Drumbeat Spring 19

www . aardvarksafaris.com l P14 ‘Wow!’ exclaimed my daughter before whispering, ‘who else is staying here?’ It was a fair question as Luangwa Safari House is gargantuan, but the answer was no-one. The four bedroom safari house was ours alone, so we could view the wildlife, eat and relax as and when it suited us. Some mornings we lazed over breakfasts on the deck overlooking the lagoon, watching warthog piglets chase each other, with parents ever attentive for predators hoping for their own bacon for brunch. We may have been sacrificing the best time of day for driving in the national park, but we’d got our own wildlife show going on right in front of us. We were happy to grab a picnic and head into the national park in the late morning as others left for their siestas. From our vantage point under a shady tree, the Luangwa River was still attracting plenty of wildlife, keeping the kids busy on their tick lists. Birds are generally more my thing, but Jacob managed to get my two trying to identify both raptors and the smaller species darting about. Dream private houses The original crop of safari houses, such as those at Tangala, Nkwali and Sabuk, were often owners’ houses offered to clients. Latterly, many have been specifically built for families or small groups of friends such as Luangwa Safari House, where we were staying and which my colleague Lucinda once managed, Singita’s Serengeti Private House, Morukuru’s malaria free Farmhouse, Sirikoi on the Lewa Conservancy and Ndomo Point on Lake Malawi. They’re not confined to safari areas either, with some stunners on the beach. Staying in a safari house, or even taking over a small tented camp, is a super way to enjoy your own private slice of African bush. You’ll have the undivided attention of your hosts and a private guide means you can tailor safari activities to suit your party. And while private houses offer exclusivity they don’t always carry the ‘exclusive’ price tag you might expect. REPORT BY RICHARD I last visited Zimbabwe in 2010, while the country was still under Robert Mugabe’s presidency. It is staging a remarkable resurgence under new leadership, and I went to have a quick look round in November. To my great delight I found that the wildlife is as prolific as ever, and while my old favourite camps are still going strong, with a bit of an update in places, there are no end of ‘new kids on the block’ and new destinations being opened up. The quality of the camps is impressive too, especially at the top end. A few of my favourites: Chikwenya Camp – Lavish tents with fronts that open to make the most of the glorious views of the floodplain, islands, river and the escarpment. Opening in April it’s a great addition to Mana Pools. Little Ruckomechi – The rooms have wonderful views from every part, and the luxury of this camp is its intimacy and size, along with phenomenal Mana Pools wildlife. Bumi Hills – A 5* hotel in one of the most remote settings in Zimbabwe: air-conditioning, gorgeous bathrooms, amazing food – all in spectacular surroundings. It’s perfect for exploring Kariba’s wildlife rich shores. Somalisa – The most stylish and luxurious camp in Hwange. Huge tents with inside and outside showers and a bath, an eight foot wide bed, a stove to keep you warm in the winter. Fabulous resident wildlife. Mpala Jena – Just four stunning tents on the Zambezi River shoreline. A mess tent that glows with colour and style. Massively luxurious and perfectly situated for game drives and Victoria Falls. Top end Zimbabwe REPORT BY FRANCIS