Verney's Camp
Highlights
- Private 10,000-hectare concession closed to regular Hwange National Park traffic
- Elephant herds drinking at Verney's Pan in front of camp
- Day and night game drives, plus guided walks with an armed ranger
- All-day drives with a picnic lunch, and sundowners in the Hwange bushveld
- Tented dining, bar and fire pits under the stars
- Warm, professional Machaba Safaris team
- Swimming pool for hot summer afternoons
Information
- Lodge type: Classic tented safari camp
- Location: Private concession, south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 10 tented suites (8 double/twin, 2 family)
- Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes — Hwange National Park is a malaria area; prophylaxis is advised, with the highest risk in the November–April rains
- Getting there: About 176 km by road from Victoria Falls International Airport via the A8; 45-minute transfer from Manga airstrip, or 1 hour from Hwange Main Camp airstrip
Verney's, A Classic Safari Tented Camp Surrounded By Wildlife In The Hwange National Park
Verney's Camp is a classic tented safari camp on a private 10,000-hectare concession in south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, run by Machaba Safaris. The concession is closed to regular park visitors, so every game drive from Verney's Camp is free of day-trippers and self-drive traffic — a rare luxury in one of Africa's most celebrated elephant parks.
Verney's Camp sits in a natural amphitheatre of teak forest opening onto Verney's Pan, a waterhole that pulls in Hwange's famous elephant herds, often within sight of your tent. Ten tented suites, a maximum of 24 guests, superb guiding and genuinely warm hospitality make this one of the finest-value classic camps in Zimbabwe. We recommend three to seven nights at Verney's Camp to do the concession, the pan and the wider Hwange National Park justice.
Part of our selection of the best Hwange Lodges portfolio.
Rooms and Suites
Verney's Camp has 10 tented suites: eight double or twin tents and two family tents sleeping four, each set on a wooden deck beneath shady teak trees. Tents at Verney's Camp are spaced well apart for privacy, with a private verandah looking out to the pan or the bushveld behind.
- King-size or twin beds, made up with pure cotton linen
- En-suite bathroom with flush toilet, hot and cold shower and double vanity
- Electricity in every tent, with solar power and generator back-up
- Dressing gowns and Wi-Fi
Cuisine and Wine
Verney's Camp serves three meals a day of international cooking with an African twist, taken in the tented dining area, out on the deck or under a sky full of stars. Game drives bring gourmet picnic lunches in the bush and high tea back at camp before the afternoon drive. Local drinks, including house wines and spirits, are included in the rate; imported and premium labels are extra.
Facilities
Verney's Camp is built around an eco-friendly tented guest area with sweeping views over Verney's Pan, where elephants often drink while guests settle in.
- Indoor lounge and library
- Tented dining area and bar
- Fire pits for after-dinner drinks
- Swimming pool for steamy summer days
- Solar-powered kitchen and thermodynamic solar hot water
- Wi-Fi in the main area and tents
Expect bush-speed Wi-Fi rather than city broadband — the Hwange bushveld has better things to do.
Activities
Verney's Camp offers morning, afternoon and all-day game drives on a private concession, where sightings are shared only with fellow guests. Hwange National Park holds one of Africa's great elephant populations, and Verney's Camp puts you among them, alongside lion, leopard, buffalo and a superb birding list.
- Morning and afternoon game drives with professional guides
- Night drives for nocturnal predators and smaller creatures
- Guided bush walks with an armed ranger
- All-day drives with a gourmet picnic lunch
- Birding in teak forest, grassland and around the pans
- Cultural village visits and a wild dog research centre tour
- Game viewing from your own verandah or the main deck
Verney's Camp FAQs
Where is Verney's Camp?
Verney's Camp is a classic tented safari camp on a private 10,000-hectare concession in south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, run by Machaba Safaris. The concession is closed to regular park visitors, so game drives from Verney's Camp are never shared with day-trippers or self-drive traffic. Ten tented suites overlook Verney's Pan, a waterhole fringed by teak forest that draws Hwange's famous elephant herds.
How do you get to Verney's Camp?
Verney's Camp is reached by light aircraft or by road. Guests flying in land at Manga airstrip, a 45-minute game-drive transfer from camp, or at Hwange Main Camp airstrip, about an hour away. By road, Verney's Camp lies roughly 176 km from Victoria Falls International Airport via the A8 highway. Road transfers between camp and the nearest airstrip are included in the rate.
Is Verney's Camp in a malaria area?
Yes. Verney's Camp lies in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, which is a malaria area, and anti-malaria medication is advised for every guest. Risk is highest in the rainy season from November to April and lowest in the dry winter months. See a travel clinic about the right prophylaxis before you travel, and pack long sleeves and insect repellent for evenings around the fire.
What activities are offered at Verney's Camp?
Verney's Camp offers morning and afternoon game drives, night drives for nocturnal predators, guided bush walks with an armed ranger, birding, and full-day drives with a picnic lunch. Off the concession, Verney's Camp can arrange cultural village visits and a trip to a wild dog research centre. Because the concession is private, sightings are shared only with other Verney's Camp guests.
What is the accommodation like at Verney's Camp?
Verney's Camp has 10 tented suites for a maximum of 24 guests: eight double or twin tents and two family tents sleeping four. Each tent at Verney's Camp stands on a wooden deck with a private verandah, electricity and an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet, hot shower and double vanity. Beds can be made up as a king or as twins.
When is the best time to visit Verney's Camp?
Verney's Camp has its strongest game viewing in Hwange's dry season, roughly July to October, when surface water disappears and elephants crowd the pumped pans, including Verney's Pan in front of camp. The green season from January to March brings lush landscapes, newborn animals, migrant birds and the lowest rates. We recommend three to seven nights at Verney's Camp in either season.
In Conclusion
Verney's Camp is the Hwange safari to choose if you want the park's great elephant spectacle without the crowds. A private 10,000-hectare concession, closed to regular park traffic, means your guide works the sightings for you alone. Verney's Pan delivers the herds to your verandah, and night drives and guided walks add the depth that a public-road safari simply cannot. Ten tents, 24 guests at most, and a classic canvas camp that feels exactly as a Zimbabwe safari should.
Getting to Verney's Camp is straightforward. Fly into Victoria Falls, then take a light aircraft to Manga airstrip for a 45-minute game-drive transfer, or travel about 176 km by road. Verney's Camp pairs beautifully with a few nights at Victoria Falls, and with Mana Pools or Lake Kariba for a full Zimbabwe circuit.
Come in the dry season, July to October, for the finest elephant viewing of the year. Choose January to March for green landscapes, baby animals, superb birding and the lowest rates.
Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris since 1999 — 27 years of matching travellers to the right camp, the right season and the right route. We charge no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and your wish list, and we'll build your Verney's Camp safari around you.
Rates from US$ 718.00 Per person per night
Verney's Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Road transfers between camp and nearest airstrip
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Lodge activities
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding imported and premium drinks).
- Laundry
- International flights
- Transfers not mentioned in inclusions
- Premium imported drinks
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Gratuities.
- Conservation and Community Levy (CCL)
- Items of a personal nature
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