Nyamatusi Mahogany

Each of the Luxury Tented Suites has a choice of either large twin beds or a double bed, which are fitted with soft and breathable linen and protected by a mosquito net. The bedrooms are spacious, with folding doors that open up to allow 270-degree views of the open grasslands, floodplains and the mighty Zambezi River. The doors also lead to the outdoor decking area, where guests can enjoy comfy seating, viewing the beautiful horizon, looking for local wildlife and taking a dip in your private plunge pool. The bedrooms also feature an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet, twin basins, and both an indoor and outdoor shower. The earthly colour scheme of the tented suites and use of natural materials creates a light and airy space which doesn’t distract from the stunning natural landscape, and causes minimal disruption to the wildlife.

Both of Nyamatusi Mahogany’s Family Suites consist of two bedrooms which join via a short tented corridor. The master bedroom is identical to those in the luxury tented suites, and the second bedroom is slightly smaller with two twin beds and no outdoor shower. The bedrooms both include bi-folding doors that offer 270-degree views of the open grasslands, floodplains and the mighty Zambezi River.

The doors also lead to the outdoor decking area, where guests can enjoy comfy seating, viewing the beautiful horizon, looking for local wildlife and taking a dip in your private plunge pool. Both bedrooms have their own en-suite bathrooms, complete with flush toilets, twin basins, and showers. The earthly colour scheme of the tented suites and use of natural materials creates a light and airy space which doesn’t distract from the stunning natural landscape, and causes minimal disruption to the wildlife. The family tents are situated nearest the main area for ease of access.

Guests staying at Nyamatusi Mahogany can look forward to 3 mouthwatering meals each day. Breakfast is served early in the morning and usually consists of a light meal so that guests can venture out on their first activity of the day as soon as possible. Cooked breakfast options are also available, and a hearty lunch will be awaiting you once you return to the camp. Dinner is served in the evenings and will consist of a delicious three-course meal. Finish off your day by sitting under the dazzling stars with an indulgent dessert and a refreshing beverage from Nyamatusi Mahogony’s bar. Guests can also enjoy delicious pizzas, freshly prepared at camp and cooked in Nyamatusi Mahogony’s specialised pizza oven.

Explore the bush on foot on a walking safari, and experience the subtle details that make safaris more immersive. Your experienced guide will be able to teach you how to recognise tracks, and follow clues left in the wilderness that will lead to incredible game viewing opportunities. Get up close to the giant grey African Bull Elephants and get a sense of the sheer size of these amazing animals. Walking safaris allow you to explore at your own pace, without the noise of an engine to startle the wildlife, and view the smaller species of animal and colourful insects that are often missed during game drives.

Embark on a game drive and discover the incredible wildlife of Mana Pools National Park from the comfort of a specially-designed safari vehicle. The park is home to a range of amazing creatures including approximately 12,000 African Bull Elephants and large prides of lions. Watch antelope as they congregate at the waters before scattering across the plains as predators approach. The camp’s knowledgeable guides will be able to teach you interesting facts about the incredible animals of Zimbabwe, as well as showing you the best spots for viewing game.

Enjoy a safari from a completely new perspective by taking a canoe along the Zambezi River, where amazing game viewing awaits you. Watch elephants and hippos as they wade through the waters to escape the hot sunshine, and observe eland and antelope as they gather at the riverbanks for a drink. Canoe safaris allow guests to enjoy a leisurely exploration of Mana Pools and appreciate the stunning landscape while drifting along the soothing waters.

Enjoy a peaceful afternoon by the river and fish for a range of amazing species including Tilapia, Vundu Catfish and Bream. All fishing is on a catch-and-release policy. Admire the stunning riverside views and the distant shores of Zambia as you reel in beautiful fish, and try your luck against the infamously difficult-to-catch African Tiger Fish.

Mana Pools National Park is home to over 380 species of birds, which can best be seen during April when the rainy season is coming to an end and migratory birds return to the area. Several species of kingfisher can be found along the Zambezi River, along with cormorants, darters, herons, and African fish eagles. As the dry season progresses, guests may find colourful carmine bee-eaters and Pel’s fishing owl as they nest along the riverbanks. Mana Pools National Park’s diverse landscape features woodland, riverine, and dry plains, making it the ideal habitat for a range of land birds such as the Nyasa lovebird and banded snake eagle. Enjoy searching for these incredible creatures and listening to their gentle songs.

