A Brief History of African Bush Camps
African Bush Camps was born out of a desire to reclaim the authentic safari experience. Beks Ndlovu, owner and CEO of African Bush Camps had a dream to create a portfolio of camps which not only reincarnated the fantasy of ‘Old Untouched Africa’ but also focused on the guest experience and the essence of a great safari, exceptional guides. The company was a result of the growth of Beks Safaris, where Beks used his natural talents and outstanding guiding skills in nature to promote the concept of private guided safaris through remote parts of Africa.
In 2006, after winning the rights to a private 15,000-hectare concession in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, Beks and African Bush Camps opened Somalisa Camp. Somalisa’s seven elegant sail tents are nestled in a stunning location, tucked away on an acacia island along the edge of an ancient seasonal flood plain, providing guests with breath-taking views of the savannah plains across the famous Kennedy Vlei line. Despite the political and economic hardship that Zimbabwe was experiencing during the first decade of the 21st century, Somalisa Camp flourished.
The evolution of Somalisa Camp: 2006 – 2016
The following year, African Bush Camps expanded into Botswana after obtaining a private concession in the Chobe Enclave, in the famous Linyanti area on the shoulder of Chobe National Park. As the only source of water in the dry months, the Linyanti marshes are one of the most sought after destinations in Northern Botswana, boasting a great diversity of game and a peaceful atmosphere. The intimate 12-bedded Linyanti Bush Camp offers the perfect setting for an authentic and wild safari experience.
The evolution of Linyanti Bush Camp: 2007 – 2016
In 2009, African Bush Camps opened Khwai Tented Camp on a beautiful site within a community-run concession on the Eastern border of the Moremi Game Reserve. The camp preserves the romance of yester-year, a simpler life in harmony with nature. Khwai Tented Camp was the first property to cater specifically to families with Khwai Cottage, a small lodge which can sleep families in 2 bedrooms so that parents and children were not separated.
The evolution of Khwai Tented Camp: 2009 – 2016
In 2010, African Bush Camps obtained the rights to a private concession in the famed Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, one of the last remaining untouched wilderness paradises. Set in the most remote part of the World Heritage Site in Mana Pools, Kanga Camp’s 6 luxury tents are perched on the edge of the Kanga Pan- the only known water source in the area available throughout the year, making it the home of our famous ‘Armchair Safari’and a hub for wildlife and a delight to explore on foot.
The evolution of Kanga Camp: 2010 – 2016
The expansion into Zimbabwe continued with the construction of Somalisa Acacia – a family-oriented camp adjacent to Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park. While Somalisa and Somalisa Acacia are sister camps and close together, they operate as separate entities. Somalisa Acacia is geared towards providing a family safari experience, and has 2 Family Units with inter-leading walkways between the parents and children’s rooms for family friendly accommodation as well as 2 standard tents.
The evolution of Somalisa Acacia: 2010 – 2016
In 2011, African Bush Camps opened a family-friendly sister camp to Linyanti Bush Camp, Linyanti Ebony. Linyanti Ebony has the same ethos of family-friendly safaris as Somalisa Acacia, and the camp’s well-appointed accommodation includes 3 twin bedded tents and 1 luxury family tent. Linyanti Ebony is the perfect base from which to explore the secret paradise of Botswana.
The evolution of Linyanti Ebony: 2011 – 2016
In 2013, African Bush Camps expanded its holdings in Mana Pools with a mobile camp, Zambezi Lifestyles, later renamed to Zambezi Expeditions. Zambezi Expeditions offers the riverside experience of Mana Pools, on the banks of the mighty Zambezi. The mobile camp is set up prior to your arrival and the 12-bedded luxury gives “Glamping” a new definition. Zambezi Expeditions is a mobile camp, with no permanent site, so combining the inland experience of Kanga with the riverside beauty of Zambezi Expeditions is a perfect example of the diversity of the African Bush Camps portfolio.
The evolution of Zambezi Expeditions: 2013 – 2016
In 2012 the group’s logistical arm was launched, in Safari Logistics, its sister company. An initiative to promote cost effective travel around Zimbabwe with both road and air access to some of the country’s top safari and wildlife areas, including Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Matusadona, and Mana Pools National Park.
Safari Logistics – the logistical arm of the group
From the very beginning, and throughout the expansion of African Bush Camps, Sophia Ndlovu, Beks’ partner and wife, initiated and has overseen the African Bush Camps Foundation. The Foundation runs a number of community orientated projects which are focused on sustainable tourism development through education, conservation, resource management and community empowerment. In 2016 African Bush Camps was also a founding member of the Conservation and Wildlife Fund, a collaborative initiative between major safari operators in Zimbabwe to work together in overcoming conservation challenges in the country. We believe that the tourism dollar needs to have a trickle-down effect, and that the communities in the areas where African Bush Camps operates benefit positively from tourism. To date, the African Bush Camps Foundation has initiated a number of projects which not only benefit communities in wildlife areas, but also tie in strongly with the conservation ethos of African Bush Camps as a whole.
The African Bush Camps Foundation is a crucial element of the company
In 2016, both Somalisa and Somalisa Acacia were rebuilt and upgraded the level of accommodation to that of complete comfort and luxury whilst still maintaining its focus on the guiding and hosting of guests to ensure the ultimate guest experience. The new design earned the camps a Design Innovation Award at We Are Africa. The camps were rebuilt with an emphasis on sustainable tourism and development and were rewarded with Zimbabwe’s first ever ‘Gold Certificate’ from international accreditation body, Green Tourism. In November 2016, Khwai Tented Camp will be rebuilt with the same emphasis on green living and sustainability, and a family-friendly sister camp, Khwai Leadwood, will open in 2017. Another very exciting ecologically conscious development will open on 1st May 2017 in Zambia, just upstream of the famous Victoria Falls, in the shape of Thorntree River Lodge.
Khwai Leadwood and Thorntree River Lodge – Exciting new developments for 2017
African Bush Camps employs some of the best guides on the African continent, as well the most dedicated camp hosts and staff. The company also includes administrative offices in Maun, Botswana and Harare, Zimbabwe, as well as Sales and Marketing offices in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Cape Town, South Africa. African Bush Camps is a family, committed to delivering on the guest experience through personalized guiding and hosting. Our camps are focused on the guest connection and allow for guests to experience the essence of a privately guided safari and a truly magical safari experience in Africa.
Over the past 10 years, African Bush Camps has gone from strength to strength. We are incredibly proud of the company and the family we have built. We have grown our (environmentally-conscious) footprint to include some of the highest-rated safari camps in Africa today. We cannot wait to see what the next decade brings….
Beks Ndlovu takes stock of the last 10 Years of African Bush Camps and speaks of what’s to come. Interviewed by Scotty Elliot, alias, C.M. Elliot, author of The Sibanda Series, Beks shares with us what has made African Bush Camps the success it is and what advice he would give himself in the past.