Visiting Victoria Falls was our final vacation spot on a current journey to Zimbabwe. However as an alternative of popping in and overseas to get a glimpse of the Falls, we determined to increase our keep and luxuriate in a couple of nights on the mighty Zambezi River in Zambezi Nationwide Park.
Our house throughout the go to was Tsowa Safari Island, a lovely new Isibindi Africa lodge situated on Tsowa Island in Zambezi Nationwide Park.
Situated about an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls city, the pioneer-inspired camp is fringed by a lovely forest and tucked away from the busy world. It was designed to accommodate simply 12 friends at a time, providing a really cozy and intimate keep.
Tsowa Safari Island, Zimbabwe
About The Lodge
Tsowa Safari Island Lodge is situated on a non-public island, giving the keep a sense of the river expedition. The décor blends in with the pure environment and options pure materials in earthy colors and picket accents all through.
The frequent areas across the camp include a classy lounge and eating space, a bar tent, an enormous exterior river-front deck and a pool overlooking the river. Surrounding the entire camp are gigantic forest vines and large jackalberry timber.
Pool overlooking Zambezi River on the Tsowa Safari Island
The Rooms
The rooms of the Zambezi lodge are literally a sequence of safari tents with 2 Twin beds that may be transformed into a snug King mattress. Every tent affords a desk, a tea/espresso arrange, plenty of closet house, and a non-public en-suite with an indoor/outside bathe. The tents are set away from the others to supply final privateness for each visitor.
We discovered the tents to be spacious and opulent, with mosquito nets across the beds. We notably cherished the verandah, providing a spectacular view of Zambezi Nationwide Park on the mainland, simply throughout the river.
River View Safari Tent
These safari tents are perched on the Zambezi River financial institution, shaded by the cover of the forest. Every River View Safari Tent has a non-public, coated veranda proper on the river’s edge, the place you’ll be able to watch wildlife and look over the Zambezi Nationwide Park.
River Deck Safari Tent
In the event you choose a bigger outside residing house, the River Deck Safari Tent is ideal. These tents characteristic giant picket decks, full with lounge chairs and a aspect desk, the place you’ll be able to benefit from the early morning calm alongside the river.
Our tent at Tsowa Safari Island
Meals & Drink
The primary tent of the Zambezi Lodge serves as the primary communal and eating space for the friends. There’s an open-air eating space, which is related to a sunken fireplace pit that overlooks the river. You couldn’t ask for a greater view.
The Tsowa Safari Island Lodge affords breakfast, brunch/lunch, and dinner, in addition to drinks and a picnic lunch throughout the day journeys. In the event you’re within the temper to loosen up after you eat, there’s a bar tent adjoining to the primary tent.
Fabulous lunch at Tsowa Safari Island
Actions
There are a selection of actions you are able to do whereas staying at this Zambezi River lodge. Experiences supplied embrace guided island walks, birdwatching excursions, sundowner river cruises, and wildlife safaris.
Recreation Walks And Recreation Drives
Recreation drives and guided sport walks on the mainland allow you to see wildlife in its pure habitat at Zambezi Nationwide Park.
Wildlife that you could anticipate to see consists of quite a few antelope species, elephants, lions, giraffes, and extra plains wildlife. The safaris are about 4 hours lengthy, with the choice for an early morning begin or afternoon begin to your sport drive. Safaris embrace a cease at a espresso store within the mornings or a sundowner cease for late afternoon cocktails.
There are additionally guided walks to the centre of the island, the place a comfortable sand path results in a grove of century-old baobabs. You’ll see big Mangosteen timber, jackalberry timber, and possibly even some Pel’s fishing owls. There are additionally fishing alternatives obtainable day-after-day from this Zambezi lodge.
Canoeing
Guided canoeing is obtainable from mid-morning to early afternoon in inflatable 2-person canoes. The endpoint is about an hour and a half down the river, and when you attain it, you’ll be pushed again to the lodge in one of many game-viewing autos. This was our favorite exercise at Tsowa Safari Island, because it supplied a chance to discover life alongside the river banks and recognize the surroundings round us.
Sundown River Cruise
We additionally cherished our sundown guided river cruise that took us across the river seeking hippos, crocs, birds and different wildlife on the banks of the river. On the finish of the cruise, we hopped ashore and loved drinks and snacks whereas watching the sundown.
Watching a sundown on our sundown boat journey from Tsowa Safari Island
Day Journeys
Day journeys to Chobe Nationwide Park in Botswana, some of the game-rich wildlife parks within the nation, are additionally obtainable from the lodge. In the event you’ve been wanting ahead to recognizing any of the Huge 5, then at the present time journey can be a good suggestion for you.
It’s also possible to go on a day journey to the well-known Victoria Falls and Victoria Falls Rainforest. Honestly, this magnificent waterfall is a must-see whilst you’re in Zimbabwe.
Birdwatching
There are over 450 recorded chook species within the space, together with the Schalow’s Turaco, African Fish Eagle, Rock Pratincoles, and lots of extra outstanding species. Whether or not you’re an skilled birdwatcher on a mission to trace down a sure species otherwise you simply wish to loosen up in your personal deck and hearken to the chook calls, this place is a birder’s paradise.
And, after all, friends also can prepare a journey to the gorgeous Victoria Falls, beginning on the lodge’s personal entrance to Zambezi Nationwide Park. It features a cease for teatime, a chance to go to native outlets, and even an opportunity to go bungee leaping or river rafting.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Sustainability
The Isibindi Basis and its lodges care deeply about their impression on the surroundings and native communities, and the Tsowa Safari Island Lodge isn’t any exception. Single-use plastics aren’t used, and plastic water bottles for the friends have been changed with reusable water bottles. The tents and decks are fabricated from pure supplies, mixing into the pure surroundings. Tsowa Safari Lodge invested in renewable vitality sources, and meals served at their on-site restaurant is domestically sourced and ethically harvested.
The lodge additionally helps help anti-poaching efforts at Zambezi Nationwide Park whereas additionally serving to to enhance the provision of the park’s assets.
The Backside Line
The Tsowa Safari Island Lodge is about in a lovely and relaxed surroundings, providing an final getaway in Zambezi Nationwide Park. It affords you the possibility to get away from the hustle and bustle of the remainder of the world, and it offers you the chance to assist the world and recognize the wildlife and the habitat up shut.
Zambezi River, Zimbabwe
Disclaimer: Our keep at Tsowa Safari Island was offered courtesy of Isibindi Africa Lodges, however all opinions expressed on this article are our personal.