Extraordinary Africa>Zimbabwe>Lake Kariba and Matusadona>Changa Safari Camp
If you feel the bush inside your soul, Changa’s probably our choice for you at Matusadona. It’s a true safari camp, set in a private concession on the shores of Lake Kariba.
What’s Changa Safari Camp really like?
Changa has a laid-back beachy feel, though swimming is firmly off the cards – the hippos and crocs got into the water first. There is however a small pool, so you won’t miss out on the water. Changa is a really relaxed spot where you can watch lightening storms crackle across the lake, spend time seeing the sun go down, and eat dinner with your toes resting on the sand. Walls are open, roofs are thatched and floors are natural wood. This is comfort, but deeply immersed in nature.
Changa’s six luxury tents have fans, but no air-conditioning to cut you off from your environment, and one of the only complaints we’ve heard is that the hippos can sing rather loudly at night. The tents are rustic, but comfortable, with wildly romantic outdoor bath and shower. Washing as the stars rise and the damp smells fall into the ground is a truly special experience. Also we should mention- if you’re travelling on a family safari, there are also two family tents, each of which is made up of two of the normal tents linked together by a passageway.
What can I do at Changa Safari Camp?
So much of the magic of Lake Kariba is being out on the water. A sunset boat safari is a very special experience, and the drowned trees make for some pretty spectacular photographs. Lake Kariba is also one of the best places for fishing in Africa- try your luck for vundu, catfish, tilapia or tiger fish. Serious birders have up to 350 different species to tick off, but if you’re just starting out, the call of an African fish eagle is almost always overhead.
As the water is so special, for us, visiting Matusadona and Kariba isn’t really about the game drives, but if you do head out on one, there are usually good sightings of ellies buffalo and hippo, and if you’re lucky, lion. Also on land, a walking safari with top-notch Zimbabwean guides is always worthwhile. You don’t see such a volume of animals on foot. It’s about pawprints and smells and chirps and an incredible learning experience which adds to your understanding of the bush immeasurably.
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