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Khulu Bush Camp
Khulu Bush Camp
Khulu Bush Camp

About Khulu Bush Camp

One of the stranger features of Khulu Bush Camp is to watch elephants drinking from the pool.

Fortunately – with regular cleaning – a cooling dip for guests is still on the agenda, while elephants wallow in their own waterhole in front of camp.

From its setting in the private Sikumi Forest Reserve, Khulu offers the best of both wildlife-watching worlds. Morning game drives or walking safaris into the legendary Hwange National Park are augmented by the thrill of spotlit drives after dark within the private reserve.

It’s an appealing combination, especially from such an open camp where animals are free to roam. Watching the waterhole from your shaded deck is an afternoon highlight, while monkeys and baboons are kept out of the tented chalets by glass doors secured by a latch.

Inside, keep an eye on the wildlife from the room's seating area – with coffee, tea and a minibar to hand. Your en-suite outdoor shower is a great vantage point, too, or upgrade to an outdoor bath for a real sense of hedonistic adventure. And for a front-row view of the waterhole, head to the firepit in the main area.

Courtesy of friendly but efficient staff and very knowledgeable guides, a sense of relaxation pervades the whole camp; this is the essence of a good safari.

Our view

Khulu Bush Camp is owned and run by a small, efficient and committed team. With easy access to Hwange National Park as well as the flexibility afforded by its location on a private concession, it's a great base from which to explore. The tented chalets are comfortable and generally well appointed, the guiding is very good, and the setting spectacular; in terms of value for money there are very few better options in the Hwange region.

Tracy Lederer

Tracy Lederer

Zimbabwe expert

Accommodation

9 Tented Chalets

Children

Best for 12+

Open

All year

Activities

4WD Safari

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Birdwatching

Cultural excursion

Cultural excursion

Guided walking safari

Guided walking safari

Night drive

Night drive

Private activities

Private activities

Traveller reviews of Khulu Bush Camp

5 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.


88%
5 reviews since August 2007
Excellent
3
Good
1
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Dr S.fromUSA

Arrived 20 Jun 2024, 2 nights

"Khulu Bush Camp review"

"This was our least favorite camp. The tranport from Vic Falls was an hour late …" Read Dr S.’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Average

MarkfromSwitzerland

Arrived 5 Jan 2024, 3 nights

"Khulu Bush Camp review"

"Great view of waterhole …" Read Mark’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

B & GfromCalifornia

Arrived 24 Aug 2016, 2 nights

"Wonderful lodge"

"Have only good things to say about the Khulu Ivory Lodge. Everyone was …" Read B & G’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

The G FamilyfromMiddx

Arrived 30 Sep 2015, 2 nights

"Great experience, fantastic service!"

"No real means of comparison as it was our first safari experience, but we were …" Read The G Family’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Dr M.fromLoughborough

Arrived 11 Sep 2015, 3 nights

"Elephants at the pool"

"Khulu is charming and very relaxing but within a few minutes of our arrival …" Read Dr M.’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

See all Khulu Bush Camp reviews

Khulu Bush Camp: Our full report

Khulu Bush Camp, formerly Khulu Ivory Lodge, is small and relatively simple, without being rustic.

Less expensive than some of Hwange's camps, it is situated in the Sikumi Forest Reserve adjacent to Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. The camp overlooks a waterhole, which in the dry season is frequented by large herds of elephant – which also enjoy drinking from the camp's pool.

Khulu Bush Camp shares a private reserve with its sister camps: the larger and more established Ivory Lodge, a private villa, Khulu's Retreat and the newest addition, Sable Valley Lodge. All the properties benefit from the flexibility of being in a private concession while still having easy access to the national park.

Khulu Bush Camp has just nine tented chalets, each elevated on stilts and reached via steps onto a private, shaded deck, where a couple of high directors' chairs look down towards the waterhole.

Glass doors secured with a latch (primarily to deter monkeys and baboons) open to reveal very comfortable twin beds that can be converted into a king-size bed, and a small seating area. Mosquito nets curtain the beds at night, electric blankets are provided in the colder months, and a wall-mounted fan helps airflow on warmer days – as do mesh windows, whose canvas flaps can be opened or closed as preferred. There's also a minibar which is filled on request and a tea- and coffee-making station complete with Nespresso machine. While the rooms are nicely designed, when we visited in July 2023 we felt that they would benefit from additional storage for luggage and a little more lighting.

At the rear of each tent, the en-suite bathroom has his and hers basins and both inside and outside showers. The flush toilet is separated by a partition. Hairdryers, cotton robes and a selection of toiletries come as standard. Tents 1 and 9 also come with an outdoor bath, making them perfect for honeymoon couples or those looking for something a little extra during their stay.

