Lolebezi, Jewel of the Zambezi

Located in a spectacular setting on the banks of the Zambezi River and throughout the Decrease Zambezi Nationwide Park, Lolebezi fuses the perfect of prime river frontage and excellent wildlife sightings. 

Zambia, a landlocked nation on the crossroads of Central, Southern, and East Africa is full of hidden gems, pleasant individuals, and wonderful landscapes. Beginning a enterprise on this far-flung vacation spot was not one thing that was taken evenly by African Bush Camps, whose co-founder Beks Ndlovu is a safari visionary par extraordinaire, discovering the proper properties to permit visitors the luxurious of outstanding experiences. 

Having had the privilege of staying at not one, however two African Bush Camps properties – Linyanti Ebony in Botswana in 2018 and Thorntree River Lodge in Zambia a number of months later, I couldn’t wait to see what their newest providing in Zambia is all about. Essentially the most handy mode of journey to Lolebezi is by plane or personal constitution. In my case, following a global flight from Cape City Worldwide Airport by way of O.R Tambo Worldwide Airport to Lusaka on Airlink, with an in a single day keep at Latitude 15. It took solely a brief flight from Lusaka Worldwide Airport with Proflight Zambia to get me to the Jeki airstrip. 

Collected on the airstrip by information Elijah, the magic begins when driving by way of the towering acacia forests and recognizing a number of animals alongside the way in which through the 10-minute drive to the lodge. My arrival is met with tune and dance, making the welcome to Lolebezi particularly heat. Host Kufa exhibits me across the impressively constructed predominant space, with design and growth by Fox Browne Artistic in partnership with architect Jack Alexander. 

My suite is strikingly stunning. Positioned on a bend of the mighty Zambezi River, the confluence of inside and exterior is a murals to place it mildly. Using canvas and glass within the visitor suites ensures that Lolebezi is a design feat, and the utilization of spherical shapes kind a focus within the expansive bed room. Surrounding the mattress is a round mosquito web, and a pelmet customary virtually like a ‘halo’, customized made for Fox Browne utilizing picket discs, imfabinga beads, and copper by South African based mostly agency Excessive Thorn Chandeliers. 

The toilet has unobstructed views of the river, and the rainforest-green accents mix in completely with the encircling bush. A contemporary marvel is the marble-clad geometrically formed his & hers vanities and the curved bathe pipe, paying homage to an elephant’s trunk. Opening out onto a shaded deck, the personal infinity pool completes this spectacular image.

Eating at Lolebezi will titillate your tastebuds, and soft-spoken chef Mwansa is a grasp at crafting the proper fare to fit your particular palate. Particular consideration is given to dietary preferences, and meals popping out of this Halaal-friendly kitchen are so delectable, it would make you want you had introduced elasticized pants alongside. Served by gracious waitrons Janet and Kelvin, they supply impeccable service whether or not you might be eating on the predominant pavilion or choose to have your meal delivered in-room.

Recreation drives by way of the UNESCO World Heritage Website that’s Decrease Zambezi kind a part of your keep at Lolebezi. With a professional information on the steer of the sport drive car, visitors are set for some wonderful sightings, as Elijah showcases throughout my three-day keep. Seeing a small herd of zebra with a tiny foal on our first recreation drive set the goal for quite a lot of wildlife – a hippo exhibiting a present of dominance by exhibiting his incisors, floor hornbills retreating and an elephant stretching his trunk to achieve the delectable pods from the winterthorn timber.

A favourite sighting is that of 4 male lions on an early morning recreation drive. Woke up at 05:12 by the sound of them roaring, we skip the pre-game drive delicacies to move out and see if we are able to pinpoint the place they’re vocalizing from. That they had been noticed across the airstrip a number of days earlier however haven’t been seen since. As Elijah slows the car down, he factors in direction of an inanimate object, which out of the blue begins shifting. He discovered them! Driving to get forward of them, they stroll straight in direction of the car, pausing once in a while to see the place the remainder of the delight is. We discover them once more within the afternoon, quick asleep within the shade of a tree.

Again at Lolebezi’s predominant space, I order a deliciously frothy cappuccino, and take respite on one of many bespoke loungers subsequent to the glowing predominant pool. Proper in entrance of me, a pied kingfisher is fluttering his wings, making an attempt to catch his breakfast out of the Zambezi. To my left, 5 giant hippos are sunning themselves on one of many reverse banks of the river. Excessive up on the treetops, the unmistakable name of an African Fish Eagle cuts by way of the silence and I can simply make out his silhouette. Welcome to a different wonderful day at Lolebezi, the place the unpredictability of nature creates recollections that can final a lifetime.

To e book go to https://africanbushcamps.com/camps/lolebezi/

Guide with The Luxurious Safari Firm
Heléne’s flights had been generously sponsored by The Luxurious Safari Firm. Based by Rose Hipwood in 2010, her ardour for Africa is obvious within the seamless association of bespoke, luxurious safaris throughout Africa which can be made particular by the individuals concerned, the distinctive places of the lodges, and the meticulously executed nature of every journey. Purchasers of The Luxurious Safari Firm can anticipate private 24-hour service safaris which take them into new territory with the correct individuals on the proper time and imaginative itineraries. To e book, name +44 1666 880 111 or go to https://www.theluxurysafaricompany.com/