Whimsical Wilderness Chikwenya

Deep within the wilds of Mana Swimming pools Nationwide Park, one can find an beautiful lodge named Wilderness Chikwenya, the place wildlife roams freely and friends are ensconced in dreamy, tented suites.

Revered for its conservation and hospitality ethos, Wilderness flies the flag excessive with its excellent assortment of properties located in huge locations all through Africa which might be distant and untamed. The corporate identify Wilderness just isn’t solely symbolic by concerning the expansive traits of a concession; it additionally rings true when incorporating the wild side. That is particularly evident throughout my keep on the sensational Chikwenya within the iconic Mana Swimming pools Nationwide Park, one in all Zimbabwe’s most pure and rugged areas.

Arriving in time for brunch, my desk has been set beneath the bushes overlooking the sprawling Zambezi River. Ready for my meal to reach, I take a look at my environment – to my proper is the primary pool the place friends linger over late morning mimosas or teatime canapés whereas reclining on the stylish loungers. The picket deck is completely polished and saved in pristine situation ought to friends want to use it throughout their keep. With its unimpeded views, it’s additionally the perfect spot to look at the solar setting over the river.

The gorgeous interiors at Chikwenya had been conceptualized by Tanja Beyers from Profurn Contracts, who was given free rein by Wilderness to furnish the areas. “They allowed me to run with issues, which is all the time terrifying,” she tells me, “However it’s additionally once I’m capable of produce a few of my finest work – it offers me the chance to push boundaries. I really like the beaded chandeliers in the primary lodge; I really feel as if they anchor the area fantastically.”

Tanja went to work making a hanging wildlife canvas with framed prints on the partitions of the primary lounge space by Richard du Toit Images. “The pictures I selected should not the apparent Large 5, as an alternative they’re fascinating close-ups of an elephant’s trunk, or an elephant’s eye, which provides a extra creative strategy to the apparent animal photos one would discover in a bush lodge.” The central lounge additionally occurs to be Tanja’s favourite area at Chikwenya. “It appears like an area the place you’ll be able to curl up on the sofa with a great e book. The high-pitched roof creates such a spacious feeling, and it’s magical to sit down right here because the solar filters by means of the bushes within the late afternoon.”

Impressed by the uncooked fantastic thing about the camp’s setting, Tanja selected a impartial palette, permitting the environment to turn into the focus while not detracting from the cocoon-like feeling friends will expertise throughout their keep. She achieved this by layering and the removing of any onerous surfaces and utilizing canvas partitions, rolled clay beads for gentle pendants and timber slabs for toilet vanities. “I made use of as many handcrafted parts as potential, with every bit of furnishings thought-about and made to our design necessities.” The end result? A dreamy area, with flowing mosquito nets and splendid handcrafted touches.

With Chikwenya located in such a far-flung vacation spot, Tanja and her crew had many challenges to deal with. “I’m very lucky to work with an unbelievable crew that can overcome something thrown our manner,” she laughs. “The wet season put a cease to any work because the roads turned impassable, so we needed to try to work the contract interval outdoors of the wet season. When the Chikwenya airstrip turned unusable because of the rains, web site visits had been generally two flights and a 4-hour drive away. Time turned a problem, however I cherished the journey and want I had taken longer breaths of the journey on the time.”

A keep at Chikwenya is a mix of supreme consolation, gracious hospitality, and wonderful wildlife sightings. It’s additionally a haven for birders trying to spot one thing extraordinary solely discovered on this particular a part of Zimbabwe. Information Causemore finds an astounding array of winged species, together with the peculiar-looking Crested Guinea Fowl, a Topped Hornbill, a Racket-Tailed Curler, a Tawny Eagle, and a spotlight for me – a Livingstone Flycatcher. On my final morning, two Floor Hornbills sit in the course of the street, blocking our manner. We’ve to attend for them to finally disperse in order that we are able to get to the airstrip. It makes me recall one thing Tanja stated in regards to the challenges of furnishing a lodge the place wildlife is current. “I positioned a beautiful leather-based chair in the primary lodge, to wake within the morning and discover that the hyenas thought it was fairly scrumptious. I’d additionally arrange the tables and chairs beneath the bushes and the elephants would even have enjoyable as soon as we had all gone to mattress, throwing them round as they felt the furnishings was of their area.”

Departing from Harare Worldwide Airport, the direct flight to Cape City Worldwide Airport takes solely 3 hours and 20 minutes on Airlink’s magnificent 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.

For extra data, or to e book, go to www.wildernessdestinations.com

*Views expressed are the writer’s personal.

Find out how to Get There:

Airlink is a privately-owned, unbiased 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, based mostly on its 97% common on-time efficiency yr so far. This can be a clear indication of their willpower and dedication to stay synonymous with buyer centricity, punctuality, service excellence, and reliability.

Vacationers may get pleasure from the good thing about their intra-continental fashion 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

Ebook direct on www.flyairlink.com, the FlyAirlink app, or your favourite Journey agent.