Khulu's main area is an airy, open-plan thatched building which overlooks the camp's plunge pool and the waterhole beyond. The décor is tasteful, with locally sourced furniture and ornaments. As well as a comfortable seating area, with a small selection of reference books, you'll find a long dining table where communal evening meals are taken. On our stays and visits, we have found the staff at Khulu very attentive and the whole camp felt relaxed but efficient. There is usually a member of staff around to serve you from the camp's well-stocked fridge and drinks cabinet, but if not, guests are welcome to help themselves.

A few steps lead down from the pool deck to the camp's firepit, which is at ground level and closer to the waterhole, so a great spot from which to enjoy wildlife viewing and birdwatching.

Guests arriving at camp may be surprised to find the plunge pool looking rather dirty. This seemed somewhat out of character with the rest of the camp, but as we sat eating our lunch on the deck, the mystery was solved. Several elephants appeared from the surrounding bush, bypassed the waterhole, and headed straight for a drink at Khulu's pool. The next morning the mess had been cleaned up and the pool was full and sparkling again, although it wasn't long before the elephants re-emerged and proceeded to reclaim it as their own. Since our last stay the pool has been upgraded and attempts made to keep the elephants at the waterhole, although we remain unsure how effective these changes have been,

Activities at Khulu include morning and afternoon guided game drives, both within the Sikumi Forest Reserve and into Hwange National Park. For those staying more than a couple of nights, a full-day sortie into the park is well worth considering. Guided walking safaris are also available, and we recommend you try this activity at least once. Afternoon game drives tend to stick to the reserve, allowing for a spotlit night drive back to camp, which is not allowed within the national park. Spotlit night drives after dinner are also an option on request – although these may not be possible after the rains, when the bush is at its thickest, or during the coldest months (June–August).

On a previous visit, we were very impressed by the knowledge of our guide and his experience of the bush. One morning we walked through some relatively thick vegetation, finding elephant along the way, and we always had confidence in his ability. He was also a charismatic and entertaining host and we very much enjoyed spending time with him.

The team behind Khulu are proud of their conservation and community activities and can arrange visits to local projects, including a care home, a school and a clinic.

Guests at Khulu Bush Camp can also visit the Painted Dog Conservation Trust, which is not far from camp. They are doing some great rehabilitation work with wild dog that is well worth supporting, and we can thoroughly recommend a visit.

Looking to the future, we understand that there are plans to build a sleep-out platform on the reserve and to offer massages and other wellness treatments, both of which will be shared with Ivory Lodge and Sable Valley Lodge. As soon as we know more, we will add further information.

Geographics

Location
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Ideal length of stay
A three-night stay at Khulu Bush Camp is ideal, although you could easily spend four nights here, or perhaps combine two here with another safari camp within Hwange National Park.

For some diversity, a stay here combines really well with its sister camp, Amalinda Lodge, in the fascinating Matobo Hills area.
Directions
Khulu Bush Camp is only a couple of kilometres off the main Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road, so the easiest access is by road transfer: from Victoria Falls (2hr 30min) or Bulawayo (4hr 30min). It's also possible to fly in, with Hwange Airport only 8km away.
Accessible by
Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Full Board & Activities
Food quality
Although we didn’t have a chance to stay or eat here when we visited in 2023, over several previous stays, including most recently in November 2017, the food at Khulu Bush Camp has been of a very good and hearty standard. We understand that with advanced notice most dietary requirements can be catered for.

Breakfast is typically a buffet with a wonderful selection of cereals, yoghurt, fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses, muffins and biscuits. Eggs are cooked to order and come with a choice of sausages, bacon, tomato, beans, onions and toast. It's quite an informal and flexible set up; we ate out on the deck, watching the seemingly ever-present elephants drink from the pool!

We didn't have time for lunch on our last visit, but on previous occasions we have enjoyed a sizeable portion of spaghetti carbonara with a Greek salad, and a T-bone steak with potato wedges and beetroot and apple coleslaw, rounded off by strawberry ice cream: delicious, if a little heavy in the heat of the day.

Our dinner was a traditional braai (barbecue) of beef fillet, boerewors and chicken served with roasted vegtables, pap and relish. Dessert was a cappuccino brownie. More typically, dinner is a three-course meal; during a previous visit we enjoyed Moroccan lamb, couscous and grilled vegetables, preceded by a salmon stack entrée, and rounded off by chocolate mousse.
Dining style
Group Meals
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
Room service is not possible, but private dining can be set up on your deck on request for a special occasion.
Drinks included
Soft drinks, bottled water, spirits, local beers and a selection of wines (usually South African) are included. Imported wines and spirits and champagne cost extra – and may need to be requested in advance.
Both bottled and filtered water is available in the tented chalets.

