Bomani Lodge, Hwange National Park
The Ngamo Forest is a pristine wilderness area that adjoins Hwange National Park. There is no fence between the park and the forest and game moves freely between the two. The whole area is a “pan” (ancient lakebed) which is flat, dotted with Ilala palms. Several boreholes have been sunk which provide reliable water sources for big game, so the wildlife viewing is excellent. Hwange park itself is accessed via the Ngamo Gate which is 1.5 Km away from Bomani Lodge, making this an ideal base from which to explore Zimbabwe’s largest national park.
The main lodge at Bomani
About Bomani Tented Lodge
Bomani Lodge has just 9 well-appointed thatched bungalows, most of which have teak verandahs out front which are ideal for early morning coffee and evening sundowners. They are all en suite and have electricity, so re-charging appliances is easy. During the cooler weather (July and August) the maid even pops a hot water bottle into your bed to make things even more snug!
The main lodge, bar and restaurant sits on a raised platform overlooking Bomani pan, ideal for game watching while you dine. All the staff are local; food is sourced locally and cooked in a traditional manner on a wood-burning iron stove. Quality, consistency and flexibility mean that all diets can be catered for.
The view across the pan from room 4.
Bomani’s guides are excellent and safari activities are tuned to you: drives, walks, village visits are all on the menu and you can decide what to do, what time to start and when to come home on a day-by-day basis.
A note about local initiatives
There’s a great deal of “green washing” within the travel industry, but Bomani have it right: they have strong ties with local villages where they recruit all staff and builders, thatchers and skilled tradesmen. This means there is a direct flow of funds from clients all the way to local grass roots – local people directly benefit from safari activities. Which means it’s in everyone’s best interest to look after natural resources and wildlife; people are learning how to live sustainably and rural populations are progressing.
In their own words, “We have been creating symbiotic relationships between man and nature for almost two decades now, and it seems some equilibrium is finally being gained. By building connections and working with local communities, mutually beneficial relationships are growing; communities are coexisting and protecting wild animals.”
One of Bomani’s bedrooms
Bomani is built on community-owned land and over 100 people were employed in the initial build: a school was established; a fresh water supply laid on; and a mobile clinic instigated.
Getting to Bomani Lodge
Bomani is 220 Km southwest of Victoria Falls (3 hrs driving time). Venture Co includes transfers in all safari arrangements. An open-top safari vehicle will rendez vous with the car from Vic Falls and drive you the 60 Km through the bush to Bomani. This journey through Ngamo forest will be your first taste of game driving: an hour and a half, and plenty of game later, you will reach Bomani.
Elephants around the waterhole, viewed from Bomani Lodge.