Khulu Bush Camp

Comprising seven bespoke, airy and authentic feeling safari suites, constructed from locally procured thatch, stone and teak and raised off the ground on raised timber platforms, these units epitomise the essence of luxury safari accommodation. These units display an elegant and contemporary design that imparts minimal impact to the surroundings and environment. Each suites features an indoor and al fresco shower and balcony for game viewing, as well as individual tea and coffee facilities.

The beds are twin sized, though can all be converted to king sized for double occupancy. Plug points in the room are South African 3 pinned round plugs, grounded, 15A, 220-240V. International adaptors available upon request. Hot water systems are heated by wood fires twice daily, in the morning at 6am and the evening at 6pm. However, water can be heated upon request outside of these times. Please allow for 30-minutes for water to reach a suitable temperature.

Amenities Include:

• En-suite bathroom
• Detached private bathroom
• Indoor & al fresco shower facilities
• Balcony / deck
• Veranda
• Lounge area
• Electrical outlets
• Mosquito nets
• Fridge
• Heater
• Fan
• Safe
• Complimentary mini bar
• Dressing gowns
• Hairdryer
• Pure cotton linen
• Complimentary laundry service
• Tea & coffee
• Smoking rooms

The honeymoon suite comprises of an inside & outside shower and outside bath, as well as a swinging pod chair on the private balcony. Constructed from local thatch, stone and teak and elevated above the ground on raised timber platforms, these units offer spectacular views of the surrounding plains where game can be seen for miles around. With only two luxury suites available, honeymooning couples are advised to book well in advance, as these eloquently appointed units are a favourite among visiting guests.

Furnished in the classic safari style, featuring an en-suite bathroom, indoor and al fresco shower facilities and a plethora of amenities meant to elevate the guest experience, there are few ways more elaborate to enjoy your luxury safari experience.

Amenities Include:

• En-suite bathroom
• Detached private bathroom
• Indoor & al fresco shower facilities
• Balcony / deck
• Veranda
• Lounge area
• Electrical outlets
• Mosquito nets
• Fridge
• Heater
• Fan
• Safe
• Complimentary mini bar
• Dressing gowns
• Hairdryer
• Pure cotton linen
• Complimentary laundry service
• Tea & coffee
• Smoking rooms

A total of three meals are served daily, featuring a hearty continental breakfast comprised of fresh fruits, pastries, serials and juices, an al fresco picnic dinner served between activities and a lavish three course evening banquet. Meals range from lite and healthy to lavish and indulgent, ensuring there are preferences to suit all guests. If you have any specific dietary requirements, be sure to inform the camp in advance so the appropriate accommodations can be made. With fully inclusive rates, you’re free to indulge in a comprehensive range of refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at your own discretion.

The lite and airy feel of Khulu Bush Camp bar will leave you reeling for a refreshing beverage amid the parching midday Hwange heat. Talented bar staff are happy to fix you up the drink of your choosing, from pints to cocktails and everything in-between. Come and grab a drink in the evening and enjoy sundowners with friends and guides alike as you reminisce an exciting days’ safari adventure.

Embark on your choice of half, full day and evening game drives throughout the private concession of Hwange National Park for an exclusive game viewing experience of a lifetime. Experienced guides, familiar with the lay of the land and the abundance of wildlife that roams it will lead you safely through the lush landscape in search of the many staple safari creatures that roam the open plains and congregate around waterholes. Exotic Big 5 game viewing awaits your gaze, with regular sightings of all the big cats and predator and prey alike as you survey the landscape in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Night drives add new dimensions to the game viewing experience, granting the opportunity to view an ensemble of nocturnal creatures that come to life in the evening to search for food and socialise with one-another. The wonders of the wild await you.

Bush walks will allow you to soak up the intricacies of nature while traversing the land at a more intimate and insightful pace than conventional safari game drives. Knowledgeable guides will discuss with you the features of the land while pointing out local flora and fauna. Hwange National Park offers high concentrations of plains game, making any excursion one to write home about. Here, game is shot only with camera equipment, and the fertile plains that surround you offer the perfect opportunity for world-class wildlife photography.

Hwange National Park is an expansive wildlife area which features over 400 species waiting for you to discover. Bird watching here is phenomenal year-round, but at its absolute best during November through April. Not only is this when European and North African migratory birds are present, but it is also nesting time for resident species. Keep your eyes peeled for the likes of the Bradfield’s hornbill, Egyptian vulture, Collared pratincole and the Eastern black-headed oriole.

Cast your eyes upon the speckled canvas of vibrant lights displayed by the Hwange night sky while gathered around a cosy campfire in the company of friends and family. Untarnished by light pollution, the remote areas of the Zimbabwean bush provide the perfect arena for a picturesque star-gazing experience.

Amalinda Safari Collection has partnered with The Mother Africa Trust to orchestrate a series of initiatives throughout Zimbabwe aimed at improving the quality of life for village residents and to foster sustainability through the conservation of wildlife.

