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Khulu Bush Camp

Khulu Bush Camp nine-suite safari camp Sikumi Forest Reserve bordering Hwange National Park Zimbabwe Amalinda Collection

Highlights

  • Nine safari suites on a 15,000-acre private concession bordering Hwange National Park
  • Maximum of 18 guests — one of the most intimate camps in the Hwange area
  • Two honeymoon suites with freestanding outdoor baths
  • Indoor and outdoor showers and a private game-viewing balcony in every suite
  • Walking safaris, day game drives and night drives on the private concession
  • Game drives inside Hwange National Park, home to one of Africa's largest elephant populations
  • Photographic hide, plunge pool and firepit overlooking the camp waterhole
  • Excursions to the Painted Dog Conservation centre in Dete
  • Local and imported drinks, laundry and Wi-Fi included in the rate

Information

  • Lodge type: Classic Safari Camp
  • Location: Private concession in the Sikumi Forest Reserve, bordering Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
  • Lodge size: 9 suites (7 safari suites, 2 honeymoon suites), maximum 18 guests
  • Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
  • Malaria risk: Yes — Hwange is a malaria area; take prophylaxis year-round, with the highest risk in the November–April rains
  • Getting there: 8 km from Hwange National Park Airport, 180 km by road from Victoria Falls and 258 km from Bulawayo, off the main Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road

Experience The Spirit Of Africa At Khulu Bush Camp: Adventure Meets Tranquility

Khulu Bush Camp is a nine-suite safari camp on a 15,000-acre private concession in the Sikumi Forest Reserve, sharing an unfenced boundary with Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest national park. Khulu Bush Camp belongs to the Amalinda Safari Collection and takes no more than 18 guests at a time. Guests get something the big park-edge lodges cannot offer: walking safaris and night drives on private land by day and after dark, plus game drives into Hwange's main wilderness.

Khulu Bush Camp's setting is superb elephant country. The camp overlooks its own waterhole, and in the dry months Amalinda reports as many as 150 elephants gathering at the camp's elephant pool at peak times. Lion, leopard, buffalo, cheetah, spotted hyena, sable and the endangered African painted dog all range across the concession and the neighbouring park. More than 300 bird species have been recorded.

Khulu Bush Camp lies 8 kilometres from Hwange National Park Airport, 180 kilometres from Victoria Falls and 258 kilometres from Bulawayo, just off the main road between the two. That makes it one of the simplest Hwange camps to pair with Victoria Falls on a Zimbabwe safari. The best game viewing runs from July to October, when the bush thins and the waterholes draw the herds. The green season from November to April brings calving, migrant birds and lush landscapes at quieter rates.

Rooms And Suites

Khulu Bush Camp has nine suites: seven thatched safari suites and two honeymoon suites. Every suite is raised on a platform for wide views across the surrounding bush. The interiors are contemporary and uncluttered, built to keep the focus on what is happening outside.

  • Indoor and outdoor showers in every suite
  • Private balcony for game viewing from your room
  • Twin beds that convert to a king-size bed
  • Complimentary minibar, Nespresso machine and tea station
  • Freestanding outdoor bath in each of the two honeymoon suites

Khulu Bush Camp's maximum of 18 guests means the guides, hosts and chefs learn your name and your preferences within a day. The service here is warm, personal and quietly attentive, the hallmark of the best small camps in Zimbabwe.

Cuisine And Wine

Khulu Bush Camp serves modern African cuisine built on local ingredients and seasonal produce, with traditional southern African flavours reworked by the camp's chefs. Breakfast and lunch are relaxed affairs on the main deck. Dinner is often served al fresco under the stars, within earshot of the waterhole.

Khulu Bush Camp's wine list focuses on fine South African wines chosen to match the kitchen's menus, from robust reds for grilled meats to crisp whites for the lighter lunch dishes. Local and imported beverages are included in the rate. Premium brands are charged separately.

Facilities

Khulu Bush Camp's main area centres on a deck with a plunge pool, a firepit and a ground-level photographic hide, all facing the camp's waterhole. Guests can watch elephants drinking from the pool loungers or from eye level in the hide between game drives.

  • Plunge pool on the main deck overlooking the waterhole
  • Photographic hide at waterhole level
  • Firepit and fireplaces for evening drinks and stargazing
  • Full bar stocked with local and imported drinks
  • Tea and coffee station in the main area
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi in the central guest area
  • Borehole water throughout and a daily laundry service (included)
  • Visa and MasterCard accepted for extras

Activities

Khulu Bush Camp offers walking safaris, day game drives and night drives on its private concession, along with game drives into Hwange National Park itself. The private-land activities are the camp's great advantage. Night drives, which are not permitted inside the national park, reveal aardvark, porcupine, civet, genet and hunting predators after dark. Walks with professional guides let you read spoor and learn how the Kalahari-sand ecosystem works.

