Singita Pamushana

Singita’s Pamushana camp is on the Malilangwe Private Game Reserve, in a remote part of Zimbabwe. Few people know about it, which perhaps is a good thing – it’s very, very far from crowds.

The camp itself is built amongst boulders on a trees kopje (hill) with a dramatic view over the dam and mountains on the far side. Each suite is big and deliciously private, with its own pool. If you’d like complete privacy, the owner’s villa at the top is available exclusive use.

The reserve has a combination of hills and plains, and a great variety of plentiful wildlife. Pamushana is  the name of the camp, run by Singita, and Malilangwe is the reserve, funded by a wealthy American fund manager who’s also a committed conservationist. Malilangwe has has incredible success with restoring wildlife. We had fabulous sightings of rhino, wild dog, cheetah, lion, elephant and more, and great birding too. And they have the majestic and rare sable antelope too.

I expected the food to be excellent – this is Singita – but to have freshly baked croissants, salads of micro greens, perfectly prepared meats all out in this remote location was beyond impressive. Each meal had a printed menu with delectable choices, and as the chefs had clearly worked so hard I felt compelled to try them all… I wasn’t once disappointed.

While there I met a couple from Atlanta who’d been on a big first safari 6 months before; they’d been to 4 different countries and spent a few nights each in about 10 superb camps.

I met them on their second safari, and they were only coming back to 1 camp – Pamushana – and staying 2 weeks. They were going to explore the neighbouring Gonarezhou National Park, which very few people ever visit. You can do day journeys into the wild and untamed Gonarezhou from Pamushana – it’s a long day, but you’ll possibly be the only visitors there.

I couldn’t agree more; for the combination of sightings, comfort, and privacy I rank it tops in Africa.