Somalisa Camp
Highlights
- Close-range elephant photography at the Elephant Pool, metres from the swimming pool
- A private concession in eastern Hwange National Park, with waterholes pumped year-round
- Seven luxury tented suites with teak viewing decks and copper slipper baths
- Rare roan antelope, alongside lion, buffalo, painted wolf and 400-plus bird species
- Four meals a day, with private dinners for special occasions
- Game drives, guided walking safaris and wildlife photography
- Round-the-clock game viewing at the camp waterhole
- Sundowners on the vlei as the Kalahari sand turns gold
Information
- Lodge type: Luxury tented safari camp (African Bush Camps)
- Location: Private concession, eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 7 tented suites
- Recommended stay: 3–5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes — Hwange National Park is a malaria area; prophylaxis is advised year-round, with the highest risk during the November–April rains
- Getting there: From Victoria Falls, 3½–4 hours by road (about 90 minutes on tar to the park, then roughly 2 hours game-driving through Hwange), or a 45-minute light-aircraft flight to Manga airstrip followed by a 30-minute game-drive transfer
Somalisa In The Heart Of Hwange National Park, A Two Times Award-Winning Safari Camp
Somalisa Camp is a seven-suite luxury tented camp in a private concession on the eastern side of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. The camp sits in the shade of a small acacia island on the edge of the Sumamalisa Vlei, an ancient seasonal flood plain, where pumped waterholes draw elephants, buffalo and plains game throughout the year.
Somalisa Camp belongs to the African Bush Camps collection and was rebuilt in 2015 to an eco-conscious design. The camp runs on solar power and recycles around 80% of its water, and it was the first property in Zimbabwe to earn Gold Green Tourism certification. Its intimate scale suits honeymooners, couples and families with older children, and the photographic opportunities at the Elephant Pool rank among the finest anywhere in Africa.
Daily activities at Somalisa Camp include morning and afternoon game drives, guided walking safaris, birding, wildlife photography and a cultural visit to Mambanje village. Somalisa is part of our selection of the best Hwange Lodges.
Rooms and Suites
Somalisa Camp has seven large tented suites, each opening onto a private teak viewing deck that looks out over the vlei. High canvas roofs and warm timber give each suite real space. Inside are a small lounge area and a wood-burning fireplace for cold winter nights between June and August, when Hwange's temperatures can drop sharply after dark.
- Private wooden viewing deck
- Lounge area with wood-burning fireplace
- En-suite bathroom with a freestanding copper slipper bath
- His-and-hers basins and a flush toilet
- Indoor and outdoor showers
- Standing fan
- Phone and camera charging
The Somalisa Camp suites stand with the very best tented accommodation Zimbabwe has to offer.
Cuisine and Wine
Somalisa Camp serves four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner. The kitchen team cooks with the freshest ingredients available locally. Meals are served in an indoor dining room or outdoors under the Hwange sky, and private dinners can be arranged for honeymoons and anniversaries. Special dietary requests are catered for with advance notice.
Facilities
The main guest area at Somalisa Camp combines an open-fronted lounge, a bar and a dining room. It looks over a small swimming pool and onto the Elephant Pool waterhole, where wildlife comes to drink day and night. In the dry season, elephants often drink from the pool's edge, close enough for extraordinary photographs from a sun lounger.
- Open-fronted lounge and bar
- Dining room with indoor and outdoor seating
- Swimming pool overlooking the waterhole
- Large wooden viewing deck
- Fire pit
- WiFi in the main area
- Charging facilities
Activities
Somalisa Camp offers game drives, walking safaris, birding and cultural visits, all within a private concession of about 150 km² shared with very few other vehicles. Morning and afternoon game drives cover open vlei, mopane and teak woodland, and the Kalahari-sand pans that hold water through the dry season.
