camp kuzuma Chobe

Camp Kuzuma luxury African safari lodge experience begins as you leave the airport.

The elephants wander around outside the airport and on the side of the road between the trucks that are waiting to be loaded onto the ferry.

Their presence is a teaser for what is in store for you.

Camp Kuzuma is about an hour from Kasane airport and is discreetly camouflaged under a canopy of Mopane trees.

It is as close as you can get to bush heaven.

Not only is this 5-star lodge private and exclusive, but it is also an oasis for the animals and some of the 196 bird species that live here.

You need not move further than the comfort of your armchair to watch the game either drinking at the water hole or wandering around the area.

About Camp Kuzuma Chobe:

Kuzuma means ‘hunter’ in Botswana’s indigenous language but the only shooting in the area is with a camera lens.

The camp has a strong co-operation with Elephants without Borders to ensure their survival.

What sets it apart, is the proximity of the elephants at the camp’s water hole in what can only be described as elephant heaven.

Whether you are having an outdoor shower, sitting on the deck with a sundowner, or being pampered with a back massage in the open tented spa – they are never more than a short, trumpeting charge away.

 

Owners Stefan du Plessis and Rudy Visser have turned a 3-hectare land concession into a five-star luxury safari lodge and in strong co-operation with the authorities, promote ecotourism.

The animals are free to roam across the 11,800 hectares of traversing rights in the pristine Kuzuma Forest reserve.

On the surrounding open plains of the Kuzuma Pans, you can see wildebeest, buffalo, roan antelope, the very beautiful and rare sable, giraffe, lion, and leopard.

Rhinos are, however, protected in secret sanctuaries and guarded more closely than the President, Ian Khama. 

Accommodation at Camp Kuzuma Chobe:

Camp Kuzuma has seven luxury open-plan tented suites, connected with an elevated walkway purportedly to give you a height advantage if you were to meet a lion passing through the camp.

The canvas and stone suites are open to the bush during the day, facing the bushveld, and designed for absolute privacy.

Each has a sundeck and you’re in a late 19th Century time warp amongst the Victorian high-backed baths, silver trays and teapots, leather couches, and super king-sized beds – draped with mosquito nets – as well as outdoor showers.

You want for nothing and are woken in the morning by the soft beating of African drums as the sun is rising.

The perfect setting for a luxury bush holiday.

The main lodge area at Camp Kuzuma is home to an open plan bar, lounge, and dining area that opens to the bushveld breeze, boma, and pool with an extended deck.

The sunken fire pit just off the deck welcomes guests and offers an opportunity to find solace and comfort whilst reading a book in the cool afternoon breeze and is the informal meeting place for a nightcap and story-swapping in the tranquil evenings.

You are likely to hear a hyena barking or laughing, bat-eared foxes in the distance, or equally the sound of a lion on the hunt.

Protecting the Wilderness at Camp Kuzuma:

Accredited by the Green Choice certification scheme, the natural plant life at Camp Kuzuma is carefully preserved by elevated wooden walkways that connect the seven Luxury Tented Suites to the main guest areas.

Exclusive and luxurious, Camp Kuzuma does not pay lip service to sustainable tourism and operates completely off the grid.

It has 66 300-watt solar panels which are dark blue to store the sunlight and light, not just sunlight. An eco-green sewerage system recycles all water and kitchen waste.

The owners also work in partnership with Elephants without Borders to ensure the preservation of these magnificent animals.

The aim of Camp Kuzuma is to minimise our carbon footprint.

This is done by drawing power from a Solar System running at 24kW per day using a unique design off-grid Photo Voltaic installation supplying the lodge’s total power by day and storing the energy in batteries to carry the lodge through the night.

Solar geysers supply hot water, and the entire lodge is connected by wooden walkways raised a meter above the ground. 

Game Drives at Camp Kuzuma Chobe:

Camp Kuzuma’s game drive is a luxurious safari experience and the ideal occasion to spot the wild animals of Botswana.

During game drives, guests are treated to drinks and snacks whilst on the lookout for Botswana’s beautiful wildlife.
A spectacular diversity of wildlife moves through this immense wilderness, including breeding herds of elephant, leopard, lion, spotted hyena, giraffe, large buffalo herds, roan antelope, and sable to name a few.
The game drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, as wildlife is more active during the cooler hours of the day.

All game drives are included in your stay and are conducted at 6:30 and 16:00. 

Health & Wellness at Camp Kuzuma Chobe:

Kuzuma’s breathtaking outdoor spa offers massages, reflexology, aromatherapy, facials, and hand and foot treatments.

Whether it is a simple post-drive pedicure or a full-body massage, a spa treatment at our sanctuary is unforgettable. 

Elephant Experiences at Camp Kuzuma Chobe:

“Elephants love reunions.

They recognize one another after years and years of separation and greet each other with wild, boisterous joy.

There’s bellowing and trumpeting, ear flapping and rubbing.

Trunks entwine.”

The camp offers a safe passage and sanctuary to these elephants where they can gather, drink jostle, and bathe themselves in the mud to protect their skins against the harsh African sun and UV radiation.

Our popular drinking hole and play pool, (for our elephants as much as our guests) where up to 140 elephants in the dry season from about June to October can gather at a time, is replenished every day with 35 000 litres of natural drinking water because they can drink up to 180 litres a day! 

Chobe River Cruises at Camp Kuzuma – Additional Charge:

Guests have the option to request a sunset river cruise on the majestic Chobe River.

Running along the northern border of the Chobe National Park, guests can do their sightseeing in the beautiful light of the African sunset.

Cruising down the Chobe is like being in a candy store of African wildlife.

Hippos, with their beady eyes just above the surface, their chubby bodies, deceptively cute, belie the fact that they are the most dangerous animals in the bush because of their unpredictability, they give no warning of an attack.

On the right of the river is the border of Namibia and on your left is Botswana – a border which has no meaning to the crocodiles, buck, or birds that inhabit this oasis.

The river cruises include transfers, park fees, a half-day trip on a pontoon on the Chobe River, lunch, soft drinks, snacks, and selected alcoholic beverages. 

Chobe National Park Tour – Additional Charge:

The Chobe National Park is synonymous with Botswana’s game viewing.

It is the largest national park in Botswana and is teeming with wildlife.

Camp Kuzuma can organise a safari tour for its guests into the Chobe National Park.

The Chobe River in the park is an especially popular Botswana attraction and one of the busiest in the country, but we will ensure that you get there and get the most out of your visit.

The Chobe River is on our doorstep, a one-hour game drive away.

Experience the buzz and hype at the Chobe River and then relax and take it slower on a private boat cruise.

After a day of sightseeing, game viewing, and breathtaking scenery, we will sweep you away back to the tranquil sanctuary of the Camp Kuzuma Lodge.

Far from the madding crowd where you can relax and mull over the day’s extraordinary experience.

This luxury safari includes transfers, park fees, a half-day trip in Chobe National Park, a half-day trip on a pontoon on the Chobe River, lunch, soft drinks, snacks, and a selection of alcoholic beverages.