Nyamatusi

Zimbabwe's Nyamatusi is a charming tented camp on the Zambezi floodplains that offers an immersive, eco-friendly experience in Mana Pools.

• Superb staff, including top-notch safari guides
• Cozy and intimate setting
• Fantastic bush walks in Mana Pools to see elephants standing on their hind legs to grab seed pods

As you pull up to Nyamatusi for the first time, you can hear drumming from a distance. When you get closer, you can see that the entire staff has come out to greet you with a joyful song and dance. As beautiful as the wilderness setting is, it is the warmth and enthusiasm of the staff that makes a visit to Nyamatusi so memorable, including some of the best safari guides in Zimbabwe.

It is set on a small private concession on the floodplains of the Lower Zambezi. There are two camps side by side: Nyamatusi, with six tented suites, and Nyamatusi Mahogany, with two tented suites and two family suites. The tents are set on raised wooden platforms and face the river in the distance with small plunge pools and wooden decks. En-suite bathrooms have both indoor and outdoor showers. Thoughtful touches include a fully stocked minibar and hammered copper sinks. There is A/C in the tents but no wifi or cellular service, lest it detract from your wilderness immersion. The entire camp is fully solar powered.

The main public area is breezy and chic, with comfortable seating areas, a pool, a fenced eating area and a bonfire seating area. There is a communal vibe and guests like to mingle over breakfast in the bush or cocktails and canapés at afternoon tea. Dinners are served al fresco overlooking the open landscape. (Don’t miss a visit to the camp’s wine cellar!)

Game drives are offered twice a day into the surrounding concession and Mana Pools. Because it is a national park, no offroading is allowed. However, bush walks are permitted. Best of all is when your guide combines a game drive and bush walk, stopping the car when an opportunity presents itself to, for example, see a family of painted dogs in a clearing just beyond. Mana Pools is known for its large bull elephants, which are plentiful, including the local celebrity Boswell, a gentle giant with oversized tusks. Other activities include bird watching, catch-and-release fishing, canoeing, and night game drives in Mana Pools.

Nyamatusi is open year round. Ages 12 and up accepted.