Hwange

Somalisa Camp

Elegant tented camp in the home of the elephants.
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Jonty
Eve
Kristin
4.9 out of 5 stars   Average guest rating
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or call us on: +1 (646) 542 0667
Our guests rate us excellent
4.9/5 (948 reviews)

About Somalisa Camp

Somalisa lies in a private concession in Zimbabwe's biggest national park - Hwange - most famous for its huge population of elephants. The camp is tucked away in a camelthorn acacia island on the edge of an ancient watercourse which draws lots of game to its sweet grazing and thirst-quenching waterholes. The camp was recently rebuilt and now offers an extremely high level of comfort, while remaining true to its original focus: an experience of this great African savanna and its spectacular wildlife.

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From $610 person/night

Camp
7 Tents

What you'll love

Nothing can compare to the surreal experience of floating in the camp's pool while a herd of elephants come to drink from it!

Insiders tip

You can also request to sleep out at one of the camp's hides, or at least spend a few hours there during the day, observing the wildlife as you go unnoticed.

Something to think about

To get the most from a stay here, it's best to visit during the dry season when the game concentrates around the available water sources.

The property

Somalisa's communal area is comprised of several open-sided Bedouin-style tents that cover the large lounge, bar and dining room on an elevated deck. The lounge has an eclectic mix of art and furniture that present plenty of seating options, including the prized couches around the glass and iron fireplace. There's a lovely dining area outside, as well as at the ground-level next to the pizza oven on the edge of camp. The boma lies in the centre of the deck, adjacent to the pool, which lacks a bit of privacy since it's in full view of the lounge. But if you don't mind sharing your water with the elephants, there's a second pool/waterhole in front of the deck.

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The rooms

The seven brand-new Sail tents at Somalisa are beautiful, spacious and elegant. Much attention has been paid to details - from the copper bathtubs and wooden washing basins to the glass fireplaces. Rooms look out on to the ancient floodplain through ceiling-to-floor sliding mesh doors, making for uninterrupted views all around. Each tent has a king size bed, a sumptuous couch and a private deck. In addition to the classy bath and basin, each en suite bathroom also has a large open shower.

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Activities

Cultural
Game Drives
Walking safari
Night Drives

Game drives are most productive between June and October when the animals tend to congregate in great numbers around the park's waterholes. During these months you have a good chance of seeing thousands of elephants and buffalo in a single day, as well as lions, zebra, giraffe and much more. If you're lucky, you might even glimpse a cheetah or the impressive roan and sable. Walks are lead by highly qualified guides and usually combine some exciting game sightings with the beautiful camelthorn woodlands as well as time spent paying closer attention to the less noticeable goings-on in the wilderness.

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Positive impact

Somalisa Camp is owned by African Bush Camps who has been dedicated to improving the lives of communities near their camps in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Focused on education, empowerment, and conservation, they tackle challenges like unemployment, food scarcity, and wildlife poaching. With a commitment to sustainability, they cover operating costs, ensuring that every guest's stay directly supports their impactful projects, fostering a partnership to preserve Africa's natural heritage.

A contribution of $85 per guest, which is included in the nightly rate, goes towards the above goals.

Reviews

J
Jeanne M
3 years ago
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5 out of 5 stars

About Hwange National Park

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Wildlife in Hwange National Park

Elephant
Abundant
Giraffe
Occasional
Hippo
Abundant
Black Rhino
None
White Rhino
Rare
Lion
Occasional
Cheetah
Rare
Leopard
Rare
Hyena
Abundant
Wildebeest
Occasional
Buffalo
Occasional
Zebra
Occasional
Warthog
Occasional
Wild Dog
Rare
Meerkat
None

What our guests are saying

4.9 / 5
Based on 948 reviews
Guest
Mar 2025 • 11 nights in Kenya and Rwanda
Jenna has been so attentive while planning our dream trip to East Africa. Jenna's attention to the details has... Read more
Gwyneth
Mar 2025 • 7 nights in Zimbabwe
We have used Timbuktu and Joanna in particular many times. Great ideas and service. She resolves any issues... Read more
Jena
Mar 2025 • 5 nights in Kenya
It was perfect! Jenna and Nadine were super responsive and everything was so simple and easy. They had great recs... Read more
MARK
Mar 2025 • 13 nights in Uganda
Just booked our 2nd trip through Timbuktu. Dealt with Tessa on both occasions and could not recommend her enough.... Read more
Paolo
Mar 2025 • 10 nights in Kenya and Uganda
I’ve planned several trips with Timbuktu—Southeast Asia, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, and Uganda—and each experience has... Read more
Guest
Mar 2025 • 10 nights in Rwanda and Tanzania
Joanna Rigby-Jones and Nadine Levers have been excellent sources of suggestions, bookings, and ideas to help our... Read more
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