Zambezi Sands River Camp

The luxury twin tent is a Bedouin style tent that is 74 square metres in size. Guests will also be able to enjoy a 56 square metre private deck to enjoy the views that surround the property. The lounge are makes it all the more comfortable as does access to a minibar, an En-suite bathroom, outdoor shower and a private splash pool. Other amenities include ceiling fans, a hairdryer, mosquito net, electronic safes and bath robes. Free daily laundry is also provided as is a tea and coffee making facility and a mobile LED lamp. Two double beds are provided, making this perfect for friends travelling together or families.

The luxury double tent is a Bedouin style tent that is 74 square metres in size. Guests will also be able to enjoy a 56 square metre private deck to enjoy the views that surround the property. The lounge are makes it all the more comfortable as does access to a minibar, an En-suite bathroom, outdoor shower and a private splash pool. Other amenities include ceiling fans, a hairdryer, mosquito net, electronic safes and bath robes. Free daily laundry is also provided as is a tea and coffee making facility and a mobile LED lamp. One king size bed is provided, making this perfect for couples staying at the property.

All of the food at the camp is beautifully prepared each day and there is also a complementary bar at the property. High tea is also served each day. The staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, ensuring that all the needs of each guest are met.

Zambezi National Park is a national park located upstream, just 5km from Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and comprises 40km of Zambezi River frontage. It was split off from Victoria Falls National Park in 1979 and is 56,000 hectares (140,000 acres) in size. The park is bisected by a road to Kazungula, dividing it into a riverine side and a Chamabonda Vlei side. Most of the park is within the ecoregion of Zambezian and Mopane woodlands, while a small portion in the south is within the Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands.

The Zambezi National Park plays host to a wide variety of larger mammals including African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo and leopard. In addition to these charismatic members of the “big 5” there are herds of sable antelope, common eland, common zebra, Southern giraffe, greater kudu, waterbuck and impala. In addition, many species of smaller wildlife can be seen here. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded within the Zambezi National Park.

Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer, collared palm thrush, lanner falcon, goliath heron, African finfoot, rock pratincole and long-toed lapwing are considered to be among the speciality birds of the park. Aside from birds and land animals, there are 75 species of fish located in the park, including the famous tiger fish.

Zambezi Sands River Camp offers guests spa treatments that can be taken on their private deck looking out to the pristine river or on a sand bank. Destinations vary depending on seasonality and can be discussed with management the day before the treatment. Treatments include head massages, foot massages, shoulder and neck massages and even manicures or pedicures.

The easiest way to access the Zambezi National Park is via the Zambezi River Game Drive, which is extensive network of roads along the banks of the Zambezi and is accessed through the main gate. There is a 25-kilometre Chamabondo Game Drive that can take the visitor into the wilder the southern part of the Park, and which starts 5 kilometres south of Victoria Falls town; just off the main Victoria Falls to Bulawayo road.

Guests are invited to walk through the bush with experienced guides by their sides, allowing them to witness the flora and fauna up close and personal. Guests will be able to witness a variety of larger mammals including African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo and leopard. In addition to these charismatic members of the “big 5” there are herds of sable antelope, common eland, common zebra, Southern giraffe, greater kudu, waterbuck and impala. In addition, many species of smaller wildlife can be seen.

Over 400 species of birds have been recorded within the Zambezi National Park. Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer, collared palm thrush, lanner falcon, goliath heron, African finfoot, rock pratincole and long-toed lapwing are considered to be among the speciality birds of the park. Aside from birds and land animals, there are 75 species of fish located in the park, including the famous tiger fish.

Guests are welcome to take a day trip to Victoria Falls during their stay. Victoria Falls is a town and city not far from the property and is also a gateway to the stunning waterfall of the same name. The Zambezi River plummets over the cliff, making for an incredibly stunning sight. Guests who are looking to raise their adrenaline can even try out water activities such as white-water rafting, making for an unforgettable experience in such a picturesque location. The city also offers fly fishing, quad biking, bungy jumping and sky diving. Anyone that loves the outdoor and enjoys a day of adventure is sure to have a memorable day here.

Hands-on involvement with the local communities and protecting the natural environment is incredibly important to Imvelo. Ecotourism is driven in the community through the Campfire initiative. Campfire is an acronym for Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources. It is a project that looks at the local community involvement in tourism and runs on the philosophy that the people living within the natural resources are best placed to manage them. This in turn allows the local community to reap the benefits directly. Over the past eight years, Imvelo has ploughed over 2.5 million US dollars into local communities, allowing it to be distributed where it is most needed, such as in education, providing clean water and also ensuring that the community is benefitting directly from tourism.