With the aim of limiting waste and recycling where possible, each guest is given a re-usable glass bottle of cold filtered water instead of plastic bottles.

Children

Attitude towards children
Khulu Bush Camp does not accept children under the age of 12 unless the entire camp is booked on an exclusive basis.
Property’s age restrictions
No children under 12.
Special activities & services
None. Sharing the same concession, Ivory Lodge and Sable Valley Lodge both accept children of all ages. These properties are fenced, so they are much better suited to families with young children.
Equipment
None
Generally recommended for children
Khulu is a very open camp with dangerous wildlife passing through frequently. As such, younger children are not permitted to stay.
Notes
For safety reasons, children of all ages should be supervised at all times.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Khulu Bush Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Khulu Bush Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Eland

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Lion

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Buffalo

50% success

Giraffe

50% success

Wild dog

50% success

Aardvark

0% success

Brown Hyena

0% success

Cheetah

0% success

Hippo

0% success

Leopard

0% success

Oryx

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Roan antelope

0% success

Sable antelope

0% success

Spotted Hyena

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes
There is a back-up generator available in the event of a power cut. Each room has charging points that take South African-type plugs, with three large round pins.
Communications
There is patchy cellphone reception at Khulu and WiFi is available in the main area.
TV & radio
None
Water supply
Borehole
Water supply notes
Flush toilets and hot and cold running water are available throughout.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
Yes
Medical care
There is a clinic at Hwange Main Camp and the management staff and guides at Khulu are first-aid trained. A medical air-rescue service (MARS) covering Hwange is available in the event of an emergency.
Dangerous animals
High Risk
Security measures
As is the norm in safari camps where dangerous wildlife is around, all guests are walked between their tents and the main area after dark. Air horns are provided in the chalets to attract attention in the event of an emergency.
Fire safety
There are fire extinguishers in the chalets and in the main area.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Cultural excursion

    Cultural excursion

  • Guided walking safari

    Guided walking safari

  • Night drive

    Night drive

  • Private activities

    Private activities

Extras

Disabled access
On Request
Laundry facilities
A complimentary laundry service is provided.
Money
There is a safe in each of the rooms as and a larger safe in the main area too.
Accepted payment on location
Visa and Mastercard are accepted, as are US dollars, South African rand, British pounds and euros.

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Khulu Bush Camp's location

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When to go to Hwange National Park

Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Khulu Bush Camp in Hwange National Park


Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Zimbabwe in January

January falls in the middle of Zimbabwe’s rainy season and is the wettest month of the year. Heavy rainfall occurs most days, flooding seasonal rivers and waterholes, with the occasional sunny spell.
With the high levels of precipitation the wildlife in the national parks becomes widely dispersed, taking advantage of the abundance of food and water, and is easily hidden by the thick, green bush.

While sightings of larger animals are possible, and many species drop their young at this time, game viewing is often sparse. However, many migratory species of bird arrive in Zimbabwe making it a peak month for birding.

The rains create incredibly sticky mud in Mana Pools National Park, preventing access and causing camps to close for the season. The majority of the camps in other parks remain open, with low rates attracting a smattering of visitors.

  • Peak of the rainy season: hot & humid with heavy rain most days
  • Bush exceptionally thick and green, with poor game viewing
  • Species such as impala drop their young
  • All camps in Mana Pools closed
  • Very few visitors, and low rates at open camps

Our view

A time to avoid if possible

Weather in January

Zimbabwe in February

February remains well within Zimbabwe’s rainy season. Although total rainfall drops, relatively short thunderstorms can still be expected most afternoons. On the plus side, there is a greater chance of some sunshine in-between.

Much of the country remains waterlogged, closing access to Mana Pools and severely restricting walking safaris in other parks. While game drives and canoeing remain an option, the abundance of water disperses animals, and thick grass can make it difficult to spot larger species, but birding remains excellent. Conversely, this is a great time of year to view the landscape, and is excellent for photographers. Sporadic cloud cover and clear air can make for some spectacular sunsets too, particularly over Lake Kariba and the Zambezi River where the reflections off the water add to the beauty.