The Ngwana Club offers a range of fun activities for young travellers such as nature walks around camps with trained and child-certified guides, learning cultural arts, crafts cooking lessons and storytelling. The club gives children the chance to take part in fun and educational activities so that parents can enjoy some time to themselves to explore the wilderness or take part in a canoeing safari.

The African Bush Camps Foundation has established a number of projects that aim to improve education, empowerment and conservation efforts within the local communities where they operate. They work with members of the community in order to improve school facilities, provide educational textbooks and supplies for students, and supporting a local health centre, as well as encouraging these communities to form a peaceful relationship with the local wildlife, and finding ways to resolve human and animal conflict. African Bush Camps contribute $10 USD towards the Foundation’s running costs for every night that a single guest stays at one of their camps.

The Detema Sewing Group was launched to empower women with limited employment opportunities by allowing them to practice creating garments and provide sewn products to local schools, businesses, and community members. The 8 women from Detema are all aged over 50 years, making it difficult for them to find employment due to being close to retirement age. This initiative supports them while allowing them to develop their sewing skills. The ladies then pass their skills on to local children who attend classes to develop this useful life skill.

African Bush Camps work with local communities in the areas where they operate in order to teach and encourage ways of living harmoniously with wildlife. When wildlife habitats become too close to human villages, predators such as lions and wild dogs can attack livestock, and elephants may trample crops. This can cause humans to retaliate in order to protect their livelihoods. By providing the tools and skills to protect livestock and crops, African Bush Camps are helping to reduce human and wildlife conflict.

‘By coexisting with wildlife and using the natural world to grow crop yields, protect livestock and use resources to preserve the environment, communities can improve their food security and achieve a higher quality of life without negatively impacting wildlife. With projects that aim to improve the perception and tolerance of wildlife in the area, we can help communities restore a harmonious relationship with nature for their benefit.’

Tourism helps to support the local communities, and by showing the benefits of sustainable travel, African Bush Camps can highlight why protecting and conserving wildlife habitats is crucial for human communities and the local economy.

African Bush Camps support both orphaned and vulnerable children through their scholarship programmes. The scholarships pay for school fees and allow children to attend Life Skills Workshops where they can gain skills that will boost their employability prospects. African Bush Camps also work with schools to improve their facilities in order to better support the students. By providing a safe, clean, engaging and social environment, students are able to work better and their physical and mental wellbeing is cared for. Providing children with a safe space to learn is crucial for overcoming poverty and offering children the chance to have a higher quality of living and a career.

The African Bush Foundation runs a ‘Greener Camps’ programme which means that ‘African Bush Camps Safari Properties are committed to operating in a sustainable manner, ensuring that we preserve the environment, culture and conservation of Africa. Where possible we use solar power, low energy lighting systems, wastewater treatment, greywater recycling, and single-use plastic reduction initiatives.’ This means that the impact on the environment caused by African Bush Camps is kept to a minimum.

The biggest threat to African lions is conflict with humans. Livestock is vital for many people’s livelihoods, and if lions attempt to attack livestock, it can have devastating effects for both the owners, and the lions themselves if people were to retaliate. Because of this, the Lion Guardian teams are trained to empower and educate local communities about living in harmony with wildlife. By providing an income for the local members of the community that become Lion Guardians, the African Bush Camps Foundation is able to support the guardians and their families as well as protect lions and livestock.

The Mambanje Community Garden and Solar Borehole project aims to provide clean and safe water sources for the local community and their livestock so that the community can be self-reliant, and not have to use the local school’s borehole which is struggling with the current demand for water. Creating a community garden will also provide a source of healthy food and income for the community.

‘The water shortage is critical in Mambanje village with only 1 working borehole servicing both the school and greater community. Currently, households are limited to 20 litres of water per day at the school while school children can take back home only 5 litres per day. The school is now limited to the amount of water it can use which has affected the output of the school’s nutrition garden. The community lies in Zimbabwe’s Farming Region IV which is characterized by annual rainfall of 450-650 mm, severe dry spells during the rainy season, and frequent drought and this limited rainfall speaks volumes as to why areas such as Mambanje are still underdeveloped as water is a key and fundamental resource for rural communities and their livelihoods.’

Providing additional waterholes would also benefit members of the community who have to travel a long distance in order to collect water. This is often a task given to young girls, who may miss out on time in school because they had to collect water for their families instead.