Perched on a hill overlooking the magnificent Lake Kariba’s southern shores, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is the best mixture of land-and-water-based actions.
Beginning my journey at Cape City Worldwide Airport, the direct flight to Harare Worldwide Airport takes solely 3 hours and 10 minutes on Airlink’s beautiful Embraer 190. Ready on the tarmac, the gorgeous new sunbird livery comes into view, setting Airlink aside in each appears and distinctive service from different airways. With beneficiant legroom, no center seat, and a alternative of aisle or window seat, passengers are in for a deal with with scrumptious onboard snacks and a alternative of drinks.
Forming a part of the extraordinary African Bush Camps (ABC) portfolio, founder Beks Ndlovu has a ardour for preserving distant lands, and with the addition of Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in 2018, friends can embark on sport drives that embody the wildlife-rich Kariba shoreline with one in every of ABC’s skilled guides. Actions on Lake Kariba embody fishing, sundown cruises, and guided stargazing. Viewing the solar rising from the sting of Lake Kariba is one thing that ought to positively be skilled throughout a keep at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge.
Flying over the expanse of Lake Kariba to land on the lodge’s airstrip, the magnitude of the biggest man-made lake on the earth by quantity is a sight to behold. As pilot Godfrey from Halsted Aviation Company steers the Safari Logistics Cessna 206 over the shimmering water, he does so with nice experience, touchdown safely at Bumi Hills airstrip.
Discipline information Little Max collects me on the airstrip, and on the lodge, I’m welcomed by host Sheckie within the comfy lounge space. The eating space has unbelievable views over the water, and waiter Tabs is at hand to serve my beverage of alternative and an pleasing lunch, consisting of hen kebab and salad.
Constructed within the early Seventies, the lodge wanted a makeover, and given this mission was multi-disciplinary design company Fox Browne Inventive, led by Debra Fox and Chris Browne. “The unique Bumi Hills was constructed about 5 a long time again as a cabana-style lodge,” Chris tells me. “5 years in the past, we had been tasked to combine the 2 totally different architectural kinds with daring inside design. We needed to repurpose a number of present furnishings! The hero of the primary visitor areas is the brand new bar, which has essentially the most spectacular views.”
Eradicating all of the previous fussy Seventies finishes, the Fox Browne Inventive workforce stripped them again to the easy plaster and timber finishes which are seen within the lodge at present. By no means one to shrink back from a problem, they succeeded in maximizing the views and lightweight. Utilizing a distinct shade apart from the ‘secure’ colour picks, the workforce selected a impartial palette of stone and charcoal that wouldn’t date. “Generally the waters of Lake Kariba have a gray shimmer, relying on the season,” Debra discloses.
Maximizing the views, they imagine in ‘much less is extra’. Including the brand new bar tent and increasing the firepit deck to get friends as near the vistas as potential actually labored nicely. It additionally occurs to be their favourite area at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge. “I really like the tented bar area,” Chris admits. “It’s open, cool, breezy and it appears like you might be floating above the lake.”
Staying in Room 8, my lodging is opulent, with a beautiful freestanding bathtub and gorgeous views from my mattress and personal balcony. On the eating deck, Chef Chaita sees to everybody’s culinary delights. The pool appears to have a seamless reference to the lake, with elephants being common sightings on the water’s edge.
What would a go to to a safari lodge be and not using a few sport drives? Little Max rounds us up for the afternoon sport drive, seeing what he is ready to discover out within the reserve. As he turns the nook, we see him quick asleep on the facet of the highway – the King of the Jungle, essentially the most lovely male lion. Patiently ready for him to wake from his slumber, he does so ultimately. “We name him Mambo, which implies The King or The Chief in our native Shona language,” Little Max tells us. Mambo stretches, lifts up his head, and begins roaring, calling to the remainder of his pleasure. Because the solar begins setting, he provides a large yawn, proclaiming that it’s time to get energetic, as that’s what lions do between nightfall and daybreak.
For extra data, or to e-book, go to www.africanbushcamps.com
*Views expressed are the creator’s personal.
Get There
Airlink is a privately-owned, impartial premier regional airline providing the widest route community and connectivity to greater than 45 locations in 15 nations in Southern Africa. Expertise Extra – https://www.flyairlink.com/profile/airlink-profile
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