Wilderness Ruckomechi

Ruckomechi Camp is where guests intensify their love for nature and life. As you drift along the majestic Zambezi River coupled with the purple-hued Rift Valley escarpment in the distance, the beauty of the untouched land is sure to pull at your heartstrings. Stand in awe as elephant herds cross the waters near your boat and hear the ancient stories of the river gods. Welcome, a wildlife menagerie around camp: elephants; lions; leopards; hyaenas; buffalos; African wild dogs; a range of antelope, and birds, such as bee-eaters nesting on the riverbanks or fish-eagles calling plaintively from the skies. Walk with a guide through the magical light of the albida forests, where elephants move through the trees like phantoms.

Ruckomechi Camp is set on a private concession bordering Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park. This remote lodge is perfectly perched on the banks of the stunning Zambezi River offering spectacular views of the surrounding woodlands and the Rift Valley Mountains.

There are a total of ten spacious and tastefully decorated en-suite rooms including two-family units. As you lie beneath the ana trees, elephants pass by for their nutritional boost. The interiors reflect the beauty of the outside with peacefully earth-toned colours coupled with hints of blue to reflect the river. The main lodge features a firepit, perfect for storytellers to share their adventures under the starry African sky. There is also a pool overlooking the river, an outdoor bath in a private and secluded spot and a romantic Star Bed by a busy waterhole. In the words of a Ruckomechi Camp guide: ‘…a little paradise on Earth, where the souls of nature lovers connect.’

About Mana Pools National Park

The Mana Pools National Park is regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s best parks and is one of the finest wilderness areas in Africa. Mana Pools National Park is a superb safari destination suited for wildlife enthusiasts of all sorts. Situated at the northernmost point of Zimbabwe straddling the Zambian border, Mana Pools is remarkably beautiful: a riverine wilderness on the Zambezi River of pools, floodplains, baobab trees and forests that feels totally remote and never gets crowded.

The park is famous for its huge elephant herds and is known for great sightings of lion and leopard as well as being one of the best places in Africa to find endangered wild dogs. The appeal of the park is not just its wildlife – it’s how you get to experience the bush in immersive ways: staying in unfenced campsites in the midst of the wilderness and going on walking and canoeing safaris to see animals without the noise of a car. Mana Pools is also one of the only parks in Africa where you can walk without a guide (although this isn’t recommended for safety reasons unless you have a lot of bush experience).

Staying in one of Mana Pool’s exclusive unfenced campsites along the Zambezi River is a highlight for many intrepid visitors to the park. Booking one of these campsites for just your group means you’ll be able to have a totally wild experience in the bush with no one else around – just the wild animals that might wander in between your tents.

Mana Pools is one of Africa’s best places to do walking safaris – the thin vegetation means that visibility is excellent, so you’ll have the chance to get up close to big game. In addition, the walking guides in the park are among the best in Africa.

Canoeing safaris in Mana Pools are an incredible way to experience raw nature at its best: you spend your days paddling along the Zambezi past pods of hippos and scores of animals drinking on the banks, and at nighttime you’ll camp under the stars on untouched islands.