Customize one of our recommended trips or design your own from scratch
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.
From $610 person/night
Nothing can compare to the surreal experience of floating in the camp's pool while a herd of elephants come to drink from it!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Show all activities
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.
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.
Show all wildlife
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch.