Singita Pamushana Lodge
Highlights
- Sunrise and sunset over Malilangwe Dam from the main deck
- Big Five game drives and guided walks in the private Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve
- Evenings around the clifftop fire pit
- Tiger fishing and sundowner cruises on Malilangwe Dam
- A private plunge pool at every suite
- A superb South African and international wine cellar
- Day trips to Gonarezhou National Park
- San rock art, wildlife and birding photography
Information
- Lodge type: Luxury safari lodge
- Location: Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, southeast Zimbabwe, near Gonarezhou National Park
- Lodge size: 8 suites (plus Singita Malilangwe House, a separate five-bedroom villa)
- Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes. Malilangwe is a malaria-risk area, so take anti-malaria advice from your doctor before travel
- Getting there: 1 hr 45 min scheduled flight from Johannesburg to Buffalo Range Airport (Chiredzi), then a 45-minute road transfer; private charters land at Lonestar airstrip, 12 minutes from the lodge; about 6 hours by road from Harare
The Luxurious Pamushana Lodge Overlooking The Singita Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve In Zimbabwe
Singita Pamushana Lodge is an eight-suite luxury safari lodge on a sandstone ridge above Malilangwe Dam, inside the private Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe's southeast Lowveld. The reserve covers roughly 46,500 hectares (115,000 acres) near Gonarezhou National Park. Its landscape is a rare mix of sandstone koppies, baobabs, mopane woodland and open water, and it holds all of the Big Five, sable, wild dog and a remarkable variety of birds. The reserve also protects more than 100 San rock art sites. For wildlife photographers, the combination of red rock, still dam water and golden Lowveld light is hard to beat anywhere in southern Africa.
Singita Pamushana Lodge ranks with the very finest safari lodges in South Africa, Botswana and Tanzania for guiding, service, cuisine and setting, and in our view only a handful of lodges on the continent come close. Pamushana means "a place in the sun" in Shona, and on a clear winter morning on that deck the name explains itself.
Note: Singita Pamushana Lodge lies deep in a privately managed conservation area run by the Malilangwe Trust, which employs its own team of scouts. Guests are met at the airport or airstrip and transferred by Singita throughout their stay. Part of our selection of the best Gonarezhou Lodges.
Singita Pamushana Lodge pairs beautifully with the Kruger National Park, Botswana's Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls or Cape Town for a longer luxury safari. The direct Johannesburg flight makes a South Africa and Zimbabwe combination especially easy.
Rooms and Suites
Singita Pamushana Lodge has eight suites in four configurations, so couples, families and small groups are all well served:
- 4 one-bedroom suites for couples
- 1 two-bedroom family suite (2 adults, 2 children)
- 1 three-bedroom family suite (2 adults, 4 children)
- 2 two-bedroom suites (up to 4 adults, ideal for friends travelling together)
Every suite at Singita Pamushana Lodge has a fireplace in the bedroom, a luxurious en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, a dressing room, a small lounge, and a private game-viewing deck with its own plunge pool and sun loungers. For larger groups wanting complete privacy, Singita Malilangwe House is a separate five-bedroom villa on the reserve. It comes with its own pool, guide, vehicle, host and chef, and it is booked separately from the lodge.
Cuisine and Wine
Singita Pamushana Lodge serves world-class cuisine that blends international technique with the flavours of Africa. The lodge carries the Relais & Châteaux name, which stands for the five Cs of Courtesy, Charm, Character, Calm and Cuisine. Meals are served in the elegant indoor dining room, on the outdoor terraces overlooking Malilangwe Dam, or privately on your own deck. Private, romantic and group dinners are all arranged. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements are catered for when the lodge is told in advance.
Singita Pamushana Lodge's wine cellar holds a superb selection of the best South African and international wines, alongside brandy, cognac, whisky and champagne. Wines are paired with lunch and dinner.
Facilities
Singita Pamushana Lodge has:
- Two swimming pools
- A spa and small gym
- Lush indigenous gardens
- Several viewing decks
- Fire-lit lounges and a library
- A television in the main lounge
- A vegetable garden where guests can learn about the lodge's organic, sustainable growing
Complimentary WiFi is available, but the remote location means the connection can be slow and intermittent. Mobile phone signal is weak, which most guests soon count as a blessing.
Activities
Singita Pamushana Lodge offers twice-daily game drives, early morning and late afternoon, in open Land Cruisers with expert Singita guides and trackers. The Big Five are the headline, but the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve is just as rewarding for sable, wild dog, birds, reptiles and its spectacular sandstone scenery.
