Potato Bush Camp

OVERVIEW:

Potato Bush Camp is privately owned and operated. As well as being smaller than Sausage Tree, it’s younger – it opened in 2012. In common with the older and larger sibling, Potato Bush regularly receives excellent reviews! Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, safari activities and fishing, use of a private vehicle with guide, internal park transfers, a private butler service, Wi-Fi, and a laundry service. The camp is open from April to June and during October and November every year.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The camp is accessed via 40 minutes’ boat transfer from the Lower Zambezi’s Jeki airstrip. It’s situated in the heart of Lower Zambezi National Park, near the confluence of the mighty River Zambezi and the Chifungulu Channel. This location makes for amazing views!

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT POTATO BUSH CAMP:

There are just three guest tents, in addition to a two-bedroom house designed for family use. All structures are linked to the communal areas along wooden walkways, just a few centimetres above ground level. These walkways are not only fun to use – they also protect the environment, and they extend the safari season at Potato Bush by keeping the camp dry! Entering through the front door of one of the tents, you’ll find either a double or twin bedroom, with mosquito nets, lighting just behind the bed/s, an additional daybed, a standing fan, a sizeable storage unit, a luggage rack, and a comfy sofa adjacent to a coffee table. A few snug rugs cover the stone floor. The washroom is accessed through another door, and it offers flush toilet, twin washbasins, walk-in twin showers, and claw-foot bathtub. Much wider doors lead from the bedroom onto a private deck, which sports a couple of deckchairs, a two-person hammock, and a plunge pool! It’s a great spot for relaxing and enjoying your views of the river. Due to the positioning of the bed or beds within the tent, there are lovely river vistas from here too. If you’re travelling as a family, or in a group of up to four adults, you could consider the Family House, which provides two en-suite bedrooms, a large living and dining area with well-stocked bar and fridge, and a spacious plunge pool!

Potato Bush Camp’s communal spaces are equally well appointed. Easily accessed via the wooden walkways, the main structure contains two lounge areas and a bar. It’s open sided, so you can make yourself comfortable on any of the well-cushioned seating provided and marvel at beautiful vistas of the Zambezi river! The lounges also offer safari chairs, coffee tables, a few books, and a telescope for close views of the local wildlife. Delicious food and drink is enjoyed in the camp’s boma, although guests often eat around the campfire too. The latter is a great setting for tucking in to a light breakfast or pre-dinner drinks, all the while sharing your safari stories! Positioned close to the river, it’s the only part of camp on the ground. Throughout your stay, a muchinda (butler) ensures that your every need is met, while other staff members also do their utmost to make you feel at home.

ACTIVITIES AT POTATO BUSH CAMP:

The camp offers an exhilarating range of activities:

• Expertly guided game drives

  - These take place during early morning and late afternoon, in the company of a knowledgeable and experienced guide. The sprawling savanna, woodlands, floodplains, and waters of the Lower Zambezi are home to a real wealth of wildlife! You can look out for four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – in addition to hyena, jackal, wild dog, wildebeest, zebra, antelopes, Nile crocodile, and hippo.

• Night drives

  - Also enjoyed with a guide, this activity provides sightings of all sorts of nocturnal species, not least civet, genet, porcupine, and giant eagle owl!

• Walks

  - Walking appeals to travellers interested in observing the smaller things on safari – the plants, insects, and brilliant birdlife. Often there are opportunities to track big game too! Please note, the minimum age requirement for walks is 15 years.

• Canoe trips

  - A canoe guide accompanies safarists on an excursion along the Chifungulu Channel, for some wonderful wildlife viewing from a different perspective. Full-day trips, with a stop for picnic lunch, are highly recommended!

• Boat cruises

  - This is another thrilling way in which to see wildlife in the water, particularly elephant, hippo, crocodile, and waterbirds. You can book sundowner trips too, for gorgeous scenes of the sun setting over the park.

• Spinning and fly fishing

  - Both these activities are offered on a catch-and-release basis only. The camp regularly witnesses catches of tigerfish and tilapia, especially during September to November, when the waters are at their lowest levels all year.

• Children’s activities

  - The camp offers two kids programmes – for 4–8 years and for 8–12 years. Youngsters can take part in shorter game drives featuring a picnic, mini bush walks between Potato Bush and Sausage Tree Camp, football, fishing, and much more!

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.