  • Morning and afternoon game drives on the concession and in Hwange National Park (half-day and full-day options)
  • Night drives on the private concession
  • Guided walking safaris at first light
  • Waterhole and hide sits for photographers
  • Visits to the Painted Dog Conservation centre in Dete (entry fee not included)
  • Game counts on request, contributing to wildlife monitoring on the concession

Khulu Bush Camp's activities blend adventure with real conservation insight. Guests leave having watched Hwange's wildlife up close and understanding what it takes to keep this landscape wild.

Khulu Bush Camp FAQs

Where is Khulu Bush Camp located?

Khulu Bush Camp is on a 15,000-acre private concession in the Sikumi Forest Reserve, sharing an unfenced boundary with Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe. The camp lies 8 kilometres from Hwange National Park Airport, 180 kilometres from Victoria Falls and 258 kilometres from Bulawayo, just off the main road linking Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. It is part of the Amalinda Safari Collection.

How many guests does Khulu Bush Camp accommodate?

Khulu Bush Camp accommodates a maximum of 18 guests in nine suites: seven thatched safari suites and two honeymoon suites. All suites are raised on platforms and have indoor and outdoor showers, a private game-viewing balcony, a complimentary minibar and a Nespresso machine. Both honeymoon suites add a freestanding outdoor bath. Twin beds convert to a king-size bed for couples.

Is Khulu Bush Camp in a malaria area?

Khulu Bush Camp is in a malaria area. The Hwange region of Zimbabwe carries malaria risk throughout the year, and the risk is highest during the November to April rainy season. Travellers should consult a travel clinic or doctor about antimalarial medication before departure, pack insect repellent, and wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings.

What activities are offered at Khulu Bush Camp?

Khulu Bush Camp offers morning and afternoon game drives on its private concession and inside Hwange National Park, guided walking safaris, and night drives on the private concession. Night drives are not permitted inside the national park itself. Guests can also sit in the waterhole photographic hide, visit the Painted Dog Conservation centre in nearby Dete, and join game counts on request.

When is the best time to visit Khulu Bush Camp?

Khulu Bush Camp has its best game viewing from July to October, the dry season, when vegetation thins and elephants and other wildlife gather at waterholes, including the camp's own. The green season from November to April brings newborn animals, migrant birds and lush scenery, with fewer vehicles and quieter camps. Hwange's elephant concentrations peak in September and October.

What is included in the Khulu Bush Camp rate?

Khulu Bush Camp rates include accommodation, all meals, local and imported beverages, national park fees, game drives on the concession and in Hwange National Park, walking safaris, night drives on the private reserve, laundry, Wi-Fi, and Hwange airport transfers. Flights, premium drinks, private transfers, Painted Dog Conservation entry fees, gratuities and travel insurance are excluded.

In Conclusion

Khulu Bush Camp is one of the finest small camps on the Hwange boundary. It combines a private concession, where walking safaris and night drives are allowed, with direct access to one of Africa's greatest elephant parks, all for no more than 18 guests. Few camps in Zimbabwe offer both so easily, and fewer still sit just 180 kilometres from Victoria Falls.

Book Khulu Bush Camp as the Hwange leg of a Zimbabwe safari. Three nights here, with Victoria Falls before or after, makes a superb first safari. Four to seven nights, combined with Mana Pools or Botswana's Chobe, builds a complete southern African journey. Come from July to October for the big dry-season elephant gatherings at the waterholes, or from November to April for green-season colour and quieter rates.

Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. That is 27 years of matching travellers to the right camp, the right season and the right connections across 12 countries. We are owner-run, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and we will build Khulu Bush Camp into a Zimbabwe itinerary that works on the ground. Complete the booking form above or call +27 (0)87 898 8043.

Rates From

Rates from US$ 650.00 Per person per night

Rates Information

Khulu Bush Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season

Rates Include
  • Accommodation
  • Local & imported beverages
  • All meals
  • National Parks fees
  • Shared transfers within a 20km radius of camp
  • Airport arrival and departure transfers
  • Laundry
  • Wi-Fi
  • Activities include game drive in concession and national park, walking safari
  • Night drive within private reserve
Rates Exclude
  • All flights
  • Premium drinks
  • M.A.C.C Levy
  • Private transfers
  • Painted Dog Conservancy entry fees
  • Gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance

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