Tembo Plains Luxury Camp, Zimbabwe

About This Property

Tembo Plains Camp is a superb high-end safari camp in Zimbabwe, set in the private Sapi Reserve on the banks of the Zambezi River, immediately east of Mana Pools National Park. It is operated by Great Plains Conservation and is part of its top-tier Réserve-Collection.

The setting is particularly special. Tembo Plains sits in thick riverine forest with uninterrupted views towards the Zambezi, and the reserve is renowned for elephants, wild dogs, lions, leopards, buffalo and hippos. Guests can combine the private Sapi Reserve with excursions into Mana Pools, creating access to an enormous area of protected wilderness.

There are just four spacious safari suites, giving the camp a very intimate feel. Each has a private indoor lounge, en-suite bathroom, outdoor shower, private swimming pool, large veranda and outdoor dining area. The architecture combines canvas with stonework inspired by Zimbabwe's Great Zimbabwe ruins, so it feels luxurious without becoming a conventional lodge.

One of the standout features is the photographic setup. Every suite comes with a professional Canon camera and selection of lenses, as well as high-quality binoculars, for guests to use during their stay. Your photographs can then be downloaded for you to take home.

Safari activities include morning and afternoon/evening game drives, night drives, guided walking and tracking, boating and canoeing on the Zambezi. On stays of three nights or longer, a wildlife experience in Mana Pools is included.

For families or a group of friends, the Zanji Suite is especially appealing. It is an exclusive-use two-bedroom suite accommodating up to four adults, or up to five people when travelling with children, and comes with a private safari vehicle and guide.

The camp is also strongly conservation-focused. Great Plains established the Sapi Reserve as a private photographic reserve and is undertaking extensive habitat restoration, wildlife management and conservation work in the area. Tembo Plains is also recognised by Relais & Châteaux and is described by Great Plains as the only Relais & Châteaux safari camp in Zimbabwe.

One important practical point is seasonality: Tembo Plains is seasonal and closes annually for part of the summer/rainy season. The current published information indicates closure from late November into early January, while Great Plains' earlier rate information states a broader annual closure period; if you're planning specific dates, I would verify the exact operating dates with the camp.

Overall, I would position Tembo Plains as a very exclusive, conservation-led, photographic safari rather than simply a luxury lodge. Its strongest selling points are the tiny number of suites, Zambezi frontage, exceptional elephant and predator viewing, private Sapi Reserve, access to Mana Pools and the unusually good photographic facilities.