Bumi Hills, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
Well…how do I even start with this place! Just stunning all round! From the moment I arrived I was blown away with the panoramic views as far as I could see. It’s so hard to believe that Lake Kariba is a lake….yes, I know how that sounds but it’s so huge that it looks like the sea! The lodge is one of the oldest lodges in the area and is now owned by the wonderful African Bush Camps Safari Company and since owning the lodge they have done a fantastic job in renovating it and making it the amazing place it is today. If you haven’t heard of African Bush Camps, head over to their website to see all of their other wonderful lodges they have in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia.
Also, fun fact for you…did you know that Lake Kariba was man made? When it was being built, there was a huge operation called ‘Operation Noah’ that lasted five years and was a wildlife rescue mission to relocate all animals in the area of where the dam was being built. Over 6,000 animals were re located, mainly to the Matusadona National Park. You can learn all about this whilst at the lodge!
On arrival at the lodge, I had a tour of the main area and just took in those views! I mean, look at it!!
How I got there
I arrived on a light aircraft flight from Hwange National Park and I know I have said it before, but I was blown away by the views as we got to the lake! You can drive up to the lake from Harare but the roads are not the best and it can take a long time, so flying up there is the best option. It is also super easy to combine lodges around the lake as you can just jump in a boat and travel across. I spent a lot of time in boats when I was there as I visited a lot of lodges!!
The room
The rooms are very stylish and slick with a hint of African influence. My favourite part of the room was the bath and all the products and of course, the incredible balcony overlooking the banks of the lake. I could have sat there for hours and hours watching the world go by with a coffee. The best part is that if you look close enough you can see elephants and hippos wandering along the banks. As the rooms are high up and amongst the trees, you are also visited by all the stunning birdlife.
The rooms are perfect for people who enjoy their comfort as they can shut away the bush and outside as soon as they step into their room. Although not the largest of rooms, they are extremely comfortable, have everything you need for a perfect stay, are very private and feel very safe. I personally felt like I was shutting out the smells and sounds of Africa (I love listening to it) but I know for a lot of people this is perfect! It has a more hotel style feel to it than some other lodges. But stunning and beautiful all round.
The main areas
Oh well….I am not quite sure what to say about the main areas. Perfect, amazing, stunning, breathtaking…anything else? The pool…WOW!!
As well as the main areas being stunning, they are spread out onto a few different levels and areas, which makes it feel like it has lots of lovely nooks and crannies to explore and chill out in. And the biggest bonus to it all, is that everywhere you look, you get those views over the lake. My personal favourites were the pool and the fire pit!
If you don’t feel like being outside all the time, then there are also plenty of inside places to chill out and relax too.
Anyone love the gym? Sorry let me ask again…anyone love the gym whilst they are on holiday? If your answer is yes to this (no judgement…well kind of), then there is a lovely little gym that you can use at the lodge. Again, the views are everywhere so if you are going to gym it, then why not do it with a view.
Now, coming to my favourite part…the treatments! And yes, I did take time out of working and treated myself to an hour long massage. I always find that the massages I get whilst at lodges are always THE BEST! I can’t help myself. So anytime I know that a lodge has a treatment room, I get waaaay too excited. If you want to know some of the best places to get massages, get in touch and I will help! Maybe I should do a post about this?
But anyway…this massage was amazing and well needed after all the travelling and early morning wake up calls for game drives in Hwange National Park. After my massage I went and chilled out around the pool and went for a little dip…perfect afternoon or what!!?
Wildlife and activities
Now getting to the best bit! An African safari lodge would be nothing without its wildlife and game drives. Our guide was wonderful and knew the area and all the wildlife like the back of his hand.
So the wildlife at Lake Kariba isn’t at the level at somewhere like Hwange National Park or the Okavango Delta as the concentration just isn’t there. If you are wanting to see the ‘Big 5’ this place isn’t for you, but it’s perfect if you just want to appreciate everything you see and go along for the adventure. It is a perfect addition to an itinerary with another safari destination - such as Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls.
That being said…I ended up seeing SO much wildlife and I wasn’t even there in peak season. There were so many elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffe antelope and bird life. Some of the photos I got were incredible. There are cats in the area but it can very difficult to see them.
Oh the sundowners….LOOK at those colours!!!!! I mean could it get more perfect than this? Amarula, wildlife and those sunsets!
Although I didn’t have time to do all the activities at this lodge, there is enough to keep you busy and exploring for a while! One of the best ways to explore the area is by heading out on a boat cruise. This way you can explore the lake and all the wildlife that lives on and around it. Another really popular activity is fishing! I did try this at another lodge and it is very good fun. If you are a first timer or a professional, it is such a great experience and a must whilst at the lake!
From the lodge you can also enjoy night drives, walking safaris and one of my favourites, star gazing!!
After our afternoon on safari from the lodge, our guide told us that something had happened and that we needed to go and investigate it. So we were a little confused about what was happening…after a little while, he turned the corner and we saw that a whole set up and been put up for us! All the staff were there with tables, chairs, a stove, a fire, beanbags…sooo much! We ended up having dinner out on the banks of the river under candle light with a camp fire - barefoot luxury (literally)! Omg…just PERFECT. One of the best nights I have had and so memorable. They said they love to do special things like this for guests as a surprise…so shhh…I said nothing. Such a wonderful memory and the food was incredible, as always!
My Thoughts
My stay at Bumi Hills was a short one, but extremely memorable. When I think of Lake Kariba, I think of Bumi Hills and that is saying a lot as I visited a lot of camps. Overall it is in a perfect location, with fantastic guides and ultimate luxury, so if this sounds like something you would enjoy…go to Bumi Hills! The staff couldn’t have done more for us if they tried and they made the experience what it was.
I would love to head back there and stay again to explore more. As I mentioned before, this is a perfect addition to a safari itinerary and African Bush Camps often have combo deals if you stay at more than one of their camps…so a great excuse for more safari…not that you need it.
Thank you to the Bumi Hills team for a wonderful stay and I will be back!