and scents of the wild. The area is well suited for walks through the camelthorn forests to marvel at elephants.

Imvelo partnered with the Mlevu community to set up a rhino sanctuary on their land. Our rhino are guarded 24/7 by the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection Unit. Visitors will be given an overview of the scope and vision of this award-winning and ground-breaking project, as well as an understanding of Imvelo’s broader community and conservation commitments, before heading out to find the rhinos themselves.

Note: every guest staying at Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge pays a Community Rhino Conservation Initiative levy of US$200 per person per stay; these funds all go into the rhino sanctuary along with community projects in the nearby villages.

Two km from Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge at Mandiseka, one of the famous old waterholes of Hwange, we have installed a ground level Look Up blind with ensuite bathroom. Imvelo’s Look Ups are famous for providing excellent photographic opportunities as well as close up experiences with Hwange’s famous elephant.

this fascinating morning tour will visit the school and/or the homestead of a local elder and is often the unexpected highlight of a safari, with a welcome sealed with endless smiles and laughter. The Imvelo Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary – Imvelo partnered with the Mlevu community to set up a rhino sanctuary on their land. Our rhino are guarded 24/7 by the Cobras Community Wildlife Protection Unit. Visitors will be given an overview of the scope and vision of this award-winning and groundbreaking project, as well as an understanding of Imvelo’s broader community and conservation commitments, before heading out to find the rhinos themselves.

EXPERIENCE

• Visit the sanctuary headquarters and home of the Cobras – hear a short talk on the CRCI project, rhino security, and future plans.
• Walking tour to join the rhino and the Cobras guarding them; lots of photo opportunities and time to appreciate Thuza and Kusasa in their new home (how close visitors will be able to get to the rhino is subject to conditions on the ground).

Please note:
Subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.

• Images

Experience our one-of-a-kind unique Elephant express rail car which is an
exceptional activity and a definite highlight of a stay at Camelthorn Lodge!

The Elephant Express was introduced in 2015; it is a unique railcar, ingeniously designed and built to offer an unforgettable activity to and between our camps in Southern Hwange National Park.The Elephant Express makes daily return trips as necessary between Ngamo Siding, near Camelthorn to Dete Railway station. It is a 2.5hr ride and a great game viewing opportunity. It is at an additional cost, please contact reservations on prices and how to use it to transfer guest in and out of camp.

• Accommodating up to 22 passengers, the railcar has a safari design with open sides, an engine at the front and back and specially trained drivers. It offers individual coach seating at teak tables and a chemical loo on-board.
• Soft drinks, beers, wine and snacks are provided and lunch is served whilst the railcar is stationary before the return trip.
• The railcar is spacious with large aisles to allow your guests to walk around within and spot wildlife.
• There is a highly experienced knowledgeable guide is on board to answer all your questions and help make the trip as enjoyable as possible.

• Images

•Traditional open safari vehicles driven by licensed experienced guides

•Morning drives with tea, coffee and biscuits and afternoon drives with drinks and cooked snacks

•Land Cruisers seat up to 9 guests and Land Rovers seat up to 7 guests

• Images

•Conducted by a fully licensed and highly experienced professional guide

•Usually undertaken in the mornings

•Ideal for photography of big game on foot

• Images

•Night drives within the lodge’s private concession to view the array of wildlife, particularly nocturnal

creatures.

•Usually undertaken upon return from the afternoon activity or alternatively after supper, particularly

when lion are heard calling nearby.

• Images

•We have a spacious 20 ft game viewing hide at one of our waterholes ideal for

wildlife photography. There is a flush loo available.

• Images

•Imvelo Safari Lodges operate 18 pumping stations for the wildlife in this region of the National Park, the furthest of which is 55 km away. A popular activity is to take an all day trip into the Park to visit the waterholes to drop off fuel and oil for the motors as well as rations and supplies for the pump attendants

•A picnic lunch is then enjoyed near one of the waterholes followed by a leisurely game drive back to lodge in the afternoon.

• Images

•Fifteen minutes drive from the lodge our guests have the opportunity to enjoy a real life look at

village life in rural Matabeleland. A fascinating experience of a variety of typical daily village

activities is followed by a tour of one of the nearby schools conducted by the Headmaster where

guests are given the opportunity to hear traditional songs sung by the children and enjoy a ‘class

interaction’.

• Images

EXPERIENCE

• Visit the sanctuary headquarters and home of the Cobras – hear a short talk on the CRCI project, rhino security, and future plans.
• Walking tour to join the rhino and the Cobras guarding them; lots of photo opportunities and time to appreciate Thuza and Kusasa in their new home (how close visitors will be able to get to the rhino is subject to conditions on the ground).

