Bomani Tented Lodge
Highlights
- A private gate into Hwange National Park, a 15-minute drive from camp
- Bomani Pan waterhole in full view of the main deck and splash pool
- Morning, afternoon and full-day game drives, plus night drives
- Guided game walks and horseback safaris in the Ngamo Forest Area
- The Elephant Express railcar along Hwange's eastern boundary from Dete
- The Look Up Hide for eye-level game viewing
- Pump runs, cultural village visits and school tours
Information
- Lodge type: Tented safari lodge (Imvelo Safari Lodges)
- Location: Ngamo Forest Area, bordering south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 10 safari tents and 1 thatched bungalow, maximum 30 guests
- Recommended stay: 3–5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes — Hwange is a malaria area. Take prophylaxis year-round; the risk peaks in the November–April rains.
- Getting there: About 1 hour by light aircraft from Victoria Falls or Bulawayo to Bomani Airstrip, or about 4 hours by road from either city. Rail alternative: 2.5 hours by road to Dete Station, then 2.5 hours on the Elephant Express railcar.
Bomani, A More Budget Friendly Tented Lodge In A Remote And Exclusive Area of Hwange
Bomani Tented Lodge is a 10-tent safari lodge on a 5,000-acre private concession in the Ngamo Forest Area. The concession borders the south-eastern corner of Hwange National Park, and the lodge's own private gate into the park is just 15 minutes' drive from camp. No fences separate the concession from the park, so wildlife moves freely between the two. Much of it walks straight to the Bomani Pan waterhole below the main deck.
Bomani Tented Lodge gives guests the full range of ways to see Hwange: game drives, night drives, guided walks and horseback safaris. Birding in the summer rains is outstanding. The guides and trackers are some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable in the region, and they have spent years reading this corner of the park.
Bomani Tented Lodge is one of the best-value tented lodges in Hwange. It has just 11 units, and its all-inclusive rate covers meals, local drinks, laundry and guided activities. That makes it a superb choice for couples, honeymooners, families and small groups who want remote, exclusive game viewing without top-tier prices. Wildlife sightings are excellent year-round.
Rooms and Suites
Bomani Tented Lodge has 11 en-suite units in four styles. All face the Ngamo Plains and the Bomani Pan waterhole:
- Saddlebill Tents (5): safari tents on raised decks, in three twin and two double configurations
- Spurwing Tents (4): ground-level tents, including two twins, one double and one honeymoon tent
- Sable Suite (1): a two-bedroom tented family suite with a king bed, two ¾ beds and two bathrooms
- Thatched Bungalow (1): a stone-walled, thatch-roofed room with a queen bed
Every unit at Bomani Tented Lodge has comfortable beds, an en-suite bathroom with hot water and a private game viewing platform. Suite amenities include a ceiling or standing fan, an electronic safe, mosquito repellent, a mobile LED lamp, and an emergency whistle and air horn. Daily laundry is included.
Cuisine and Wine
Bomani Tented Lodge serves all meals as part of the stay, and soft drinks, beers, wines and local spirits are included. Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner move around the camp, from the dining room to the fire pit to set-ups out in the bush. That means you might have supper under the stars one night and a long, lazy brunch with elephants at the pan the next. Only top-shelf spirits are charged extra.
Facilities
Bomani Tented Lodge is built around an open-fronted thatched main lodge with a teak viewing deck over the Bomani Pan waterhole. The main lodge has a dining area, lounge and bar, and an outdoor fire pit. A splash pool on the raised deck overlooks the waterhole, so the midday swim doubles as a game-viewing session. WiFi is available in the main lodge, the camp runs on solar power, and in-house spa treatments can be arranged.
Activities
Bomani Tented Lodge borders Hwange National Park and has a private gate into it, so guests reach the park faster than from most lodges outside it. Activities include:
- Morning and afternoon game drives, all-day drives and night drives
- Guided game walks with professional guides
- Horseback safaris
- The Look Up Hide for eye-level game viewing
- Pump runs to the waterholes that keep Hwange's game alive through the dry season
- Cultural village visits and school tours
- The Elephant Express railcar along Hwange's eastern boundary
The Ngamo Plains and surrounding teak forest hold excellent wildlife and birdlife year-round. The dry months of July to October bring the biggest concentrations at the waterholes.
