Bryony Scrooby

Mhara River Camp

Share this post

Mhara River Camp is a wonderfully unique lodge that evolved from the vision and determination of a group of friends who love the African bush, and being Zimbabwean, have all spent a huge amount of time in it. They wanted to see if they could find a place that was still truly wild, and then be able to build a lodge and be able to share it with other fellow wilderness lovers, but in such a way that the lodge would not destroy or take away from the bush. What started out as an idea turned in to a beautiful bush lodge located on a private concession within the southern boundary of Mana Pools National Park, overlooking the Chitake Riverbed.

Access to Mhara can be by charter flight to the Rukomechi air strip (1 hours 20 minutes), or self-drive to camp (+-6 hours drive) from Harare.

A 4×4 vehicle is required for the last section of the drive on dirt road.

GPS CO-ORDINATES: Mhara River Camp, Mana Pools 16°08’27.2″S 29°34’07.9″E

The central entertainment area is situated on the edge of a cliff with breathtaking views. These stunning views can be enjoyed from either one of the 2 decks, overlooking the (usually dry) Chitake riverbed below. The lower deck has a comfortable lounge and dining areas and coffee station. Off to the side of the lower deck is a cosy fire-pit area, which is sheltered from the wind. The upper, smaller deck has another seating area, and is used for intimate lunch and dinner set ups – the view from here is even better than the lower level! Guests are welcome to help themselves to all the refreshments offered at the bar adjacent to the dining area. For those wanting to go home with a souvenir, the lodge offers a small Curio Shop next to the Manager’s Office.

Where you'll sleep

There are 6 en-suite semi luxurious tented rooms for guests (3 to the right and 3 to the left of the main entertainment area). The rooms are all built along the cliff edge and are also east facing, with beautiful views of the riverbed. Each tent has their own private seating area with chairs and a table to enjoy your own space, while watching the game below. The rooms are surrounded by insect repellent gauze, allowing the wind to circulate and keep the rooms cool. There are two x 3/4 beds in each room, allowing for double or twin bed set-up, with an en-suite bathroom.

Amenities

Private outside seating area;
Indoor seating area;
Coffee station;
Mosquito net & repellent;
Standing fan;
Lock box;
Emergency radio;
Indoor shower;
His & Hers basins;
Separate toilet;
Dressing room area with lots of cupboard & hanging space;
Complimentary toiletries;
Dressing gown & slippers;
Charging facilities.

Water is safe to drink straight from the taps as it comes from the on-site borehole. Mhara River Camp is fully solar.

There is limited cell phone signal, but there is free Wi-Fi available throughout. There are no fences around the lodge, allowing the wildlife to come and go as they please. For this reason guests are escorted by a guide to and from their rooms at night.

Mhara River Camp has built a lovely little hide a short drive from the camp. This is at the back and overlooks a waterhole, giving guests a 180 degree view of the waterhole. One of Mhara’s unique activities is their day trip to see the dinosaur footprints. Guests travel to a remote site where ancient dinosaur tracks remain preserved in stone, dating back roughly 150 to 170 million years – how cool is that?!

So if you are looking for a getaway to somewhere still truly wild, and unique, that will make you fall in love with the African bush again, then we recommend a trip to Mhara River Camp.

**Extra Special Alert! For those that choose to stay 4 nights or more at Mhara – they offer an AMAZING “sleep out under the starts in a mobile fly-camp experience”! Guests get to sleep in dome tents with gauze roofs so that you can star gaze. You sleep on lovely mattresses with crisp linen and duvets, and Mhara also provide a hot bush shower and a very nice toilet too. The Pro Guide stays with you for the night, together with a learner guide so that everyone is safe. What an experience!