Please note:
Subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.

• Images

Experience our one-of-a-kind unique Elephant express rail car which is an
exceptional activity and a definite highlight of a stay at Camelthorn Lodge!

The Elephant Express was introduced in 2015; it is a unique railcar, ingeniously designed and built to offer an unforgettable activity to and between our camps in Southern Hwange National Park.The Elephant Express makes daily return trips as necessary between Ngamo Siding, near Camelthorn to Dete Railway station. It is a 2.5hr ride and a great game viewing opportunity. It is at an additional cost, please contact reservations on prices and how to use it to transfer guest in and out of camp.

• Accommodating up to 22 passengers, the railcar has a safari design with open sides, an engine at the front and back and specially trained drivers. It offers individual coach seating at teak tables and a chemical loo on-board.
• Soft drinks, beers, wine and snacks are provided and lunch is served whilst the railcar is stationary before the return trip.
• The railcar is spacious with large aisles to allow your guests to walk around within and spot wildlife.
• There is a highly experienced knowledgeable guide is on board to answer all your questions and help make the trip as enjoyable as possible.

• Images

•Traditional open safari vehicles driven by licensed experienced guides

•Morning game drives with tea, coffee and biscuits and afternoon drives with drinks and cooked

snacks

•Land cruisers seat up to 9 guests and Land Rovers seat up to 7 guests

• Images

•Conducted by a fully licensed and highly experienced professional guide

•Usually undertaken in the mornings

•Ideal for photography of big game on foot

• Images

•A feature of Camelthorn is the 6m long underground blind with en-suite flush toilet

•Strategically positioned in the shade of a Leadwood tree, disguised as an antheap and aligned to

take advantage of both the sunsets and the evening light at elephant toe level - this blind will have

novices taking National Geographic pictures!

• Images

•Night drives within the lodge estate to view the array of wildlife particularly nocturnal creatures is

very popular

•Usually undertaken upon return from the afternoon activity or alternatively after supper, particularly

when lion are heard calling nearby

• Images

•Imvelo Safari Lodges operates 18 pumping stations for the wildlife within this area of the park, the furthest of which is 55 km into the Park

•A popular activity is to take an all day trip into the park to visit the waterholes and drop fuel and oil

for the motors, and rations and supplies for the pump attendants.

• A picnic lunch is then enjoyed near one of the waterholes before taking an afternoon game drive

back to the lodge

• Images

•Within the neighboring villages of Tsholothso 15 minutes drive from the lodge, our guests have the

opportunity to enjoy a real life look at village life in rural Matabeleland

•A fascinating experience of a variety of typical daily village activities is followed by a tour of one of

the nearby schools conducted by the Headmaster where guests are given the opportunity to hear

traditional songs sung by the children and enjoy a ‘class interaction’.

• Images

Imvelo’s ethos is to enrich the lives of those who live around us as well as our guests. As such, we have a strong link with communities around the lodges and our spa treatments fall in line with our proud tradition of empowering the community through providing jobs in tourism as our beauty therapists have been hand-picked from the surrounding community area.

Our therapists were then trained locally to provide you authentic Zimbabwean treatments in the most spectacular settings! We encourage you to enjoy one of these treatments during your stay with us, as you will not only experience some true pampering in the African bush, but you will also be further giving back to our local community.

Spa treatments are available at your private villa on the maisonette level, overlooking the unspoilt acacia woodlands or a destination treatment can be arranged in the Camelthorn concession, close to the lodge, enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.

(Destinations available will vary, depending on seasonality, amount of guests in camp and time of day the treatment is requested.
Please discuss this with management the day before the treatment is requested and they will do their best to ensure something special is arranged.)

Spa Menu
"Imvelo's Ikhanda Massage"
Head Massage
A rejuvenating head massage in the tranquil surroundings of the African bush relieving your mind of stress in Natures Company.
20 minutes - RACK $20

"Imvelo's Unyawo Massage"
Foot massage
Put your feet up and relax with a picturesque view as you get treated to a foot massage with the sights and sounds of nature at your feet.
30 minutes - RACK $30

"Imvelo's Ihlombe & Intamo Massage"
Shoulder & neck massage
Focused on your areas of stress, unwind and close your eyes as nature treats you to a relaxing shoulder and neck massage.
30 minutes - RACK $30

"Imvelo's Ubuhle Manicure or Pedicure"
Basic manicure or pedicure
With beauty in mind pamper and treat yourself with the sounds of nature in the backgrounds as you unwind on your holiday in Zimbabwe.
40 minutes - RACK $30.

• Images