Deteema Springs
Hwange National Park

Deteema Springs is part of the Machaba group which have five camps across Zimbabwe and Botswana, including Gomoti Plains Camp, Machaba Camp and Verney’s Camp, offering safari on the more affordable end. Deteema was opened in 2019 in the north western reaches of Hwange National Park and it is a fantastic camp for families (6-years and above) and safari goers who value exclusivity, as it is rare to see any other vehicles here. A 4-hour drive (or a 1-hour flight) from Victoria Falls, this camp is a great place to begin your Zimbabwe safari.

The camp presides over a Jurassic Park-esque plain; the landscape is punctured by large termite mounts and mopane trees, large bull elephants stride across the horizon, baboons scamper down the banks of the river to play with the young elephants, all watched by the characterful Marabou Storks, known fondly as the ‘undertaker birds’ due to their carrion diet and white and grey feathers. Tents one to four look out over the enormous plain, whereas tents five to eight have close-up views of the elephants drinking from the river, making for rather easy game viewing!

The tents themselves are compact but stunning: wooden floors, bright white linen with splashes of colour in a modern African safari vibe and open outside decking. When the team first arrived to build the camp, they found a pangolin curled up in what is now the entrance. This unique and special creature has now become the emblem of Deteema Springs, so pangolin adorned soft furnishings are subtly placed throughout camp as a reminder of this rare animal. The camp has a wonderfully comfortable vibe, making guests feel as if this was their own home. Breakfast is a glorious affair with fresh fruit, homemade granola, warm porridge and Amurala coffee on offer for the brave.

Walking safaris and night game drives are on offer at Deteema Springs and the guides in Zimbabwe are often cited to be the best in Southern Africa. Sightings of large herds of elephant, hippos and prides of lion are not uncommon, and the birding is also wonderful – one can expect to be woken by a barking hornbill making its presence known.

Deteema Springs is an Ampersand favourite and the combination of the camp itself, the team and the exclusive game viewing that Zimbabwe offers, makes this a must visit.

If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.
Lewis Carrol