Child Friendly
Bomani Tented Lodge welcomes families with children aged 12 and over. Children over 7 can stay by special arrangement only, and parents must sign a disclaimer. The lodge is best suited to older children because wildlife moves freely through the unfenced camp and there are no dedicated children's facilities or activities. The two-bedroom Sable Suite is the natural choice for families.
Bomani Tented Lodge FAQs
Where is Bomani Tented Lodge?
Bomani Tented Lodge is on a 5,000-acre private concession in the Ngamo Forest Area of Zimbabwe, bordering the south-eastern corner of Hwange National Park. The lodge has its own private gate into Hwange, about 15 minutes' drive from camp. No fences separate the concession from the park, so wildlife moves freely to the Bomani Pan waterhole in front of the lodge.
How do you get to Bomani Tented Lodge?
Bomani Tented Lodge is about 1 hour by light aircraft from Victoria Falls or Bulawayo, landing at Bomani Airstrip, or about 4 hours by road from either city. A slower, more scenic option is a 2.5-hour drive to Dete Station followed by 2.5 hours on the Elephant Express railcar along Hwange National Park's eastern boundary.
Is Bomani Tented Lodge in a malaria area?
Yes. Bomani Tented Lodge is in Hwange, a malaria area in Zimbabwe, so guests should take antimalarial prophylaxis for any stay. The risk is highest during the November–April rains and lower in the dry winter months. Tents at Bomani Tented Lodge are supplied with mosquito repellent, but travellers should still consult a travel clinic before departure.
What activities are offered at Bomani Tented Lodge?
Bomani Tented Lodge offers morning, afternoon, full-day and night game drives, guided walks and horseback safaris around Hwange National Park. Guests can also use the Look Up Hide for eye-level game viewing, join pump runs to Hwange's waterholes, and visit local villages and schools. The Elephant Express railcar runs along the park's eastern boundary.
Is Bomani Tented Lodge suitable for children?
Bomani Tented Lodge welcomes children aged 12 and over. Children over 7 are accepted by special arrangement only, with parents signing a disclaimer. The camp is unfenced, wildlife moves through freely, and there are no dedicated children's facilities. Families usually book the Sable Suite, a two-bedroom tented unit with a king bed, two ¾ beds and two bathrooms.
What is included in the rate at Bomani Tented Lodge?
Bomani Tented Lodge rates include accommodation, all meals, soft drinks, beers, wines and local spirits, guided game activities, daily laundry and transfers from Bomani Airstrip. Flights, visas, other transfers, optional wildlife and cultural activities, top-shelf spirits and travel insurance are excluded. Rates are quoted in US dollars per person sharing and vary by season.
In Conclusion
Bomani Tented Lodge is the Hwange stay for travellers who want genuine wilderness and serious game viewing without paying top-tier prices. The lodge has a private gate into Zimbabwe's largest national park and a waterhole in front of the deck. Guests can explore by vehicle, on foot, on horseback or on the Elephant Express rail line. Just 11 units keep the camp personal, and the all-inclusive rate means you won't sign a bar bill.
Bomani Tented Lodge is at its best from July to October, when the Hwange bush dries out and elephants gather at the pumped pans in their hundreds. The green season from November to April is rich in birds and newborn game, and brings quieter camps and better value. Bomani Tented Lodge fits naturally into a Zimbabwe safari after Victoria Falls, and pairs well with Mana Pools or Matobo.
Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris since 1999. After 27 years, we know how to route a Hwange stay: whether to fly in, drive or take the railcar, how many nights the pan deserves, and which month suits your brief. Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you'd love to see, and we'll build your Bomani Tented Lodge safari around it. There are no booking fees and no credit card surcharges.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Bomani Tented Lodge rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- Guided game activities
- All meals
- Soft drinks, beers, wines and local spirits
- Laundry
- Transfers from Bomani Airstrip
- All flights
- Visas
- All other transfers
- Optional wildlife and cultural activities
- Items of a personal nature
- Top shelf alcohol
- Travel insurance
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