ELEPHANT’S EYE – HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

Situated on a large wildlife-rich private concession bordering Hwange National Park, Elephant’s Eye is a luxurious eco-lodge set in the heart of the African bush.  Elephant’s Eye hosts guests in eight comfortable raised tented chalets made with sustainable and reclaimed materials, all with private outdoor showers and views over the waterhole

A swimming pool and eco-spa welcome you to take the time to indulge and relax, and you can experience warm African hospitality at a Boma dinner lit by lanterns and a roaring fire. Gourmet meals are served at different locations around the lodge, and you can sleep out under the stars on the secluded open-air star bed next to the waterhole.

There are lots of activities to explore with your experienced guide – game drives, guided safari walks, horse-back safaris and community experiences. In the evenings you can enjoy night-time game drives and romantic sundowners in wonderfully scenic places!

LOCATION

The lodge is located in a private conservancy bordering Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe.  Access is via a short 20-minute flight from Victoria Falls or a 2.5 hour road transfer.

LODGE 

The lodge has just 8 romantic tree-house style chalets that all face the waterhole. Each chalet has a private wrap-around veranda with a luxurious outside shower as well as lovely bathtub inside the open plan room (toilets are behind a closed door for privacy).

Inside, the rooms are cooled by fans and have queen beds swathed in mosquito netting which look out through floor to ceiling windows to the waterhole.  Facilities include tea and coffee stations, a fireplace and an in-room safe.

The main lodge has a dining area, a communal Boma area, a bar, the Curio shop and the spa. WIFI is available in the main area.

The pool is a natural Ozone pool which is safe for any swimmer killing bacteria, fungi, viruses, and reduces chloramine odours. This also makes for a tasty drink for the large herds of elephant.

All geysers are solar powered and solar lanterns are not only decorative, but also serve to give extra lighting in the evenings.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

Elephant’s Eye is located on a private concession 13km from the entrance to Hwange National Park in the western area of Zimbabwe. The national park is fenceless, therefore wildlife from the park is free to roam and is often found in large numbers on the concession.

Full-Day Game Drive – experience a full-day game drive in Hwange National Park with your guide. The park is known for its large elephant population, with herds numbering up to 350 elephants. It is also one of the best places in Africa to see the rare and endangered African painted dogs – or wild dogs. A delicious picnic lunch is included which is packed and prepared by the kitchen staff at the lodge.

Half-Day Concession Game Drive – enjoy a half-day game drive on the private concession with your guide – the concession shares an unfenced border with Hwange National Park therefore allowing the animals to roam freely between the two areas.

Walking Safari – take part in a 3-hour game walk with your guide on the private concession. A walk through the bush allows you to experience fauna and flora from a completely different perspective than on a game drive and your guide will point out many interesting things not always visible to the naked eye and will ensure that you are completely safe.

Horseback Safaris – observe game from a completely different vantage point and get closer to wildlife than on foot. You can stop and enjoy the landscape of grasslands, acacia trees, and waterholes teeming with wildlife – it’s just you, your horse and the surrounding bush!

The Eye – Sleep Out Deck – the Eye is a raised star bed about a 15-minute drive from the main lodge. The sleep-out deck, with its luxurious star bed, is right by a watering hole where you can view a wide variety of animals coming and going especially in the early morning. The deck is on 2 levels with a bathroom underneath and a luxurious queen bed, covered with a mosquito net, up top providing the most amazing views of the waterhole and surrounding bush.

You will be escorted at sunset to the deck for sundowners before being left to enjoy the tranquillity of the surrounding bush as the day turns to night. In the morning you will be collected and taken back to the main lodge to enjoy a delicious breakfast.

The Jwapi Spa – Jwapi means Ground Hornbill and you can experience true relaxation and luxurious pampering deep in the heart of the bush at Jwapi, the lodge’s semi open-air spa.

Community Upliftment Experience – organized in collaboration with the Grow Africa Foundation learn about local traditions and experience the challenges local communities contend with on a daily basis. Visit the local school as well as some of the economic and upliftment enterprises that locals have established to combat these challenges and improve their living conditions.

Art Safaris – led by your personal tutor enjoy a painting session and capture the African bush.

GIVING BACK

The lodge’s mission is to grow awareness by highlighting the challenges and difficulties associated with poverty and conservation.

To grow the community by empowering local communities and individuals through collaborative support of their sustainable upliftment initiatives.

To grow conservation by initiating and supporting local conservation projects through action, awareness, funding, and education.

To grow the economy by hiring, training and upskilling locals. Buy locally and support local sustainable business initiatives.

ELEPHANT’S EYE IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

THE LODGE WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 7 YEARS AND OLDER.

CHILDREN AGED UNDER 7 ON REQUEST BASIS