Somalisa Camp: Zimbabwe’s Hidden Gem

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Somalisa Camp is a luxury tented safari camp that breathtaking views of the golden savannah plains of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe – a conservation area that offers varied sights and experiences from dense teak and acacia forests to endless open savannah. Somalisa Camp enjoys pride of place as it was among the first-ever safari lodges to open in the Hwange National Park. It was built by celebrity conservationist Beks Ndlovu and offers one of the most unique African experiences – tucked away under the dappled shade of an Acacia grove, along the edge of an ancient seasonal floodplain.

Somalisa Camp Lodge — ***Somalisa Camp at Hwange National Park***

Somalisa Camp started as a basic tented camp but soon this unique historical property grew into a full-fledged luxury tented accommodation offering guests a choice of seven tastefully furnished sailcloth tents that are set on a private concession in the heart of Hwange National Park. Indeed, the Somalisa Camp is where you will find nature and luxury seamlessly entwined to offer you that sense of well-being and comfort while you enjoy the sights and sounds of a typical African adventure. The luxury tents at Somalisa Camp are replete with all modern amenities such as a fan, a battery charging station, wood-burning fireplace and private viewing deck. The bathroom is worthy of special mention – an indoor and outdoor bathrooms feature a copper slipper-style bathtub and endless views across the vast plains beyond.

Elephant Encounters

At the edge of the expansive deck in the main camp area of the Somalisa Camp sits a refreshing and inviting pool which is frequented by elephant families that are frequently seen observing the human species from a safe distance. The experience of being surrounded by a herd of elephants while you take a refreshing dip in the pool is a real highlight of staying at this luxurious tented accommodation. These close encounters with wild elephants will surely become a memory that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

Game Drives

The management of Somalisa Camp also organises special game drives to the nearby Hwange National Park led by experienced tourist guides. While on a game drive, you’ll see magnificent wildlife that are indigenous to the area and discover the hidden spots best for game viewing. With many years of experience guides at Somalisa Camp are known for being some of the best in the business.

Luxury Tents

With only seven tented luxury suites in total, the Somalisa Camp offers limited accommodation for the most discerning of travellers. The super luxurious tents exude the romance and beauty of a bygone age while offering every modern comfort and convenience. As soon as you enter the tented accommodation, you can feel the classic African ambience, which is further complimented by authentic African artifacts to give you that other-wordly feeling of comfort and well being.

This boutique tented camp is managed by African Bush Camps, one of Southern Africa’s most exclusive, ultra-luxurious hotel brands which owns and manages luxury lodges and hotels in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. With a strong thrust on expansion, African Bush Camps is involved in multiple property development projects in Southern Africa and is among Condé Nast Traveler’s “21 Hotels We’re Dreaming of Returning To!”.

Somalisa Camp features in my top 10 list of the best luxury tented accommodations in Zimbabwe, the most historical and beautiful tented camps in Zimbabwe, and one of the best places to stay while in Hwange National Park.

In this review:

The Good Parts
The Not-So-Good Parts
Our Opinion
Dining
Facilities
Advantages
How to get there
Ratings
Photos

The three words that best describe the tents at Somalisa Camp are comfortable,cozy and colorful. The rich tones and textures of Africa are evident in the decoration and amenities on offer inside the tents. Each tent is set up on a tiled foundation which keeps the floors clean and tidy, and the bathroom fixtures solid and stable. Hot water and electricity reminded me that we were not quite off the grid, while the sounds of howling and hooting were never far off.

The Somalisa Camp staff are efficient, polite and helpful. The joyful exuberence of the staff at Somalisa Camp is indeed infectious and welcoming smiles that surrounf you while you’re at the camp make you feel relaxed and welcomed.

Beyond the luxury tents, these is small outdoor porch with a lantern, table and chairs, a common lounge stocked with interesting books and magazines, and a fire pit for evenings outdoors. Even with the impressively fast Wi-Fi on the premises, Somalisa Camp is an accommodation where both foreigners and locals come to unplug. No wonder Somalisa Camp is a perfect place to recharge and refuel while enjoying both serenity and style.

All tents are very spacious. Without compromising the integrity of the dwellings, all tented suites enjoy the comforts of air conditioning. Fine art pieces decorate the walls and all furniture is freestanding, including daybeds, sofas, dining suites and floor and desk lamps. All the tents come with semi-private courtyards with informal outdoor dining and lounging areas.

The breakfast choices are nothing short of amazing, with a good balance with pastries, cereals, fruit and yoghurt, African dishes, egg stations, and al la carte items.

The main deck of the Camp is a like a communal area where guests can mingle with each other, enjoy a dip in the two pools on offer, savour mouth-watering barbecue at the bonfire area during the night or simply enjoy the breathtaking views of the lush green surroundings from the comfort of the wooden-floored deck.

The best thing about the Somalisa Camp is the warm, welcoming and helpful staff. Service is impeccable and top-notch, as you would expect from a resort managed by one of Southern Africa’s most exclusive hotel brands. Both management and staff excel in providing the best service possible, and try their very best to please and ensure you have a great stay. It is very evident that management spent time and effort recruiting and training high quality, courteous and helpful staff.

Amenities

King-sized bed
Solar Power
Bar / lounge
Special diet menus
Mosquito net
Airport transportation
Outdoor fireplace
Laundry service
Private check-in / check-out
Private deck
Fireplace in room
Rain shower
Tea and Coffee Maker

Advantages

The stunningly beautiful décor is classic African style, brimming with old world, timeless elegance, and mixed with African antique ornaments such as authentic wall pairing and antique lamps and fans.

Dinner is a sumptuous affair, with a constantly changing menu and a wide variety of beautiful settings in which to savour the contemporary cuisine prepared by the local chef and his dedicated team. Whether you feel like having a light salad by the pool, or dine in the privacy of your room or opt for a decadent six-course dinner on central deck the culinary team at Somalisa Camp will ensure that you are carefully looked after.

Keeping with its objective of causing minimum impact on the environment, the Somalisa Camp is powered by solar energy and also has a minimal-plastic use policy. Besides being eco-friendly, the lodge also provides a assistance to the surrounding communities: many of the staff members at the Somalisa Camp come from the neighbouring villages; part of the profits from every stay at the lodge goes towards the locals & conservation; and environmental education programs are established to promote understanding among the local population of the need to conserve natural resources and use them sustainably and preserve them for future generations.

The Not-So-Good Parts

The Somalisa Camp is one of Hwange’s grandest and most famous boutique tented camps, and it doesn’t get better than this. The exquisite décor, incredible food and the service make this place a memorable experience. The resort has no real cons, but you need to know the following when going in:

The lodge has only seven tents, so you are advised to book early to avoid disappointment, specially during the peak seasons.

How to get there

Somalisa Camp is located in Hwange National Park and the journey from the closest airstrip (Manga) takes approximately 30 minutes along the Expressway. The nearest airport is Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA).

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit really depends on your personal preferences – nature has something to offer throughout the year. The Hwange National Park enjoys summer rains and dramatic thunder storms – temperatures soar into the 40s in the summer months. The vegetation is lush and verdant attracting incredible bird life. The winter months are usually drier and cooler.