  • Generally wet with frequent thunderstorms & hot humid days
  • Poor wildlife viewing due to dispersed animals & thick bush
  • Clear air, green landscapes & exceptional sunsets
  • All camps in Mana Pools closed
  • Very few visitors & low rates at camps that are open

Our view

This is not a great time to visit

Weather in February

Zimbabwe in March

March is the final month of Zimbabwe’s rainy season, when the rains start to trail off and sunny days become the norm. However, some days the clouds can still build, breaking into thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Mana Pools remains closed throughout the month but the majority of camps in Hwange, Matusadona and Gonarezhou remain open. Here, the landscape is green and alive, with migrant species of birds taking advantage of the abundant insect life. Larger animals remain elusive though, and walking safaris remain restricted.

By this time of year, the rains have normally trickled down to the Zambezi River and the flow of water over the Victoria Falls starts to increase, but without kicking up too much spray to obscure the views.

  • Last month of the rainy season: hot, humid days with occasional storms
  • Lush vegetation means good birding, but poor game viewing
  • Views of the Victoria Falls improve
  • All camps in Mana Pools closed
  • Open camps have few visitors & low rates

Our view

This is not a great time to visit

Weather in March

Zimbabwe in April

April marks the end of Zimbabwe’s rainy season and the end of summer. Clear skies are the norm, with just the occasional shower. Temperatures start to drop, failing to reach 30ºC most days and dropping down to around 10ºC at night.

As the rain fades the landscape starts to dry out. While the vegetation remains thick and green, the soil in Mana Pools dries enough for camps to open, and the only camps to remain closed are the most remote bushcamps in Hwange. Although viewing of larger animals remains tricky, the improved weather starts to draw back visitors, as do prices significantly below those in the peak season.

The Zambezi River and flow of water over the Victoria Falls is at its highest, although large amounts of spray diminish views of the waterfall itself.

  • Transitional period, with much lower rainfall & falling temperatures
  • Wildlife is still dispersed & hard to see, but sightings improving
  • Views of the Victoria Falls often obscured by spray
  • Camps in Mana Pools open
  • Visitors start to return & camps increase their rates

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in April

Zimbabwe in May

The first month in the dry season, May is also Zimbabwe’s first month of winter. If the rains are particularly late in a given year, you may catch the odd shower, but you can expect clear and sunny days the majority of the time. While it’s warm in the daytime, temperatures drop to single digits at night, so bring a warm jumper and gloves for early morning drives.

With the rain having cleared the air, the sky is bright blue, and it’s the best time of year for photography.

Even the most remote camps in Zimbabwe are now open. With the lack of rainfall, vegetation dies back significantly, and seasonal rivers return to sand. Not only does this open up the possibility of walking safaris, but wildlife viewing becomes much more reliable.

  • Start of the dry season, with milder days and cold nights
  • Game viewing significantly improves as vegetation dies back
  • Vegetation starts to turn from green to brown
  • Best time for photography with crystal clear air
  • Visitors start to return; all camps open & rates increasing

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in May

Zimbabwe in June

During June you can virtually be guaranteed of dry and sunny days, although temperatures continue to drop, and can get close to freezing at night in Hwange National Park. Jumpers, jackets and gloves are strongly recommended for early mornings and evenings.

The opportunities for wildlife viewing improve throughout the month as the landscape rapidly dries, and the animals start to gather on the banks of the Zambezi River and around Hwange’s waterholes.

Water levels in the Zambezi River start to drop, reducing the amount of spray kicked up at the Victoria Falls and greatly improving visibility, but still allowing a full curtain of water to cascade over the edge.

  • Middle of winter, with night-time temperatures close to freezing
  • Game viewing significantly improves throughout the month
  • Views of the Victoria Falls are at their best
  • Noticeable increase in visitor numbers
  • Camps considerably more expensive

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in June

Zimbabwe in July

July sits in the middle of Zimbabwe’s dry season. Although it’s warm at midday, temperatures are generally cold and in Hwange it’s been known to drop below freezing at night, with the lower-altitude Mana Pools feeling a bit warmer.

With wildlife clustering around the few remaining waterholes, sparse vegetation, and some of the best views of the Victoria Falls, this is one of the most popular times to travel, with camps charging peak season rates to reflect this. That said, visitor numbers to the country in general remain low, and outside of the Victoria Falls it’s rare for any areas to feel crowded.

