Musango Safari Camp is situated
on its own island, just off the shoreline of the Matusadona National
Park. Offering an abundance of wildlife from buffalo and elephant to the
rare black rhino, Musango Safari Camp is also an ornithologist's
paradise with a myriad of birds to be seen frequenting the bird baths in
front of the lodge and rooms. We offer moonlit dinners on a floating
pontoon. Access is direct from Kariba to camp by Float Plane or by
private charter to the nearby airstrip at Bumi. Musango boasts the
largest selection of activities on Lake Kariba.
Musango Safari Camp is an
exclusive 12-bedded camp, ideal for a relaxing holiday. Under thatch,
the large luxurious safari tents each have en-suite bathrooms built out
of natural stone. The frontal verandas offer panoramic views of the
Matusadona National Park and mountains. The swimming pool area and the
bar/lounge platform offer an excellent place in which to relax and view
game during the heat of the day.
Musango boasts the highest
ratio of guides to guests. Excursions include walks into the Matusadona
National Park, game viewing by boat along the many inlets and creeks,
and casual canoe paddling up adjacent creeks where bird life is prolific
and the scenery breathtaking. We offer limited and seasonal fishing and
our boats are fully equipped with tackle and bait. We also conduct
Dinosaur Fossil and early stone-age site visits as well as specialised
birding trips.
Your host, Steve Edwards, who
owns and built Musango Safari Camp in 1992, was with the Department of
National Parks and Wildlife Management for 18 years and has nearly 30
years experience with wildlife. Steve is an avid photographer and a very
keen birder.
The camp is situated under a
large grove of Acacia trees on a narrow peninsular at the confluence of
the Maronga and Ume rivers, within the Matusadona National Park. Three
large, walk in safari tents are situated on the riverbank overlooking
the Maronga estuary. Behind each tent is a large en suite bathroom with
flush toilet, hand basin and traditional bucket shower. The bathroom is
open to the skies and constructed of a reed enclosure. There is a
veranda in front of each tent where guests may relax with an excellent
view of the estuary. The dining room is under a large canvas roof and
there is an adjoining sitting area where drinks are taken under the
stars around the campfire.
The area is quite different
from the usual Kariba lakeshore, with a distinct riverine habitat. There
are many floating reed islands, making ideal nesting sites for the
prolific birdlife in the area. The area is also the home of the rare
Pel's Fishing Owl, which is heard from the camp most nights. Over 350
species of birds has been recorded from the area due to its riverine
habitat and its proximity to the Matusadona escarpment.
There is a network of tracks
leading from the camp up into the escarpment, which is frequented by
mammal species not found on the lake shore - these include Eland, Sable
and Roan Antelope. The camp is in an area frequented by Black Rhino.
Elephant and Buffalo abound and the Maronga peninsular forms the
boundary of two lion pride's territories. The upper reach of the Ume
River is a crocodile breeding sanctuary in which Maronga Tented Camp is
located. There are a number of pods of Hippo in the area and Impala,
Water Buck, Kudu and Bushbuck are common. The terrain is good Leopard
country and sightings of these elusive cats are occasional.
Activities include drives into
the interior and up the Escarpment, canoeing up the many creeks, game
viewing by motorised pontoon raft (an ideal stable photographic
platform) and walking trails.
Scenic
Route