Sapi Explorers Camp

Raw, romantic wilderness in Zimbabwe's greater Mana Pools region

Once the target of hunters, Sapi's wildlife is gradually regaining its relaxed air. There's certainly no shortage of wildlife, and the camp's riverbank setting is prime territory for viewing.

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Jonty

Eve

Kristin

4.9 out of 5 stars Average guest rating

About Sapi Explorers Camp

Set on the banks of the Zambezi River in northern Zimbabwe's rich and varied Sapi Concession, this charming little camp distils safari in the best possible way. With just five tents and a handful of dedicated staff, including an expert guide, Sapi Explorers Camp displays the adventurous atmosphere and true ardour of those heady days of early safari explorers. Here, you're in a 120,000-hectare private sanctuary that was once a hunting concession, but is now a photographic destination. It flows into neighbouring Mana Pools National Park, a wildliife treasure trove – giving visitors access to 337,000 hectares of prime wilderness.

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From $680 person/night

Camp

5 Tents

Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

2019 great plains sapi explorers camp 11

2019 great plains sapi explorers camp 10

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Highlights

Coming here means you're visiting part of a 337,000-hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site. For birdlovers, more than 450 species have been recorded.

Enjoying the wilderness safe in the knowledge that you're not going to bump into anyone else.

The number of ways you can explore the landscape. Game drives and guided walks pulse with land-based action. Canoe trips or boat rides up the river are wonderful. We're convinced there's nothing quite like drifting on the waterway as the sun sets, enjoying a glass of something special, and listening to the "noisy silence" of the bush.

The property

Just because it's a true tent doesn't mean luxury is spared. The camp's main area consists of an elegant mess tent set on a gentle rise along the riverbank. Inside are the hardwood furnishings, foldaway liquor chests (very old-school), ethnic rugs, curtains and a chandelier above a round table. Staked into the ground, it opens on to a sandy patch that's home to the campfire. Just beyond is the river, where a motorboat waits at the ready.

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The rooms

The five double tents are roomy and appropriately elegant, with quality furnishings, large double beds and, again, that old-school safari feel (leather-strapped travel chests, a few exotic textiles and crisp white sheets). A canvas wall divides the bedroom from the en-suite bathroom (flush toilet, hot shower). Out front is a covered sitting area with a few director's chairs – an excellent spot to look out for wildlife along the river. No rhino here, sadly.

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One more thing...

This experience isn't only for seasoned safari-goers – one needn't possess any qualifications other than a real appetite for adventure.

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Activities

Walking safari

Canoeing

Boat Cruises

Diverse habitats here allow for a variety of safari experiences, which are the region's main attraction. Walking safaris allow you to inspect the intricacies of the bush, and may include deliberate approaches to elephant and lion – undertaken, of course, with an armed guide. Canoeing or motorboat rides will reveal pods of hippo, elephants at the water's edge, and huge numbers of waterbirds. This wildlife paradise is home to lion, leopard, hyena, wild dog, buffalo, eland, zebra and other ungulates.

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About Mana Pools

Mana Pools

A glossy Garden of Eden, famous for canoe trips and boating as well as drives and walking safaris.

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