Camelthorn Lodge

Camelthorn Lodge is nestled in the cool woodlands on the southern edge of Ngamo's famous plains in Hwange National Park. This luxurious lodge offers a spectacular and authentic wilderness experience. The lodge is quite unique in its style, having been build around an ancient camelthorn tree. It has an impressive dining room/winter sitting room with fireplaces, an open fronted bar and sitting area, and plenty of outdoor sitting areas.

Camelthorn Lodge boasts 8 massive double volume chalets, being 82 sqm in size. Each has an upper deck, ideal for daytime siestas on the day bed, hammock or even sleep-outs under the stars. Each is equipped with fireplace, sitting area, dressing gowns, safe, minibar, ceiling fan and a fireplace for the cold winter evenings. The en suite bathroom has a shower and bath in front of a picture window.

Activities at Camelthorn Lodge

Activities include early morning and afternoon game drives but also plenty of walking if you are keen. Enjoy al fresco dining under the ancient camelthorn, or track herds of elephant by foot. Night drives are also common either at the end of a game drive or after supper, especially if lion are heard calling nearby.

Less than a kilometre away from the lodge is an underground hide (blind) in front of a productive waterhole. Camouflaged as a termite heap,  the photographic opportunities are dramatic. Elephants can be photographed from toe level silhouetted against the sky. Such close proximity to Hwange's huge bulls is honestly breath-taking.

Another popular activity at Camelthorn Lodge are ‘pump runs’. Hwange National Park and its wildlife relies on pumped water holes in the dry season. (This has always been the case, ever since the park’s inception in the 1930s). Imvelo safaris operates eight waterholes in the south-eastern part of Hwange. So you can take a full-day safari to visit these waterholes and drop off fuel and oil for the pumps and rations for the pump attendants. You enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the waterholes, which are usually teeming with game as the dry season progresses, and then meander back to the lodge, game-viewing en route.

Finally horse-riding is available on their private concession. Several options are available depending on your ability from beginners (1 hour) to intermediate to experienced 3 hours to a full day). You can even combine a horse safari with a visit to the local village. Horse-riding is an additional charge.

Local community

Imvelo’s ethos is to enrich the lives of those who live around us as well as our guests. Camelthorn is actually been built on community land only a few minutes from the park gates, so the community benefits from the lodge both in the form of a concession lease but also active support of the local community schools and teachers. Another very popular optional activity at Camelthorn is to spend some time at the local school, walking to school with the kids, teaching them about your country, meeting the teachers and learning about the challenges. You can also take part in the school feeding project if you wish.

Their spa treatments also empower the community through providing jobs in tourism . Their beauty therapists have been hand-picked and trained from the community area. They provide in-room spa treatments.

Access to Camelthorn Lodge

Getting to Camelthorn lodge is also part of the adventure. You can choose between a light charter flight, a road transfer or a combined road/train transfer on Imvelo’s unique rail carriage from Hwange main camp.