OVERVIEW:
Sapi Explorers Camp is owned and run by Great Plains. Priding itself on entirely sustainable conservation tourism, this company is one of our favourites at YZ. Its impressive portfolio spans Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Botswana’s Okavango Delta as well as Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools! Sapi Explorers is sister camp to Sapi Springs, another smashing little classic camp here. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, all wildlife-viewing activities, one wildlife experience in Mana Pools N.P. for guests staying three nights or longer, transfers between camp and the local airstrip, and a daily laundry service. The camp is open all year round.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
The camp is accessed via road transfer from Sapi Airstrip. It’s situated in the Sapi Concession, along the banks of the mighty River Zambezi!
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT SAPI EXPLORERS CAMP:
There are just five guest tents, and all are positioned amidst trees on the riverbank. Each is described as ‘explorers’ in style. Rigged up by sturdy poles, an exterior layer of canvas extends over the inner tent structure, creating a shady veranda where you can relax and enjoy your views! Entering the tent, you’ll find a double bed or twin beds, bedside tables and lighting, a writing desk and chair, a luggage rack, an explorer’s chest at the end of every bed, and additional storage furniture for your belongings. Persian-style floor rugs add a little comfort, a lot of colour, and a cool adventurous flair. The en-suite washroom contains a flush toilet, washbasin, and shower. It’s positioned to one side of the bedroom, through a roll-up canvas partition. The toilet sits discreetly behind a screen.
The communal lounge and dining areas at Sapi Explorers Camp occupy a classic mess tent. This is open sided, making for wide vistas over the Zambezi and cool breezes wafting through. In the lounge, wood-framed well-cushioned seating surrounds a coffee table, while the dining space contains one round table flanked by safari chairs – this is where guests eat together, tucking in to delicious hearty fare! The camp offers a good selection of drinks too, and an alternative dining venue in its riverside fire-pit. Set up close to the Zambezi, this is the perfect place for sharing safari stories while watching the sun rising or setting pink, purple, and gold over the water.
ACTIVITIES AT SAPI EXPLORERS CAMP:
Sapi Explorers provides an exhilarating variety of activities, as follows:
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Expertly guided game drives
- The Sapi Concession covers over 120,000 hectares of plains, woodlands, and water sources. It’s home to four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo! Other mammals in residence include hyena, wild dog, zebra, and eland. All drives from camp are enjoyed in the presence of a knowledgeable guide, guaranteeing some memorable sightings. It’s also possible to explore Mana Pools. Considered one of the most scenic national parks in Safari Africa, the Pools features a staggering 2,500 square kilometres of riverbanks, sand banks, islets, and of course the pools themselves. Here too you can look out for a wealth of wildlife! -
Walking safaris
- Also accompanied by an expert guide, walks are fantastic for anyone interested in getting to know the smaller lives of the Mana Pools region – its plants, insects, and birds. Additionally, there are opportunities to get up close to big game such as elephant, buffalo, and even lion! -
Canoeing
- This activity offers thrillingly different perspective of the Zambezi and its inhabitants. The camp’s canoes typically have two seats for safarists and one for your guide, and once again you can approach some of the big guys – eles, hippos, and crocodiles! -
Boating
- Gently chugging along the river is a wonderful way to while away a few hours. As well as spotting game coming to drink on the banks, you can take time to admire the vibrant birdlife, not least rufous-bellied heron, long-toed lapwing, and southern carmine bee-eater.
*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.