Kaingu Safari Lodge My last visit to Zambia was some years ago, when I spent a fabulous week canoeing down the Zambezi river; Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park on one shore and Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National park on the other. Much of our time was spent dodging the hippos that are so prevalent in that area. I remember well the[…]
Read moreNehimba Seeps – water throughout the year – naturally Zimbabwe’s Hwange NP is known as a place with very little natural year round water; a place where pumps are needed to keep water in the pans for several months each year. But the park is not entirely without natural, year round, water sources. During one of the game drives made[…]
Read moreThree days into my stay at Ngamo and I still haven’t seen any cats. I’ve heard them during the night and a couple of the guides reported seeing fresh tracks but no actual sightings yet. Perhaps it was down to the cold wind blowing across the Ngamo plains but we were lacking a bit of urgency this morning; still dawdling[…]
Read moreThe Heartbeat of Hwange On my recent visit to Hwange we were gathered for coffee before setting off on our morning game drive and – as you do – I asked one of the ladies if she had slept OK. She said that she had not, because the sound of the pump close to camp running all night disturbed her;[…]
Read moreBomani Tented Lodge and Camelthorn Lodge On my recent visit to Hwange I stayed in both Bomani Tented Lodge and Camelthorn Lodge. Although both are part of the Imvelo safari lodges portfolio, they could not be more different. Both camps are constructed on community land close to Hwange’s Ngamo gate, in the south east corner of the park. Where Bomani[…]
Read moreNgamo – a template for resolving human-wildlife conflict in Hwange NP You only have to spend a few minutes in his company to see that Mark Butcher, better known as ‘Butch’, is a man on a mission. That mission, in broad terms, is to ensure the survival of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and its wildlife. Butch knows he cannot do it[…]
Read moreGreat to be back in Victoria Falls. It seems a bit busier than my last visit so tourism must be picking up which is terrific news. I’ve only got one night in Vic Falls this time, before I head off to Hwange NP, and rather than staying in the town itself I’ll be a short way outside town at Gorges[…]
Read moreThe introduction of a new ‘univisa‘ – one visa for both Zambia and Zimbabwe – has made safaris combining these 2 countries much less hassle. Arriving at Livingstone airport gave me my first opportunity to take advantage of the new univisa – a joint visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe. The arrivals hall at Livingstone is brand spanking new and a pleasure[…]
Read moreThe Kafue National Park, known locally as KNP, is one of Africa’s best kept secrets. A giant untramelled wilderness with an outstanding variety of wildlife; it embraces a rich blend of woodlands, grasslands and aquatic environments in a complexity of shapes, colours, adaptations and interrelationships. Larger than the well-known Kruger National Park in South Africa, Kafue covers 22,480 km2 (8,650[…]
Read moreA couple of days ago I was very happy to receive this email from Will Hore-Lacy and his wife Jackie saying what a great time they had on safari in Zimbabwe. If you’re interested in reading more about their safari here are the links: Chundu Island The Hide – Hwange NP Bomani Tented Lodge – Hwange NP
Read moreOne of my favourite safari camps is Bomani Tented Lodge at Ngamo on the south eastern corner of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. For me, Bomani manages to combine all the necessary comforts of a first class camp without succumbing to gratuitous luxury. The accommodation is superb, with each tent looking out onto the surrounding plains, and the staff are[…]
Read moreEvery time I travel to Witfontein, our house on a private wildlife reserve in the Klein Karoo, I wonder what I will find there. On recent visits, in addition to the perennial questions like; will the veldt be green or brown? will we get sunshine or rain? I’ve found myself trying to guess who might be dropping in for a[…]
Read moreCombine the Serengeti with the Indian Ocean Coast Tanzania is where crystal clear beaches meet intimate wildlife experiences. As one of the most attractive locations on Africa’s safari circuit, from the vastness of the Serengeti, to the calm waves of the Indian Ocean, Tanzania has so much more to offer than game viewing alone. From the beating heart of the[…]
Read moreThe term ‘private vehicle’ is often used in the context of African safaris and game drives but what exactly does it mean? And, more importantly, do you need one? When you go on safari as part of a group you will find that you almost always have a vehicle to yourselves, exclusively for members of your group only. When you travel alone, or[…]
Read moreThe 9th installment of our latest Safari Diary follows on from – Cheetahs and vultures on our last morning in Hwange Matusadona National Park As we come into land the first plane is sitting waiting to take off again and no sooner have we taxied off the runway than it roars off kicking up another dust storm. We disentangle ourselves[…]
Read moreThis is the 8th installment of our Zimbabwe safari diary and follows on from – Game Driving in Hwange National Park 23 September 2014 Our last morning at Bomani. On our way to the gate we spot a pair of Yellow Billed Kites in a tree above us, they’ve got some fresh meat. No idea what it might be though.[…]
Read moreThis is part 7 of the Chobe and Zimbabwe Safari Diary and follows on from – Elephants, more elephants and a lion 22 September 2014 One of the things that I’d been asked to arrange for this group was a visit to a local school. They had brought with them some children’s clothes and boxes of school materials (books, pens[…]
Read moreThis is the 6th installment of my Safari Diary and follows on directly from Elusive Sable and idle Cheetahs – Hwange NP Elephants everywhere Some time ago the folks at Bomani installed something that they call the ‘Look Up’. A shipping contained was buried in the ground beside one of the waterholes and converted into an underground hide or blind.[…]
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