“Ever since we began in 2006, Mother Africa has worked tirelessly to make a positive and lasting difference in Zimbabwe. Our Mother Africa trustees have always believed that one person really can make a difference. Like natures development, change is often a gradual and quiet process, and we believe that through some collective care and nurture, the face of this resilient country can alter steadily and sustainably forever…

Today, our dream is an active reality and the Trust continues to go from strength to strength whilst seeking out new opportunities to grow and improve. Research and education projects have already been created and more are in development.” The aims and objectives of this grassroots support initiative are as follows:

• To source and channel resources for community and wildlife development and conservation linked to enhancing sustainable tourism.
• To support children who have not had the same educational benefits or opportunities in life as others.
• To support orphans and orphanages with financial and other resources.
• To support disabled individuals by providing for some of their demonstrated needs.
• To assist rural schools, clinics, orphanages and individuals with specific needs by linking them with volunteers who can assist with those needs with the permission and cooperation of the relevant departments and authorities.
• To recruit professionals internationally who are willing to donate their time to support remote communities and wildlife projects.
• To support worthy conservation initiatives such as anti-poaching operations to enhance the survival of wildlife for future generations.
• To support the rehabilitation and replanting of indigenous forests.

Originally conceived by Birthe and Bent Kristensen in 1997, the children’s home has faced many challenges during Zimbabwe’s economic and political turmoil, yet it continues to thrive nevertheless. Today, Ethandweni Children’s Home is in the capable hands of Lucien Oosthuizen.

The home currently houses 42 orphaned and disadvantaged children of all ages who come from the Matobo District. The Mother Africa Trust has worked with the home for a number of years, helping to source funding, food and medication for the disadvantaged and often vulnerable children raised at this home. The Trust has introduced many volunteers who have impacted positively in the development of the home. A visit to this home is an enlightening experience that will inspire and awe even the most world-weary traveller. It is possible to spend a full or half day here with prior arrangement at Khulu Bush Camp.

Originally started by the Catholic Church in 1987, Dete Old Age Home remains the only place in the wider Hwange area for elderly without family that are unable to look after themselves. At present, 28 seniors live there, and many more are supported at their places of residence. Today, the Old Age Home boasts a rich and nutritious vegetable garden and improved health and living conditions for the elderly, all as a result of tremendous efforts by The Mother Africa Trust. The Trust continues to provide sustainable support in the form of clothing, medication, food and provision of technical expertise in the fixing of boreholes and washing machines. Guests are more than welcome to visit or even volunteer to get involved.

Somehow, somewhere, in the communities of Zimbabwe, many are walking bare foot to school, to the fields, to the clinics, exposing themselves to unsanitary conditions. The ‘Walk in My Shoes’ initiative has thus far collected and distributed more than 200 pairs of shoes to less fortunate children and needy members of rural communities in Zimbabwe. The trust hope to reach out to many out there, such as those who have never before owned a pair of shoes, helping to drastically improve the quality of life for those unfortunate residents through these small acts of kindness.

As a step towards empowering local communities, The Mother Africa Trust recently introduced a sustainable project for child headed families and the needy in rural communities. The Goat Gift Project entails a gift of one or two goats to a family. Once the goats reproduce, the initial goats are passed on to another family. Goats are ideal for drought prone areas. They tend to reproduce quickly, and they can free a family from the dependence cycle within two years if they are well taken care of. Once they multiply, a struggling family can sell some of their goats to pay school fees for children or use the money to buy basic commodities.

Through generous donations from Amalinda Safari Collection guests, Mother Africa Trust is able to sponsor educational focussed conservation trips for students from disadvantaged rural schools. These trips include a guided field trip to Hwange National Park, rhino tracking, bird watching, tree identification and many more activities that enable children to learn and discover the importance of the land’s natural resources. The rangers, conservation agents and professional guides offer their knowledge about local fauna and flora and educate rural children on ways to conserve their environment.

To many children, this would be the first time they’re able to properly experience Zimbabwe’s wildlife. By connecting local people to nature, relationships between rural communities are better cultivated, and their natural wild surroundings are brought to their attention. At the end of the day, these children are moulded into nature enthusiasts who understand the benefits of conserving and treasuring the valued wildlife and the environment. The trust has discovered that this exposure is an important element to a successful conservation strategy.

A team of 5 men frequently carry out anti-poaching patrols in the 6000-acre Ivory Lodge concession that borders Hwange National Park, and they have collected more than 7000 snares since 2012. They patrol a distance of 180km by foot and 10km by vehicle, on average, throughout the course of a month. There is no fence between the border of Ivory Lodge and Hwange National Park, so this initiative also helps in protecting wildlife from the park. Their presence has assured safety and survival of the encompassing valued wildlife, as well as deterring future poachers from conducting their illegal and immoral operations.

The Mother Africa Trust work with communities on the fringes of wildlife areas, with human and wildlife interactions posing a threat to both sides. As a way to assist in the prevention of wildlife-human conflict in the Hwange area, The Mother Africa Trust has begun constructing lion proof cattle bomas. Thus far, they have built two permanent bomas that accommodate a total of 120 cattle. These particular kinds of bomas keep the cattle safe from lion night-time attacks, having proven to be very effective. A small lion-proof boma that accommodates up to 20 cattle cost $600, and they intend to build more of these bomas in the most affected areas bordering Hwange National Park.

“No matter how cruel the night, the dawn will break, and Zimbabwe will still be here along with all its wild beauty, while herds of cattle in the villages will grow bigger…harmony with wildlife will prevail. With more lion-proof bomas in place, we can achieve this!”