Breathtaking Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

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 selection of aisle or window seat, passengers are in for a deal with with scrumptious onboard snacks and a selection 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, visitors can embark on sport drives that embody the wildlife-rich Kariba shoreline with one among ABC’s knowledgeable 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 planet 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.

Area information Little Max collects me on the airstrip, and on the lodge, I’m welcomed by host Sheckie within the snug lounge space. The eating space has unimaginable views over the water, and waiter Tabs is at hand to serve my beverage of selection and an gratifying lunch, consisting of hen kebab and salad.

Constructed within the early Seventies, the lodge wanted a makeover, and given this venture 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 resort,” Chris tells me. “5 years in the past, we had been tasked to combine the 2 totally different architectural types with daring inside design. We needed to repurpose a variety of current furnishings! The hero of the primary visitor areas is the brand new bar, which has essentially the most spectacular views.”

Eradicating all of the outdated fussy Seventies finishes, the Fox Browne Inventive crew stripped them again to the easy plaster and timber finishes which might be seen within the lodge at this time. By no means one to shrink back from a problem, they succeeded in maximizing the views and lightweight. Utilizing a special shade aside from the ‘secure’ shade picks, the crew 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 consider in ‘much less is extra’. Including the brand new bar tent and lengthening the firepit deck to get visitors as near the vistas as attainable actually labored effectively. It additionally occurs to be their favourite area at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge. “I like the tented bar area,” Chris admits. “It’s open, cool, breezy and it seems like you might be floating above the lake.”

Staying in Room 8, my lodging is lush, with a stunning 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 with no 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 aspect 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 finally. “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 offers a large yawn, proclaiming that it’s time to get lively, as that’s what lions do between nightfall and daybreak.

For extra data, or to ebook, go to www.africanbushcamps.com

*Views expressed are the writer’s personal.

Find out how to 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

With greater than 60 regional jetliners within the fleet, Airlink has been ranked as South Africa’s most punctual airline, primarily based on its 97% common on-time efficiency 12 months up to now. It is a clear indication of their willpower and dedication to stay synonymous with buyer centricity, punctuality, service excellence, and reliability.

Vacationers also can take pleasure in the good thing about their intra-continental model enterprise class service on choose routes working the magnificent Embraer E-190 / E-170 regional jets. Uncover Extra – https://www.flyairlink.com/profile/airlink-profile#businessclass 

How To Get There: Airlink operates direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape City to Harare, Zimbabwe. https://www.flyairlink.com/locations/flights-to-harare

E-book direct on www.flyairlink.com, the FlyAirlink app, or your favourite Journey agent.