  • Middle of the dry season with almost no chance of rain
  • Clear sunny days, but very cold nights
  • Wildlife viewing good; game drives and walking safaris unrestricted
  • Views of the Victoria Falls at their best
  • Camps charging peak season rates

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in July

Zimbabwe in August

While August is the end of winter and temperatures are starting to creep up, mornings and nights are still cold, and game drives in open vehicles can feel particularly chilly. Well into the dry season, the landscapes will have mostly transformed from green to brown and wildlife viewing in Zimbabwe’s national parks is approaching its best. Due to dust kicked up into the atmosphere and smoke from bush fires you may start to notice a haze on the horizon, but this doesn’t significantly impact photography.

August is one of the most expensive months, and the pleasant weather and decent game viewing attracts lots of visitors. While the national parks rarely feel crowded, Victoria Falls accommodation can sell out a year in advance.

  • Warm, sunny days but cold mornings & nights; almost no chance of rain
  • Wildlife viewing nearly at its best
  • Landscape turns brown, & an atmospheric haze develops
  • All camps charging peak season rates

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in August

Zimbabwe in September

Temperatures in September rarely drop below 15ºC, but are yet to reach the oppressive highs of summer. It will normally have been five months since the last drop of rain, so antelope and elephants cluster around whatever water remains, with predators never too far away.

The landscape is very brown, and the haze building on the horizon takes some of the colour out of the sky, so while animal subjects are plentiful, the background is not ideal for photography.

The combination of incredible wildlife viewing, hot and sunny weather, and cheaper flights outside of the school holidays make this the most popular time of year to travel, and availability at the camps can become limited up to a year in advance.

  • The best month for weather, with a pleasantly warm temperature range
  • One of the best months for game viewing
  • Victoria Falls starting to dry but still impressive on Zimbabwean side
  • All camps are charging peak season rates
  • Most popular time to travel, & space can be limited

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in September

Zimbabwe in October

October is the last month of the dry season with little chance of rain but building humidity. While the higher elevation of Hwange National Park limits temperatures to the 30s Celsius, they can easily top 40ºC in Mana Pools.

With little vegetation or water, wildlife is drawn to the few remaining water sources and viewing is at its best; visitors who brave the heat can be rewarded with some exceptional sightings, although haze in the air diminishes photos. Maximum visibility and dense wildlife concentrations can also make for very rewarding walking safaris, although the heat can make them uncomfortable.

Water levels in the Zambezi at the Victoria Falls drop significantly, and large stretches of the waterfall are a dry cliff-face – although it never dries completely. Camp rates remain at their peak, but visitor numbers drop as people avoid the heat.

  • Last month of the dry season; very hot with building humidity
  • Wildlife viewing at its very best
  • Dust & smoke in the air diminish photographic opportunities
  • Victoria Falls starting to look very dry
  • Camp rates remain at their peak

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in October

Zimbabwe in November

November is a transitionary period, with high temperatures and humidity. While they can’t be predicted with any precision, the first rains normally arrive halfway through the month, in the form of thunderstorms lasting a few hours each day.

Early November is a popular time to travel as the camps drop their rates, so if you’re lucky you can get peak-season game viewing at low-season rates. This is a gamble though as if the rains do arrive, animals are no longer limited to a few dangerous waterholes and will disperse into the bush. While all the camps in Mana Pools intend to remain open, the rains can make the airstrips unusable so you may find yourself moved to a different park, a risk that increases through the month.

  • Typically the start of the rains in Zimbabwe
  • Temperatures & humidity levels remain high
  • Wildlife viewing rapidly diminishes as the rains arrive
  • Camps remain open, but risk early closure in Mana Pools
  • Much cheaper time to travel as camps drop their rates

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in November

Zimbabwe in December

By December the rainy season has begun in earnest; this is one of the wettest months in Zimbabwe, with heavy thunderstorms most afternoons and occasionally continuous rain for a couple of days. While temperatures start to cool down the high levels of humidity can make the heat feel more oppressive.

With the rains comes an explosion of green growth, and the dust and smoke are washed out of the air. The resulting scenery – with the occasional bright blue skies – can be fantastic for photographers. Thick vegetation and plentiful water makes viewing of larger animals tricky, but with migratory species arriving the birding is at its best.

All camps in Mana Pools and the remote Hwange camps close, with those remaining open charging their lowest rates.

  • One of the wettest months in Zimbabwe
  • High temperatures & levels of humidity
  • Wildlife viewing poor, but birding good
  • Lush green landscapes & clear air; great for landscape photography
  • All camps in Mana Pools closed

Our view

This is not a great time to visit

Weather in December

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Create wish-lists, send enquiries, make and manage your safari bookings, and more...

It's free & quick to set up

Benefits from creating an account.

  • Save your wish-list
  • Send us an enquiry
  • Pay online and manage your trip
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Give us feedback on your trip
  • Enhanced features

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