Highlights of Zimbabwe

Mpala Jena is a boutique safari camp positioned along the beautiful tree-laden banks of the Zambezi River. The camp epitomizes ‘barefoot luxury’ with playfully scalloped thatched roofs, soft sand floors and a beach bar overlooking the pool and river. A cool, calming colour palette compliments light natural textures and sets the scene for slow, in-the-moment living. Our tented guest suites, nestled in the shade of large Sausage and Jackalberry trees are generously appointed with a private deck and outdoor bath and shower.

The camp is located within the 56,000-hectare Zambezi National Park, home to an ever-increasing number of wildlife species that can be enjoyed on safari drives, boat cruises, walking trails or even while sipping cocktails from the swing chairs in camp. Higher concentrations of buffalo and elephant are typical from June to October and the park is known for having more lions per km² than any other park in Zimbabwe. Birding is spectacular all year round with the highest diversity of species seen from November through to October. Catch and release fishing is a popular activity and peaks during Tiger fishing season between June and December.

Mpala Jena was created with a strong sustainability ethos and runs entirely off our solar plant and battery. Building materials and design elements were specified and sourced with a clear vision of minimizing embodied energy and transportation miles.

The camp is conveniently located 19 kilometres inside the Zambezi National Park, allowing easy access to Victoria Falls town by a 40-minute boat or road transfer. Mpala Jena also run guided tours of the Victoria Falls..

Highlights

• Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's oldest and largest protected park. Roughly half the size of Belgium, the park includes a diverse mix of savannah habitats, including broadleaf woodlands, acacia scrub, grasslands and salt pans. 
• Wilderness Linkwasha is set on the edge of the famed Ngamo Plains, where vast herds of plains game are seen year round, followed by predators including lions, cheetahs and African wild dogs.
• Due to the ecological diversity and fertile ground in the south-eastern corner of Hwange, as well as year-round access to water, Linkwasha is a wildlife magnet, and in winter particularly, the waterholes – including the one in front of camp – teem with elephants and buffalos.
• Access to the equally abundant and adjacent Makalolo Private Wilderness Reserve means Wilderness guests have exclusive access to 34,000 hectares (84,000 acres) of land.

Destination: Arguably the most luxurious camp in Hwange, Wilderness Linkwasha lies in a private concession in the enormously productive south-eastern corner of Hwange National Park. It is situated on the edge of the famed Ngamo Plains, where wildlife gathers in uncountable numbers during summer – to add to the year-round excellent viewing from the camp itself. Linkwasha overlooks a pan that is a huge draw for thirsty animals, especially in the dry winter months.  

Experience: Wild and exclusive, Linkwasha offers thrilling adventures. Guests can discover the wildlife on day and night game drives tracking animals, or gain a new perspective from a guided nature walk, learning more about the area from our knowledgeable and friendly guides. The sunken hide in camp overlooks a particularly productive waterhole, and is the ideal spot for an afternoon siesta, relaxing on the daybed; alternatively, revel in the proximity of the animals wallowing, drinking and playing in the water, where they can be photographed at virtually arm’s length distance.

At night, Linkwasha’s romantic Star Bed at Scott’s Pan is an exclusive immersion into the magnificence of true Hwange wilderness. 

Given our steadfast relationship with the community, our cultural village visits usually always include a guided tour of one of the schools we support, meeting the village headman or participating in a community project.

Purpose: Alongside our non-profit Children in the Wilderness, Wilderness Linkwasha works closely with the surrounding communities and schools, ensuring they benefit from conservation and sustainable tourism. Guests can enjoy a local village visit, which often includes a guided tour of the school, meeting the headman or participating in community projects.

Wildlife: Hwange’s mix of different veld and landscape types means that game viewing is exceptionally productive year-round. Wildlife frequently encountered in our area includes lions, large herds of elephants, buffalos, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, giraffes, sable, blue wildebeest, impalas, waterbuck, and reedbuck. In summer, wildebeest, zebras and eland are seen in great numbers on the open plains, while in winter elephants congregate in enormous herds around the waterholes. Birdlife in the area is prolific, with some 400-plus species recorded.

Highlights

• Wilderness Chikwenya is set in an exclusive wilderness area on Mana Pool’s eastern boundary, where the Sapi River meets the mighty Zambezi.
• Mana Pools is a well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage site, bristling with iconic African wildlife in an extraordinarily beautiful riverine setting.
• Thrilling walking safaris, and untamed adventures on game drives and by boat.
• Superb birdlife in a sublimely wild, ultra-photogenic setting.

Destination: Positioned on the eastern boundary of Mana Pools National Park, Wilderness Chikwenya is a photographer’s dream. Located at the confluence of the Sapi and Zambezi rivers, the camp looks out over an open floodplain, the Zambezi River and the mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mana Pools teems with wildlife and invites all who visit to an unforgettable wildlife safari, on foot, by boat or by land.

Experience: Wild and exclusive, this camp offers thrilling adventures. Guests can discover the wildlife on game drives tracking animals, or gain a new perspective from a guided nature walk, learning more about the area from our professional and friendly guides. Water safaris are also on offer on the magical Zambezi River: guests can look out for pods of hippos, and elephants swimming, feeding and drinking in the water. Guests may also try their hand at catch-and-release fishing, and discover the thrill of landing one of the river’s legendary tigerfish.

Purpose: As a private-access area neighbouring Mana Pools National Park, Chikwenya plays an important role in protecting what is considered to be one of the great wildlife spectacles on the continent, and in preserving a feel of real wilderness – a function that is recognised in the national park’s World Heritage Site status.

NOTE: Wilderness Chikwenya is open seasonally between April and mid-November.

Wildlife: Mana Pools National Park lies at the heart of the Lower Zambezi Valley, a remote, beautiful place with spectacular views. The area is a compact concentration of scenic habitats (woodlands, floodplains, pans, islands and two iconic rivers) teeming with thrilling and diverse wildlife, where guests can look forward to spotting iconic wildlife – large herds of buffalos and elephants, kudu, Burchell's zebras, waterbuck, impala and warthogs, and their predators, including lions, wild dogs, leopards, and cheetahs. Hippos and Nile crocodiles are abundant in and along the river.

Birdlife is superb with some 350 species recorded, including western banded snake eagle, rufous-bellied heron, long-toed lapwing, and the enigmatic Pel’s fishing-owl.

The majestic architecture of this intimate lodge has always been a signature of the property. The detailed stonework and imposing proportions of Great Zimbabwe form the main reference point for the lodge design. Interiors of the lodge reflect original references to the local Shangaan culture, artfully combined with contemporary forms and styles inspired by these African patterns and shapes.

With eight luxury suites, each with its own luxury plunge pool, Singita Pamushana Lodge makes for an unforgettable luxury safari but its work with the non-profit Malilangwe Trust and its enduring purpose to contribute to the conservation of the 130,000-acre wildlife reserve in which it sits sets a new benchmark for meaningful travel experiences.