The Most Recent Addition to Zambia’s Safari Lodges Is Situated Inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As my experienced guide and I made our way along the gravel-covered path leading to my suite at the new safari lodge Lolebezi, which opened in June 2022 in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, he scanned the surrounding bushes and winter thorn trees for any signs of wildlife. Lolebezi is located in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
We were getting close to making it to my room without any mishaps when we came across a giant male elephant who was idly eating on the foliage close to my entrance. Hence, rather than taking the path of least resistance (that is, entering by the front door), my guide helped me round the building and enter my apartment through the back patio, therefore allowing the elephant to finish his meal in peace. My guide went on ahead, but the buddy who weighs two tons decided to stick around for a little longer. Due to the fact that my suite’s whole back wall was lined with windows reaching from floor to ceiling, I skipped my afternoon snooze in order to take in the magnificent beast that was ambling down the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia.
Beks Ndlovu, founder and CEO of African Bush Camps (ABC), the safari outfitter that manages Lolebezi, was quoted as saying, “We prefer the land to control the pace of life.” “In the end, we feel that if you don’t, you will miss something that nature has to offer us as a gift if you don’t,”
Following the Example Set by Nature
When we were listening to the rhythm of the land, it meant going on early morning game drives to see lions that had just finished eating their prey; taking a detour when a mother elephant and her young chose to block the road; and rearranging our plans when we saw wild dogs murder an impala.
The position of Lolebezi in Lower Zambezi National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides guests with the extraordinary chance to experience a remote area that is rich in wildlife but is visited by very few other people on safari. Since there are no cages dordle or walls preventing the animals from moving freely and enabling us to observe our guides’ tracking talents in action, we can say that it is authentically wild in every meaning of the term.
Throughout the course of our daily game drives, we came across a wide variety of animals, some of which include the following: waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, baboons, and impalas by the dozen. Guests have a better chance of seeing the elusive leopard because to the big population of the animal that lives in this part of Zambia, which is noted for being difficult to find. In the meanwhile, birdwatchers have the opportunity to see a variety of unique species, such as the lilac-breasted roller, which is known for its brilliant coloring, or the bateleur eagle.
Helping the community, as well as our guests, and Mother Nature
At Lolebezi — and the other 16 ABC sites — just six people are seated in each car (unless asked differently), so everyone gets a window seat and is able to get up close and personal with the action. Normal game drive cars have the capacity to handle up to nine passengers. Even more daring tourists may participate in walking safaris, an activity that was first popularized in Zambia.
Moreover, the activity does not cease when it moves onto land. Direct access to the river that is Africa’s fourth longest is Lolebezi’s most distinctive feature, and it plays an important role in the philosophy of letting nature guide the way. While the majority of people who go on safari in Africa do not have the chance to participate in water-based activities, such kinds of outings are an essential component of the Lolebezi experience.
Visitors have the option of beginning their day by canoeing upstream on the Zambezi River, paddling toward the lodge, and stopping for breakfast on a sandbar along the way. The staff will set up umbrella-shaded tables for a complete meal, which may be eaten from chairs pushed up in ankle-deep water. The tiger fish is a species that got its name because it has a mouthful of teeth that are remarkably huge and sharp for its size. Avid anglers may put their abilities to the test on a catch-and-release fishing trip and try to reel in the tiger fish, which is known as the jewel of the Zambezi River. The evening sundowner is a safari ritual in which everyone gathers around the setting sun for pre-dinner snacks and beverages. Lolebezi guides frequently take tourists out on the river for a more calm water adventure so that they may enjoy their evening sundowner. No matter how visitors choose to enter the water, hippos and crocodiles will be waiting to observe them from a distance.
Paying Homage to Zambia Through Artwork
The idea that the experience should be created by “letting the land decide” lays a significant amount of attention on the natural world, which is mirrored throughout the design of Lolebezi, along with an increased focus on Zambian culture. Since it is constructed out of a variety of natural materials and has a color scheme that is mostly neutral, this luxurious lodge gives the impression that it has grown out of the earth, much like the forest that is all around it. In addition to fish scales, crocodiles, and bird designs that delicately mix into the décor, notable features include ceilings made of braided reeds, hand-carved wooden doors, a one-of-a-kind calabash curtain in the dining room, and more.
In Lolebezi, each of the eight suites, including the two that were created exclusively for families, is immaculately crafted, but the attention to detail is especially remarkable. The bedrooms and living spaces of the suites face east, providing breathtaking views of the dawn; the bathroom and dressing room, on the other hand, face west. Suites are separated into two portions. Since the river-facing side of the apartment included floor-to-ceiling windows, I was able to take in the unimpeded views from wherever in the suite, including the bedroom, the indoor frameless shower, and even the restroom. These towering windows can also be opened up to reveal sliding doors that go out onto an outside deck that is furnished with lounge chairs, lounging places, and a private plunge pool. When all of the doors are open, the living area transforms into an indoor-outdoor living room, which helps to totally submerge you in the picturesque setting.
The facility has an outdoor yoga area, a spa, a gaming room, and a gym, all of which have floor-to-ceiling glass doors that allow visitors to remain connected to the natural splendor of Lower Zambezi at all times. The careful design extends throughout the whole property. In addition, Lolebezi has an outdoor dining pavilion and lounge spaces, such as a fire pit where guests may congregate for sundowners. The hotel also has an infinity-edge pool that looks out over the Zambezi River. I was sitting there when a small herd of elephants crossed the river, and one of them went over to munch the plants that were only a few feet from from where I was sitting. According to Ndlovu, “the design aspect has a role in how you perceive a location, and ultimately, it makes it easier to have the feeling of being surrounded by animals and environment.” He went on to say that ABC compels visitors to remain at its resorts for a minimum of three nights, which not only lessens the negative effect that quick travel has on the environment but also enables guests to make full use of the amenities that have been meticulously selected at each site.