Until just a few years ago, most villagers in the local community had never received dental care in areas such as Hwange and Victoria Falls. In 2011, Imvelo teamed up with 24 volunteer dentists to provide the first mobile dentist safari. The response was incredibly positive and people were able to travel from surrounding areas to receive vital dental care. Over 20,000 dental procedures have been carried out over the past seven years and over 20,000 patients have been seen.

Eye care has since been added to the health care that is provided, allowing over 220 patients to be treated in its first year alone. Many of the locals were able to receive glasses that have been donated from across the globe and elderly patients were able to do life changing things like read again. Thanks to donations from Higher Life Foundation, D3 Foundation and Smile is a Foundation, the optical safari and dental safari is able to exist and change lives.

A primary goal for Imvelo is to provide education to young people and the teachers that educate the students living on the frontline of the wildlife area. Imvelo gives support to 14 schools in the area in which they operate. The Ziga and Ngamo Primary Schools, which are both located on the edge of Hwange National Park, have transformed from being the worst primary schools in the district to two of the best thanks to money raised by both donated funds and safari camp lease fees. This money went to providing clean and safe classrooms with furniture, electricity and water. Teachers have also been provided with comfortable accommodation as well as training support and a salary.

To help increase the number of children proceeding to secondary school on completing their primary education, Imvelo built the Ngamo Secondary School which is now open with hundreds of students who can continue to learn in a safe and maintained environment. ‘Since 2014 we have constructed over 9 double classroom blocks accommodating 720 students, repair and maintenance of existing classroom blocks, built 13 teachers’ houses and 3 ablution blocks, purchased and supplied classroom furniture for 612 students and their teachers, and provided 95 students with bursaries for school fees, uniforms and stationery to name a few.’

Imvelo is a proud member of the initiative ‘Pack for a Purpose.’ This initiative encourages guests to utilise their spare suitcase space by bringing much-needed donations for local projects. By asking guests to bring school supplies such as pens, notepads, book bags and colouring pencils, as well as art supplies, textbooks, flashcards, musical instruments, sports equipment, educational games and office supplies, these donations can be taken directly to the schools that need it, where they will benefit both teachers and students.

Imvelo clears and manages over 280 kilometres of fire guards each year in order to protect wildlife habitats from wildfires. Imvelo safeguards thousands of square kilometres of wildlife habitat through this initiative, as well as the animals that live within this area. The project is funded through Imvelo’s revenue and donor funds raised on both local and international fundraising events.

In conjunction with the Rural District Councils and traditional leaders, there are dozens of community meetings that are held annually to continuously increase local awareness of the ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation. This allows all levels of the community to be made aware of the significant benefits that accumulate as wildlife and responsible and sustainable tourism grows.

By drilling and maintaining boreholes, Imvelo continues to provide local communities with reliable and clean water sources. This helps support the health of the local people who depend on safe drinking water – a precious commodity during Zimbabwe’s dry season. ‘Over the past eight years, Imvelo has been responsible for the establishment of over 80 new village wells and boreholes in 4 districts at a cost of more than US$1.5 million.

Together, these wells and boreholes provide approximately 1500 school children and 2280 households totalling 13 680 people and their livestock, with clean drinking water. In addition to the installations of new boreholes and wells, existing boreholes have been repaired at a rate of more than 50 repairs a year. This program has transformed the lives of over 120 000 villagers.’

Imvelo has been hugely supportive of the ‘Scorpions’ Anti Poaching Unit which operates in the south of Hwange National Park by providing training, supplies, bedding and wages to the rangers who help protect the wildlife from illegal poachers. The Scorpions work to remove wire snares and aid both police and national parks in catching and arresting poachers who hunt protected animals for ivory and hides. In 2016, the Scorpions were responsible for the capture of an entire team of elephant poachers.

Imvelo and their donors have also established a new team of rangers called the Cobras, which supports park workers and the Makona ranger station on the southern border of Hwange. By building their Jozibanini Camp in the Southwest of Hwange National Park, Imvelo has introduced a presence in a remote section of the park which further deters poachers and opened up old roads to increase manoeuvrability within the park for rangers and anti-poaching patrols.

The wildlife within Hwange National Park is reliant on artificial waterholes, which if they were to run dry would result in the deaths of thousands of animals. Imvelo is working to make this programme more eco-friendly by using solar-powered water pumps in the more recent boreholes in order to reduce the consumption of diesel and fuel needed to maintain the waterholes. The solar pumps also provide a power source for rangers to make use of for radio communications with HQ and charging batteries. Imvelo is continuing to replace diesel pumps with solar-powered ones to reduce carbon emissions.