Daka Plains Camp
Highlights
- Eight tented suites of stone, canvas and thatch, each with a private deck
- A private 4,000-hectare concession in the far northwest of Hwange National Park
- Guided walking safaris and morning and afternoon game drives
- Night drives for nocturnal wildlife, which most Hwange camps cannot offer
- A guide-owned camp, part-owned and run by guides Ian and Nonnie Batchelor
- A plunge pool, fire-pit deck and bar
- A library stocked with safari and natural-history books
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and a stargazing sky with no light pollution
Information
- Lodge type: Tented safari camp
- Location: Private concession, far northwest Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 8 tented suites (7 doubles, 1 family tent), up to 16 guests
- Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes. Hwange National Park is a malaria area, so take prophylaxis year-round; the risk is highest in the November–April rains.
- Getting there: 20-minute shared light-aircraft flight from Victoria Falls to Robins Airstrip, then about 1 hour by road; or about 3 hours by road from Victoria Falls
Discover The Adventure And Luxury Of Daka Plains Camp In The Hwange National Park
Daka Plains Camp is an eight-tent safari camp on a private 4,000-hectare concession in the far northwest of Hwange National Park, close to the Botswana border and a 20-minute flight from Victoria Falls. The camp opened in 2019 as Deka Camp and took the Daka Plains name in late 2022. It is part-owned and run by guides Ian and Nonnie Batchelor, and you feel that on every drive: the guiding comes first and the rest is built around it.
Daka Plains Camp sits in the least-visited corner of a park that covers about 14,600 km². Game drives here rarely meet another vehicle. The seasonal Deka River leaves natural pools in a landscape that otherwise depends on pumped waterholes, and those pools draw elephant, buffalo and predators out of the mopane. Walking safaris and night drives are both allowed on the concession, which gives you three ways to read the same wilderness.
Daka Plains Camp suits travellers who want remote Hwange with real guiding and real comfort, without the traffic of the park's busier eastern sector.
Rooms And Suites
Daka Plains Camp has eight tented suites: seven doubles and one family tent for two adults and two children, with room for up to 16 guests in total. Each suite is built from local stone, canvas and thatch. The bathrooms are en-suite, with hot water from gas geysers and eco-friendly toiletries, and the lights are solar-powered. Ceiling fans keep the tents cool, and there is no air-conditioning.
Every suite at Daka Plains Camp has a private wooden deck facing the Deka River, where elephants and antelope come down to the pools in the dry months. Canvas lets in every sound of the bush, which is the point: lions calling at 3am are part of the stay. Children aged 8 and older are welcome, and younger children only when the whole camp is booked exclusively.
Cuisine And Wine
Daka Plains Camp serves full-board meals made from fresh ingredients, cooked in camp and eaten either together at a shared table or privately, whichever you prefer. The menu changes with the seasons and the supply runs: slow-cooked stews, meat from the grill, fresh breads and salads, followed by coffee by the fire.
Drinks at Daka Plains Camp include local and international wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks, with premium wines and spirits charged separately. Sundowners are served out on the concession at the end of the afternoon drive, and dinner is often under the stars when the weather allows.
Facilities
Daka Plains Camp's central area is a thatched lounge, dining area and bar, which opens onto a plunge pool for cooling off during hot October afternoons. Beside it is a deck with a fire pit, where evenings begin and the day's sightings are argued over.
Other facilities at Daka Plains Camp include a library of safari and natural-history books, complimentary Wi-Fi, battery-charging stations and 24-hour security. The camp is unfenced, so a guide walks you to your tent after dark. The guides are trained in first aid, and the nearest doctor is several hours away.
Activities
Daka Plains Camp offers morning and afternoon game drives, guided walking safaris, night drives, birdwatching and stargazing, all on its private concession in northwest Hwange National Park. Owning the concession means the guides can go off-road and drive at night, two things that the public areas of Hwange do not allow.
Walking safaris from Daka Plains Camp slow everything down to tracks, dung, birds and trees, with an armed guide leading. Night drives go out after dinner and use a spotlight to find the animals that stay hidden by day: genet, civet, bushbaby, porcupine and, with luck, aardvark and hunting lions. Birders will find the Deka River woodland busy all year.
Daka Plains Camp's slower option is to stay in camp for the midday hours and watch the river pools from your deck. Game viewing never really stops.
Daka Plains Camp Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Daka Plains Camp?
Daka Plains Camp is in a private 4,000-hectare concession in the far northwest of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, near the Botswana border. It is the most remote corner of Hwange, and far fewer vehicles use it than the eastern sector around Main Camp. The camp overlooks the seasonal Deka River, whose natural pools hold water long after the rains end, which is rare in a park that relies mostly on pumped waterholes.
How do you get to Daka Plains Camp from Victoria Falls?
Daka Plains Camp is reached from Victoria Falls by a 20-minute shared light-aircraft flight to Robins Airstrip, followed by a road transfer of about one hour to camp. Guests can also drive directly from Victoria Falls, which takes about three hours. The return vehicle transfer from Robins Airstrip is included in the camp rate, but the Victoria Falls to Robins flight is charged separately.
Is Daka Plains Camp in a malaria area?
Daka Plains Camp is in a malaria area. Hwange National Park carries malaria risk throughout the year, and the risk is highest during the November to April rainy season. Travellers should take antimalarial prophylaxis prescribed by a doctor or travel clinic, use insect repellent and cover up at dusk. The camp's guides are trained in first aid, but the nearest doctor is several hours away.
Can children stay at Daka Plains Camp?
Daka Plains Camp welcomes children aged 8 and older. Younger children can stay only when a family books the whole camp exclusively. The camp has one family tent that sleeps two adults and two children. Walking safaris have a higher minimum age, so confirm your children's ages when booking. Because the camp is unfenced and dangerous animals move freely through it, children must be supervised at all times.
What activities are offered at Daka Plains Camp?
Daka Plains Camp offers morning and afternoon game drives, guided walking safaris, night drives, birdwatching and stargazing on its private concession in northwest Hwange National Park. Because the concession is private, guides can drive off-road and go out after dark with a spotlight to find nocturnal species such as genet, civet, porcupine and hunting lions. Neither is permitted in Hwange's public areas.
When is the best time to visit Daka Plains Camp?
Daka Plains Camp is open all year. The best game viewing is in the dry season from July to October, when wildlife gathers at the Deka River pools and the waterholes. The green season from November to April brings lush landscapes, newborn animals, excellent birding and lower rates, though game spreads out and some tracks become harder to use after heavy rain.
In Conclusion
Daka Plains Camp is a small, guide-owned tented camp on a private concession in northwest Hwange National Park, 20 minutes by air and then an hour by road from Victoria Falls. It has eight tents, walking and night drives, and a quiet river setting, which makes it one of the most complete safari experiences in Zimbabwe.
Daka Plains Camp works best on a stay of three or more nights. It pairs well with Victoria Falls at the start or end of a trip, or with Mana Pools or the Zambezi for a longer Zimbabwe circuit.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Daka Plains Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Laundry
- Lodge activities & Guiding
- Return vehicle airstrip transfers from Robins Airstrip
- Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
- Other Levies and Taxes not mentioned in exclusions below
- Premium wines & spirits
- International flights
- Internal transfers
- Travel insurance & Evacuation Cover
- Visas
- Discretionary tips
- Conservation and community levy
- Hwange National Park fees per person per night
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