Pamushana Lodge is a community-owned, not-for-profit lodge funded by outside investment donors, and situated on 50,000 hectares of private land. There are only a handful of places like this on the African continent and in my opinion, this is undoubtedly the best one. Any profits are reinvested into local community projects.
This is fabulous, as it allows you to bathe in the lap of luxury, knowing that where you are staying makes a tangible difference. The lodge not only offers gainful employment to the local community (most staff come from the local village), but it is also instrumental in assisting the local schools.
My extraordinary wildlife safari at Pamushana Lodge
Located in the Malilangwe Reserve, which is home to the eponymous “Big Five”, Pamushana Lodge is a wildlife safari destination blessed with extraordinary sightings – I can attest that the wildlife viewing was simply sensational! The first afternoon/evening game drive heralded three different leopard sightings, rhino, two honey badgers, zebra and giraffe. The next three days offered further sightings of equal measure. The opportunity to experience all of this in such solitude – without encountering another vehicle – was truly unique.
Our adventures also extended beyond game drives. We took a beautiful boat ride on the dam at sunset, surrounded by the mountains, which turned amber as the sun reflected off them. This was no ordinary boat trip! We saw so much wildlife come down to the water to drink, including a young female leopard, a breeding herd of elephant, black and white rhino, waterbuck and nyala antelope, hippo, crocodile and of course a plethora of magnificent birdlife including the fabulous African fish eagle. Our guide told us the dam is a wonderful spot for fishing for tilapia or tigerfish, which is renowned for its fight!
During our stay, we took a full-day trip with a picnic lunch to Gonarezhou National Park, where we saw fabulous herds of elephant amongst other wildlife. There were also fabulous interpretive nature walks from the lodge learning about the medicinal properties of trees and plants, the 38 different biomes in the area, determining wildlife tracks, and even tracking elephant and lion on foot – an exhilarating experience! In short, we glimpsed all the wildlife we could have hoped to see by open vehicle, on foot, and by boat, which kept it all interesting.
Relax in the villa’s private pools overlooking the dam.
Take wildlife safari drives into the reserve to see the ‘Big 5’.
Become immersed in the wilderness of Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve during bush walks with your guide.
The Malilangwe Trust’s school feeding programme supports thousands of local children each day.
Cheetah, rhino, lion and many other species can be sighted in the reserve.
"Not to be forgotten was the visit to the local community which was such an uplifting and positive experience. Zimbabweans are such wonderful, engaging and friendly people with an incredible work ethic."
I firmly believe in the power of doing good and making a difference whilst travelling, and always ask to visit the incredible projects supported by the places I stay on safari. We visited the community projects the lodge supports to see their impact, and I would thoroughly recommend visiting the school to meet the students and teachers and see the work that is being done through the revenue donated from Pamushana.
The staff at the lodge were incredible, and I don’t think I have been to a lodge in Africa with quite this degree of professionalism. Everything is thought of and incorporated to enhance your stay. The food and drink were superb, with a wine list offering the finest wines from South Africa. Our meals were served in different places each day and evening, which added to the sense of adventure. Breakfast can be as light and healthy as you wish, and we enjoyed special dining in the bush, as well as one evening with a local cuisine theme.
What makes Pamushana Lodge so special for a luxury safari to Zimbabwe?
Pamushana Lodge is equally suited to couples or families alike, with a range of luxurious and beautifully appointed accommodation. The single or two-bedroom villas are enormous, hewn from local stone utilising wooden tree trunks and incorporating gorgeous, funky mosaics inspired by the local tribes into the walls.
Each villa has a private plunge pool and many spaces to relax, both inside and outside; the views are wonderful! You are assigned a personal butler for each villa, should you have any requests. My favourite villa was the five-bedroom villa complete with swimming pool, private vehicle, guide, chef and staff to cater to your every requirement. This is a particularly good choice for families.
The main lodge has a large lap pool, a fully-equipped gym, spa, shop, tennis court and a football pitch. Valerie, the manager, is a qualified yoga practitioner and is happy to practice with the guests at a mutually convenient time.
Families can embark on a junior ranger course or a specially adapted safari to take in the interests and ages of the children. They can play football against the village children or the staff, and of course, visit the village school to see how rural African schools operate. Two certified childminders can also entertain the children whilst parents enjoy a private meal or game drive.
How does Singita Pamushana give back by supporting conservation and the community?
The partnership has developed the Malilangwe Trust to place money and time back into the area. The trust’s substantial conservation and community uplift initiatives include much work with local schools, as well as running an anti-poaching programme with 86 scouts. In total, they employ 360 Zimbabweans and have funded Zimbabwe’s first e-learning facility for a government school.
The Malilangwe Trust’s extensive outreach to local schools has resulted in a school feeding scheme which supports 20,000 children each day. They supply a daily nutritional drink which supplies each child with the calories and nutrients they require for the day. (This compliments the hot meal provided by the Government during the day.)
The Malilangwe Trust have also purchased laptops for use by the students in their lessons, painted the school, purchased desks and chairs, and installed a rainwater butt.
There is also a summer camp-style school which teaches the children for a week about wildlife, the importance of conserving it and protecting their local environment. These children are the future conservationists of the country, and at the end of their education, ten per cent of the children are employed by the company. There is still so much to do, but there are so many positives already in place.
Why Pamushana is ideal for a slow safari
Having spent almost a month in Zimbabwe, and being continuously on the go, there is an argument to spend longer in one place instead of trying to cover as much ground and as many experiences as possible. However, whilst I am a great advocate of the ‘slow safari’, the place you select to spend longer needs to offer an enormous diversity of experiences to be worthy. (The alternative is to undertake perhaps a walking safari or a horse riding safari, spending a week ‘moving slowly’ through one area, exploring it in depth.)
For me, Pamushana Lodge meets this criterion and is the perfect place to spend a longer time, either as a couple or as a family. Staying in one place for longer than the standard two to three nights means that you can simply relax. You do not necessarily need to be up early each morning (unless you wish to), and can truly immerse yourself in this unique region.
Ultimately, the purpose of your journey is a holiday. This means taking things slowly, not travelling extensively, but rather unpacking your bag once and dividing your time between one or two places at most. You come away rested, having achieved everything you set out to see and do.
There are flights to and from Pamushana from Johannesburg, so access is easy, and I would recommend at least a week here for the perfect slow safari!
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