News / National
Zimbabwe's luxury on the wild side
06 Jun 2011 at 07:06hrs | Views
A game-viewing boat cruise for six guests along Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe took an unusual turn when a hippo charged at us. The professional tour guide in the speed boat with us took control, urging calm, and we passed without incident.
But it was one of the many exhilarating moments on a recent trip to Zimbabwe. The magnificent Victoria Falls aside, Zimbabwe is fascinating with game galore and unspoilt natural beauty.
The Bumi Hills Safari Lodge was my home for the first two days in Zimbabwe. My room overlooked the spectacular Lake Kariba from where you could see elephants, impala and other wild animals roaming around and drinking from the lake.
There are 20 expansive rooms on the property, 10 premium and10 standard rooms, all decorated with African charm. The lodge also boasts a trendy spa, games lounge and gift shop. But it is the ample game – like elephants, zebra and hippo – you get to see on the game drives that is the real drawcard.
On day two at Bumi Hills, the water was calm and we were able to go out on to the lake. There is arguably no better place to view the sunset with a drink in hand. From the lake, we were also able to view wildlife on the shoreline, often the place where most animals are concentrated because of good grazing and water availability. It is also a great way to observe the water birds, hippos and crocodiles that linger between land and water.
We had our evening snack on the boat until sunset before returning to the lodge, where opulent living reaches its peak.
During dinner, the lodge's general manager, Nick Milne, told us how he had been part of a team that rescued a lioness that had been caught by the chest in a wire snare left by a poacher.
From Bumi Hills, it was off for a "real bush" experience at The Hide Safari Camp, situated in the heart of Hwange National Park, the largest national park in Zimbabwe.
The trip to The Hide included flying over the majestic Victoria Falls. From the sky all you can see is a rainbow and mist swirling up from the falls. And what an experience it was.
At The Hide, we checked into luxury tents. It is not called The Hide for nothing. Secluded in the wild, it is indeed the perfect hideaway.
The property comprises 10 large East African-style luxury tents under thatch, all overlooking the main waterhole. The spacious bedrooms are elegantly furnished with solid Zimbabwe teak furniture, and each is individually decorated.
There are four standard twin tents, two honeymoon suites, two deluxe tents (one of which has an interleading tent next door and can be used for a family), and two deluxe tents each sleeping four guests. Alternatively, the extra room may be used as a lounge area.
You can go on morning and afternoon guided walks and game drives, night drives, "hide sits" around pans, bush breakfasts and an overnight sleep-over in the Dove's Nest tree house, which caters for two people.
Then it was off to the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, 4km away from the spectacular Victoria Falls along the Zambezi River. Lunch was at the award-winning Makuwa-Kuwa Restaurant at the lodge.
Activities at Victoria Falls include a 111m jump from the bridge and high-wire activities for adrenalin junkies such as the foefie slide, gorge swing and abseiling. There is also a variety of land activities, including a lion walk and horse riding.
Guests at the lodge can also treat themselves to a range of beauty therapy treatments ranging from manicures to full body massages.
But we opted for the elephant-back safari, courtesy of Wild Horizons. On arrival, we were treated to refreshing freshly squeezed citrus juice and were introduced to our elephants before climbing on to them with our guides.
As I was carried along on the back of 27-year-old Jumbo for our hour-long ride, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape. After the ride, we fed our elephants and returned to the lodge.
In the evening, we drove to The Boma Place of Eating for a unique cultural experience combining superb Zimbabwean dishes with a feast of nightly entertainment including interactive drumming, storytelling and having our fortunes told by the restaurant's resident sangoma.
The lodge is Africa Albida Tourism's flagship establishment and has been voted Zimbabwe's lodge of the year for 15 consecutive years. It is located in pristine bush, designed to give the impression of a vast open-plan tree house.
It is built on seven intricate levels rising above the bushveld. Of the 72 bedrooms at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, six are split-level suites with a lounge, bathroom and balcony on one level and a bedroom and en-suite bathroom upstairs.
It is decorated in lavishly coloured ethnic fabrics and fittings, and each room has its own private balcony overlooking the unfenced Zambezi National Park, while most also look on to the lodge's central waterhole, offering guests the opportunity of a wide variety of game sightings from the comfort of their own room.
Sightings often include elephant, buffalo, antelope, warthog and baboon, as well as the occasional lion, hyena and jackal.
The climax of the trip was the Victoria Falls rainforest tour. It simply takes your breath away. Here the river plunges down into a 100m vertical chasm spanning the 1.5km width of the river, creating the biggest curtain of crystal-clear water I have seen.