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- Guided walking safaris with qualified guides
- Birding, with over 400 species recorded in Hwange
- Wildlife photography at the Elephant Pool
- Visits to Hwange Main Camp and Mambanje village
- A private vehicle and guide, on request
Hwange National Park covers 14,600 km² and is Zimbabwe's largest park and one of the great wilderness areas of Africa. The best game viewing at Somalisa Camp runs from July to October, when the pans dry out and the concession's pumped waterholes concentrate elephant, buffalo, lion and sable.
Child Friendly
Somalisa Camp welcomes children aged seven and older, and children share their parents' tented suite. Guests under 16 cannot join walking safaris, but short nature walks around camp can be arranged for them. For families with younger children, the sister camp Somalisa Acacia accepts all ages.
Somalisa Camp FAQs
Where is Somalisa Camp?
Somalisa Camp is a luxury tented camp in a private concession on the eastern side of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. The camp stands on a small acacia island at the edge of the Sumamalisa Vlei, a seasonal flood plain, and is run by African Bush Camps. Victoria Falls is the nearest gateway, making Somalisa an easy pairing with a stay at the falls.
How do you get to Somalisa Camp from Victoria Falls?
Somalisa Camp is 3½ to 4 hours from Victoria Falls by road. The route is about 90 minutes on tar to Hwange National Park, then roughly two hours of game-driving through the park. The faster option is a 45-minute light-aircraft flight from Victoria Falls to Manga airstrip, followed by a 30-minute game-drive transfer to camp.
Is Somalisa Camp in a malaria area?
Yes. Somalisa Camp lies inside Hwange National Park, which is a malaria area. Prophylaxis is advised year-round, and the risk is highest during the November to April rainy season. Guests should see a travel clinic before departure, and pack insect repellent and long sleeves for evenings. Honeymooners and families wanting a malaria-free safari should consider South Africa's Madikwe or the Eastern Cape instead.
When is the best time to visit Somalisa Camp?
July to October is the best time to visit Somalisa Camp for game viewing. In these dry months, Hwange's natural pans empty and elephants, buffalo and predators gather at the camp's pumped waterholes. November to April brings green landscapes, migrant birds, newborn antelope and fewer visitors. June and July nights are cold, which is when each suite's wood-burning fireplace comes into its own.
Does Somalisa Camp accept children?
Somalisa Camp welcomes children aged seven and over, and they share their parents' tented suite. Walking safaris are limited to guests aged 16 and over, but shorter nature walks around camp can be arranged for younger guests. Families with children under seven can stay at the sister property, Somalisa Acacia, which accepts all ages.
What is included in the Somalisa Camp rate?
The Somalisa Camp rate includes accommodation, all meals, tea, coffee, soft drinks, most alcoholic drinks and laundry. It also covers morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, a Hwange Main Camp visit and a Mambanje village visit. Premium imported spirits and champagne, visas, flights, travel insurance and staff gratuities are excluded. Uyaphi.com builds Somalisa into a full tailor-made Zimbabwe safari itinerary.
In Conclusion
Somalisa Camp is one of the finest places in Zimbabwe to watch elephants at close range. The camp has seven tented suites, a private concession of about 150 km² and a waterhole beside the swimming pool, where herds come to drink while you sit with a cold drink in hand. Add strong guiding, walking safaris, four meals a day and a copper bath on your own deck, and Somalisa delivers Hwange at its most intimate.
For the best game viewing, come between July and October, when the dry season pulls wildlife to the pumped pans. Plan three to five nights. Fly in from Victoria Falls in 45 minutes, or drive in on a transfer that doubles as your first game drive. Somalisa pairs naturally with a few nights at the falls, and just as well with Mana Pools or Botswana's Chobe for a longer Zimbabwe safari.
Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. Over 27 years, we have learned which suite catches the morning light, which month suits your camera, and how to route the flights so you spend your time watching wildlife rather than waiting in airports. There are no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll build Somalisa Camp into a Zimbabwe safari around you.
Rates from US$ 680.00 Per person per night
Somalisa Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Tea, coffee, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages
- Laundry
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- Walking safaris
- Hwange Main Camp visit
- Mambanje village visit
- Premium imported spirits and champagne
- Visa Fees
- International and regional Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Staff Gratuities
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