Anya’s Engaging Expedition to Zimbabwe

Accommodation

Victoria Falls: The Elephant Camp

Situated on a private concession within the Victoria Falls National Park and bounded by the Masuwe River and the Zambezi gorges, The Elephant Camp has breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls’ spray, and the spectacular gorges which separate Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Elephant Camp is a luxury and intimate lodge under canvas within easy reach of Victoria Falls and all its attractions and activities, yet secluded in its own private game reserve so as to allow close-up encounters with wildlife.

The main camp complex is a tented structure with a spacious deck, lounge, bar, dining area and a sun-kissed pool, offering sweeping vistas of the Batoka Gorge and the magnificent spray of the Victoria Falls. The Elephant Camp overlooks a waterhole that is fed by natural streams in the rainy season. With an emphasis on exclusivity, the 12 luxury tented suites all have private decks with magnificent views and plunge pools. The suites are all equipped with indoor and outdoor showers, huge baths, private lounges, mini bar and tea/coffee stations, overhead fans plus air conditioning and are all mosquito-proofed.

The Elephant Camp offers close interaction with wildlife and all guests staying at The Elephant Camp will have an opportunity to meet the elephants at the Wild Horizons Sanctuary. Selected Spa Treatments are available in the privacy of your suite. The Elephant camp is situated only 10 minutes from Victoria Falls and complimentary shuttle transfers operate throughout the day.

Hwange National Park: The Hide Safari Camp

Situated on a private concession on the Eastern boundary of Hwange National Park and with stunning views across a natural waterhole, The Hide enjoys a perfect location. There are eight standard tents and two luxury or honeymoon tents.

Each tent is mosquito-proofed and has an en-suite bathroom, a fan for your comfort in summer and extra warm blankets and hot water bottles for the cool winter months. The hub of the camp is the signature “A” frame, which houses the dining room, a downstairs sun lounge and a large comfortable lounge/viewing area upstairs. There is also a plunge pool near the main lounge and dining room.

Most meals are served in unsurpassed elegance and style, at the Main A Frame, around the magnificent 22-seater teak dining room table. Tea and cake is best enjoyed upstairs, in the A-frame, overlooking the water pan. Meanwhile, breakfast can be served Alfresco, under the Acacia trees.

The new Wine Cellar and Underground Hide at The Hide were planned, designed and created for the adventure-takers, the thrill-makers and the pleasure-seekers out there. Along a tunnel, you’ll walk for about 10 metres under the surface of the earth – and then emerge into a “window on the waterhole”, where you can sit quietly, the unobserved observing. It’s a special new addition and makes the experience of “game viewing” more intense and personal. Along the same tunnel, guests are delighted to find, hidden away in the wall, a real wine cellar. Perfectly cooled at a steady 17 degrees Celsius, ambient-lit and stocked with a small selection of fine wines from around the world, this is a welcome addition to an already all-sensory experience at The Hide. Guests are invited to choose the wine they’d like with dinner, or suggestions are made based on wine pairing experts’ recommendations.

Victoria Falls: Ilala Lodge

Ilala Lodge is the closest hotel to the mighty Victoria Falls, where attentive service is the order of the day. The National Park borders the front of the small property, with the spray of the Falls as the backdrop to the wildlife grazing on the lawn.

A stone’s throw from all the action, Ilala Lodge is a true haven. Guests can venture beyond the lodge’s confines to enjoy scenic flights over the falls and leisurely cruises along the river. Ilala’s Palm Restaurant is well-known for its à la carte menu showcasing the flavours of the region. Dine outdoors, against the backdrop of the world’s largest waterfall or indoors within the warmth of this spectacular restaurant.

Meals at Ilala Lodge consist of tasty cuisine prepared by the in-house chef and served on the dining deck to the sound of the thundering Falls. Enjoy à la carte dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and tuck into both Zimbabwean delicacies and international favourites.

Ilala Lodge offers Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, two Standard Suite Rooms, and two Executive Suites. The décor recalls the early era’s quest for discovery in Africa. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with a separate shower, air conditioning, satellite TV, and individual coffee and tea facilities. The rooms are spacious with railway sleeper teak furnishings, and patio doors open onto a private balcony or the rolling lawns.