Singita Pamushana Lodge's guided bush walks are a must, getting you close to the tracks, trees and small wonders of the bushveld. Other activities include:
- Tiger fish and bass fishing on Malilangwe Dam
- Sundowner cruises on Malilangwe Dam
- Visits to the reserve's San rock art sites, some of the finest in Zimbabwe
- Community visits
- Day trips to Gonarezhou National Park or Great Zimbabwe National Monument
Child Friendly
Singita Pamushana Lodge welcomes children of all ages, with babysitting and activities tailored to each family. Infants under two stay free. Children aged 2 to 16 sharing a standard suite with one adult pay 50% of the adult rate. Families with children under ten receive a private vehicle, complimentary for groups of four or more. The two family suites sleep up to four and six guests, and children join game drives and walks at the guides' discretion.
Spa and Wellness
Singita Pamushana Lodge has its own spa, with a menu of detox, de-stress and restorative therapies plus a signature range of massages. Treatments are offered to adults, couples and children. A small gym with essential machines and free weights, along with yoga sessions, keeps guests moving between game activities.
Singita Pamushana Lodge – Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Singita Pamushana Lodge?
Singita Pamushana Lodge is in the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, a private conservation area of roughly 46,500 hectares (115,000 acres) in Zimbabwe's southeast Lowveld, near Gonarezhou National Park. The lodge's eight suites sit on a sandstone ridge overlooking Malilangwe Dam. The nearest airport is Buffalo Range International Airport at Chiredzi, about 45 minutes away by road.
How do you get to Singita Pamushana Lodge?
Singita Pamushana Lodge is reached by a scheduled flight of about 1 hour 45 minutes from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo to Buffalo Range International Airport, currently operating on Mondays and Thursdays. A road transfer of around 45 minutes, included in the rate, follows. Private charters land at Lonestar airstrip, 12 minutes from the lodge. By road, Harare is roughly six hours away.
Is Singita Pamushana Lodge in a malaria area?
Singita Pamushana Lodge is in a malaria-risk area. The Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve lies in Zimbabwe's low-lying southeast, and Singita states that all of its properties are in malaria-risk zones. Guests should see a doctor or travel clinic before departure for anti-malaria advice, and pack long sleeves and insect repellent for the evenings. Families wanting a malaria-free safari should consider Madikwe instead.
Does Singita Pamushana Lodge accept children?
Singita Pamushana Lodge welcomes children of all ages. Infants under two stay free, and children aged 2 to 16 pay 50% of the adult rate when sharing a standard suite with one adult. Families with children under ten receive a private vehicle, complimentary for groups of four or more. Two family suites sleep up to six, and guides decide whether children join drives and walks.
What is included in the rate at Singita Pamushana Lodge?
Singita Pamushana Lodge rates are fully inclusive. They cover all meals and drinks, including premium wines, spirits and liqueurs; twice-daily game drives; guided walks; boat cruises and fishing; visits to San rock art sites; laundry; WiFi; and return road transfers from Buffalo Range Airport. Spa treatments, French Champagne, flights, gratuities and travel insurance are charged separately.
How many nights should you spend at Singita Pamushana Lodge, and when?
Singita Pamushana Lodge suits a stay of three to seven nights. Three nights covers game drives, a bush walk and a sundowner cruise on Malilangwe Dam, while five or more adds rock art, fishing and a Gonarezhou day trip. The dry season, roughly May to October, brings the best game viewing, and November to March is green, hot and superb for birding.
In Conclusion
Singita Pamushana Lodge is, quite simply, one of the finest safari lodges in Africa. It has eight suites on a sandstone ridge, a private reserve holding the Big Five, over 100 San rock art sites, and a level of guiding, cuisine and service that very few lodges anywhere can match. Because it sits in Zimbabwe's far southeast rather than on the well-worn Kruger or Okavango circuits, you share Malilangwe with remarkably few other people. That is exactly why it is so special.
Singita Pamushana Lodge is easy to reach. The scheduled flight from Johannesburg to Buffalo Range takes 1 hour 45 minutes, and a short road transfer follows. That makes it a natural addition to a Kruger, Cape Town or Victoria Falls safari. Come between May and October for the best game viewing, or in the green season for lush landscapes and outstanding birding. Plan on at least three nights, and five if you can.
Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris since 1999. After 27 years we know how to sequence Zimbabwe's flights and transfers, how to get the right suite in the right season, and how to build Singita Pamushana Lodge into a journey that flows. As an owner-run company we charge no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us when you'd like to travel and who is coming, and we'll build your Singita Pamushana safari around you.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Singita Pamushana Lodge Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- All meals and beverages (including premium wines, spirits, and liqueurs)
- Twice daily open Land Cruiser safaris, walking safaris, boat cruises, fishing
- Excursions to ancient rock art sites
- Return road transfers from Buffalo Range International Airport and the lodge
- Laundry service
- Telephone calls
- Tourism Levy and VAT
- French Champagne
- Spa treatments at lodge
- Transport to and from the reserve
- All flights
- Travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Gratuities
- Optional activities
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