As we walked the path surrounded by the rainforest, the view just got better and better. There is no denying why the Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and one of the greatest spectacles in Africa.
l Mbonambi's trip was organised by Africa Albida Tourism via 1Time Airline. Visit www.africaalbidatourism.com
But it was one of the many exhilarating moments on a recent trip to Zimbabwe. The magnificent Victoria Falls aside, Zimbabwe is fascinating with game galore and unspoilt natural beauty.
The Bumi Hills Safari Lodge was my home for the first two days in Zimbabwe. My room overlooked the spectacular Lake Kariba from where you could see elephants, impala and other wild animals roaming around and drinking from the lake.
There are 20 expansive rooms on the property, 10 premium and10 standard rooms, all decorated with African charm. The lodge also boasts a trendy spa, games lounge and gift shop. But it is the ample game – like elephants, zebra and hippo – you get to see on the game drives that is the real drawcard.
On day two at Bumi Hills, the water was calm and we were able to go out on to the lake. There is arguably no better place to view the sunset with a drink in hand. From the lake, we were also able to view wildlife on the shoreline, often the place where most animals are concentrated because of good grazing and water availability. It is also a great way to observe the water birds, hippos and crocodiles that linger between land and water.
We had our evening snack on the boat until sunset before returning to the lodge, where opulent living reaches its peak.
During dinner, the lodge's general manager, Nick Milne, told us how he had been part of a team that rescued a lioness that had been caught by the chest in a wire snare left by a poacher.
From Bumi Hills, it was off for a "real bush" experience at The Hide Safari Camp, situated in the heart of Hwange National Park, the largest national park in Zimbabwe.
The trip to The Hide included flying over the majestic Victoria Falls. From the sky all you can see is a rainbow and mist swirling up from the falls. And what an experience it was.
At The Hide, we checked into luxury tents. It is not called The Hide for nothing. Secluded in the wild, it is indeed the perfect hideaway.
The property comprises 10 large East African-style luxury tents under thatch, all overlooking the main waterhole. The spacious bedrooms are elegantly furnished with solid Zimbabwe teak furniture, and each is individually decorated.
There are four standard twin tents, two honeymoon suites, two deluxe tents (one of which has an interleading tent next door and can be used for a family), and two deluxe tents each sleeping four guests. Alternatively, the extra room may be used as a lounge area.
You can go on morning and afternoon guided walks and game drives, night drives, "hide sits" around pans, bush breakfasts and an overnight sleep-over in the Dove's Nest tree house, which caters for two people.
Then it was off to the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, 4km away from the spectacular Victoria Falls along the Zambezi River. Lunch was at the award-winning Makuwa-Kuwa Restaurant at the lodge.
Activities at Victoria Falls include a 111m jump from the bridge and high-wire activities for adrenalin junkies such as the foefie slide, gorge swing and abseiling. There is also a variety of land activities, including a lion walk and horse riding.
Guests at the lodge can also treat themselves to a range of beauty therapy treatments ranging from manicures to full body massages.
But we opted for the elephant-back safari, courtesy of Wild Horizons. On arrival, we were treated to refreshing freshly squeezed citrus juice and were introduced to our elephants before climbing on to them with our guides.
As I was carried along on the back of 27-year-old Jumbo for our hour-long ride, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape. After the ride, we fed our elephants and returned to the lodge.
In the evening, we drove to The Boma Place of Eating for a unique cultural experience combining superb Zimbabwean dishes with a feast of nightly entertainment including interactive drumming, storytelling and having our fortunes told by the restaurant's resident sangoma.
The lodge is Africa Albida Tourism's flagship establishment and has been voted Zimbabwe's lodge of the year for 15 consecutive years. It is located in pristine bush, designed to give the impression of a vast open-plan tree house.
It is built on seven intricate levels rising above the bushveld. Of the 72 bedrooms at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, six are split-level suites with a lounge, bathroom and balcony on one level and a bedroom and en-suite bathroom upstairs.
It is decorated in lavishly coloured ethnic fabrics and fittings, and each room has its own private balcony overlooking the unfenced Zambezi National Park, while most also look on to the lodge's central waterhole, offering guests the opportunity of a wide variety of game sightings from the comfort of their own room.
Sightings often include elephant, buffalo, antelope, warthog and baboon, as well as the occasional lion, hyena and jackal.
The climax of the trip was the Victoria Falls rainforest tour. It simply takes your breath away. Here the river plunges down into a 100m vertical chasm spanning the 1.5km width of the river, creating the biggest curtain of crystal-clear water I have seen.
As we walked the path surrounded by the rainforest, the view just got better and better. There is no denying why the Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and one of the greatest spectacles in Africa.
l Mbonambi's trip was organised by Africa Albida Tourism via 1Time Airline. Visit www.africaalbidatourism.com
Source - The Mercury
