Somalisa Expeditions Camp
Highlights
- The Elephant Pool waterhole right beside the main deck, where herds drink within metres of lunch
- Just six tents, including one family tent, on a private concession in central Hwange National Park
- Morning and afternoon game drives, night drives and guided walking safaris
- A photographic hide at eye level with the waterhole
- The Somalisa Sleep-Out treehouse, 15 minutes from camp
- Huge dry-season elephant herds, plus sable and roan antelope
- A solar-powered camp with a plunge pool and a fire pit under the stars
Information
- Lodge type: Tented safari camp
- Location: Private concession, central Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 6 tents (5 luxury tents and 1 family tent)
- Recommended stay: 3–5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes. Hwange National Park is a malaria area, so take antimalarial prophylaxis.
- Getting there: About 3.5 hours by road from Victoria Falls (90 minutes on tar, then 2 hours through the park), or a light-aircraft flight to Manga airstrip followed by a 30-minute game-drive transfer.
Somalisa Expeditions In Heart Of Hwange National Park Offers An Exciting And Authentic Safari camp experience
Somalisa Expeditions Camp is a six-tent safari camp on a private concession in central Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. It stands in a grove of acacia trees on the edge of a seasonal floodplain. African Bush Camps runs Somalisa Expeditions for travellers who put wildlife first, and it delivers exactly that: few guests, skilled guides, and a waterhole so close to the deck you could almost reach out and touch it.
Somalisa Expeditions Camp's great showpiece is the Elephant Pool, a natural waterhole right beside the main viewing deck. In the dry season, from June to October, breeding herds come down to drink through the midday heat. You hear the rumbles and the slurping long before you look up from your plate. A photographic hide at the waterhole gets you down to eye level with trunks and tusks, which is a gift for anyone carrying a long lens.
Somalisa Expeditions Camp is part of our selection of the best Hwange Lodges. It belongs to the African Bush Camps collection, alongside its sister camps Somalisa Camp and Somalisa Acacia.
Rooms and Suites
Somalisa Expeditions Camp has six Meru-style tents: five luxury tents and one family tent. Each has its own viewing deck and an en-suite bathroom. Inside you'll find:
- Polished wooden floors, teak furnishings and a writing desk
- A king-size bed, or two singles in the family tent
- Mosquito nets, a fan and a tea and coffee station
- An electronic safe and solar charging points
- An en-suite bathroom with hot and cold running water, a shower, flush toilet and basin
Canvas walls keep the bush close. Expect to fall asleep to the sound of elephants arriving at the pool.
Cuisine and Wine
Somalisa Expeditions Camp includes all meals in the rate, along with tea, coffee, soft drinks and house alcoholic drinks. The kitchen cooks from the freshest ingredients, sourced locally wherever possible, and the results are remarkable for a camp deep in the Hwange bush. Meals are served indoors or out on the deck, with the Elephant Pool as the view. Premium imported spirits and champagne cost extra.
Facilities
Somalisa Expeditions Camp is built around a tented main area on a large teak deck overlooking the Elephant Pool. Guest facilities include:
- Indoor and outdoor dining areas
- An open bar and lounge
- A small library with a fireplace
- A plunge pool for the hot afternoons
- A fire pit for after-dinner drinks under the African stars
- A photographic hide at the waterhole
The camp runs on solar power, with generator backup, and has charging points in every tent and in the main area.
Activities
Somalisa Expeditions Camp offers:
- Early-morning and afternoon game drives
- Night drives
- Guided walking safaris (ages 16 and over)
- Birdwatching
- Photography from the waterhole hide
- Community visits to villages near Hwange Main Camp
For something special, the Somalisa Sleep-Out is a treehouse for two overlooking a waterhole 15 minutes from camp. It is subject to weather and availability. Wildlife around camp includes elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, kudu, and the handsome sable and roan antelope that Hwange is known for.
Child Friendly
Somalisa Expeditions Camp accepts children aged 12 and over, and the family tent is set up for families travelling together. Walking safaris are restricted to guests aged 16 and over.
Somalisa Expeditions Camp – Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Somalisa Expeditions Camp?
Somalisa Expeditions Camp is on a private concession in central Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest national park. The camp stands in an acacia grove on the edge of a seasonal floodplain, with its own Elephant Pool waterhole beside the main deck. African Bush Camps operates it alongside its sister camps, Somalisa Camp and Somalisa Acacia.
How do you get to Somalisa Expeditions Camp?
Somalisa Expeditions Camp is about 3.5 hours by road from Victoria Falls. The first 90 minutes are on tarred road, followed by roughly two hours of game drive through Hwange National Park. Alternatively, fly by light aircraft to Manga airstrip, from which the camp is about a 30-minute game-drive transfer.
Is Somalisa Expeditions Camp in a malaria area?
Yes. Somalisa Expeditions Camp lies in Hwange National Park, which is a malaria area. Guests should take antimalarial prophylaxis on a doctor's advice, use repellent and sleep under the mosquito nets provided. Malaria risk is highest during the November to April rains and lower in the dry winter months.
What is the minimum age at Somalisa Expeditions Camp?
Somalisa Expeditions Camp accepts children aged 12 and over, and it has one family tent for families travelling together. Guided walking safaris are restricted to guests aged 16 and over. Families with children under 12 should consider other Hwange camps with more flexible age policies.
When is the best time to visit Somalisa Expeditions Camp?
The best game viewing at Somalisa Expeditions Camp is from June to October. That is Hwange's dry season, when elephants gather in large numbers at the camp's Elephant Pool waterhole. The camp is open all year, and the green season from November to April brings lush scenery, newborn animals and excellent birding.
What is included at Somalisa Expeditions Camp?
Somalisa Expeditions Camp rates include accommodation, all meals, tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, and laundry. They also cover morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris and community visits near Hwange Main Camp. Premium imported spirits and champagne, visas, flights, travel insurance and staff gratuities are excluded.
In Conclusion
Somalisa Expeditions Camp is for travellers who want Hwange at its most elemental: six tents, a waterhole full of elephants at lunchtime, and guides who will happily walk you out into the bush. It is the right choice if you would rather watch a breeding herd from a hide than from a crowded vehicle line-up, and if you value intimacy over marble bathrooms.
Come between June and October for the finest elephant viewing, and plan three to five nights so the rhythm of the waterhole can work its magic. The camp pairs beautifully with Victoria Falls, 3.5 hours by road or a short light-aircraft hop away. It combines just as easily with Mana Pools or Botswana's Chobe to make a longer Zimbabwe safari.
Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris since 1999. That's 27 years of matching the right camp, the right season and the right connections to each traveller. Tell us when you'd like to travel and what matters most to you, and we'll build your Somalisa Expeditions safari around it, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Somalisa Expeditions 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 village visits
- Premium imported spirits and champagne
- Visa Fees
- International and regional Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Staff Gratuities
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