Tucked away in a grove of old-growth mahogany and sausage trees, Nyamatusi is one of Mana Pools National Park’s most extravagant camps. But while the air conditioning in every room, private plunge pools for every suite and carefully curated wine cellar offer a rare level of luxury in this part of Zimbabwe, they are all tempered with an unshakeable dedication to the principles of sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Each of the six spacious suites has an outdoor deck and shower, all constructed from timber to blend in with the classic miombo woodland that surrounds camp. This complex ecosystem supports a wealth of game, including cheetah, wild dog, lion and leopard (rhino and giraffe are the noted exceptions; rhino because of conservation efforts and giraffe because the topography is unsuitable for them). The miombo is fed by the meandering Zambezi River, whose banks bulge and swell during the summer rains. This makes Nyamatusi a seasonal camp that is open from April to November. Because the animals in the region seldom encounter humans or vehicles for up to six months of the year, they retain much of their ‘wildness’, sometimes making for thrilling encounters.
A large solar farm takes advantage of Zimbabwe’s average of 300 ‘sun hours’ a month, which peak during the dry winter high season. Nyamatusi is completely solar powered, with full in-room charging facilities. When you have powered up your devices, head to the double-story main area to enjoy the library, viewing deck or splash pool while you sort your photos and enjoy a chilled drink.
