Somalisa Camp

Insider’s Review of Somalisa Camp

Situated on a lovely acacia island overlooking Hwange National Park’s vast and animal-rich floodplain, Somalisa Camp is a small, intimate tented camp whose vibrantly African decor pays tribute to the golden days of safari—and whose modernity and full range of amenities remind us that in so many ways, that golden age is right now.

Accommodations at Somalisa Camp

With only seven tents, Somalisa affords Micato safariers the peace and privacy that make for outstanding safari experiences. With the tents’ flaps rolled up, the surrounding greenery sparkles, bird song provides a soothing soundtrack, and the floodplain only yards from our private verandahs invite animals to drink and disport as we sip cocktails in leisurely and brilliantly quiet luxury.

Each elegantly designed and decorated  Somalisa tent features the full range of amenities, including large en suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, wood-burning stoves, and sitting and writing areas. The camp’s dining and lounge areas offer expansive views of the floodplain and its small splash pool is located near a natural waterhole frequented by elephants and a host of Hwange’s smaller but no less fascinating mammals and birds.

Activities and Attractions at Somalisa Camp

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest, oldest, and most carefully protected wildlife preserve. Game viewing in the park based from Somalisa is quite simply magnificent, given the park’s wide variety of landscapes and its animal-attracting floodplains, all of them part of what the great photographer Peter Beard called “a paradise caressed by light and air in their most special forms.”

The fabled Big Five roam freely in Hwange (the park’s elephant population is one of Africa’s largest) and 400 bird species soar and chortle. The park is home to rare gemsbok and brown hyenas, and fascinating Cape wild dogs are numerous. (Seeing these canines as they affectionately interact before going on a zealous hunt is a treat even for experienced safari-goers. “The most enthusiastic of animals…they live the life domestic dogs wish they could live,” says zoologist Rosie Woodfroffe.) Of note: Somalisa Camp is located near heartstirringly colossal Victoria Falls, making it an ideal spot to include in a Micato Custom Safari.