Reviews of The Hide

"This was a wonderful place in all aspects: the staff, the accommodation, guides, location and wildlife.

The staff went well above and beyond to ensure our stay was successful, including arranging a private dinner without needing to request it once they realised we were friends with other holiday makers.
(We had booked independently so this was unexpected!)" See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe

"If we could go back now, we would! The staff were amazing, so friendly, helpful and knowledgable. The setting is fantastic, it feels very isolated, with wonderful views of the water hole. We were in the private Hide area, with two tented lodges and a large decked tent with pool, comfy sofas, dining table and fire pit. It was absolute luxury. The food was the best we'd had, how they conjure that up in the middle of the bush is extraordinary. Our own fully equipped drinks cabinet had all we could wish for and somehow we seemed to have a personal waiter who made us fantastic sunset cocktails when we weren't doing sundowners on a game drive.

The lodges were great, big comfy beds and piles of duvets and blankets (we needed them!), a bath looking over the bush outside and an outdoor shower with hot water. It was the perfect combination of comfort and living in the wild.

The game drives were great, starting at 6.30am after porridge, cereal and pancakes around the fire. Bundled into the Hide's ponchos for warmth we would head off to see everything we could hope for (apart from leopard and cheetah, but who cares about them?!), learning much along the way before stopping for hot chocolate and use of the facilities (bush!). Our guide was truly amazing, with years of experience as a park ranger and now a pro guide. He was patient and enthusiastic, funny and hugely knowledgeable, and did a great job at finding lots of game, including three lions playing the courting game, an amazing opportunity to experience animal behaviour first hand. Those over 16 did a walking safari with him and loved it, going slowly to talk about all the little things you don't see from a safari vehicle. His large gun was reassuring!

The main lodge was beautiful, complete with bushbabies hiding in the rafters and the hide was a brilliant idea. The elephant would arrive around dusk, processing past our lodges to the water hole, at which point we would bury down into the hide to watch from as close as possible, drink in hand. It was a privilege. Going back to our lodge after dark required an escort, just in case we bumped into something we wouldn't want to. An excellent reminder that we were in their territory...

I had been a little concerned about this place when I heard that you can hear the train....I did hear it, most nights, but the same can't be said for the whole family! What our kids in the next door tent did hear was the elephant, sometimes trumpeting, sometimes growl-roaring like lions and all sorts of other night time snuffling and squawks. Knowing that there is so much wildlife just outside the tent door makes the train in the distance utterly irrelevant!

We couldn't recommend the Hide enough, the staff went way above and beyond and it really was a wonderful experience." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe

"A beautiful lodge with luxurious rooms and attentive staff. The food was excellent and catered well for guests with particular dietary requirements. We had a freelance guide who was excellent with a breadth of knowledge that really impressed, for example how giraffes control their blood flow so they don't die when bending their heads to drink.

Highlights were seeing three lion prides including one with a kill very close to camp, a large group of giraffes near Hwange's palm trees, and a forest walk in the midst of elephants.

The eponymous camp hide is exceptional, allowing you to be feet away from drinking elephants, one of whom walked right up to investigate us with its trunk.

The only slight disappointment was our sleep out at The Dove's Nest. This is an very well three story treehouse but we felt drop off at 9pm and pick up at 6am meant we didn't get enough time to truly appreciate the experience." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe

"Our first African safari could not have been better. We stayed at The Hide for four nights and felt like we had become family during that time. The staff was so welcoming and accommodating.

We dined quite well each day, beginning with delivery of coffee and tea to our tent at 5:15 each morning, then a good breakfast before heading out for our morning game drive, a mid-morning coffee break, lunch back at camp, afternoon tea before the afternoon game drive, stopping for sundowners, then a wonderful evening meal where all the guests could discuss their day. One of us being a vegetarian presented no problems whatsoever!

We loved that we had our same guide for our whole time at The Hide, from picking us up at Main Camp on arrival, all our game drives, and returning us to Main Camp when it was time to say goodbye. Innocent was absolutely wonderful!

The camp facilities were all very nice. Spending time down in the hide is a must. Our tent was comfortable and had everything we needed. Su, the manager, did a fabulous job with everything.

We definitely recommend a stay at The Hide!" See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe; 3n in South Africa

"This is a very comfortable & well-run lodge. The staff are helpful & the guides excellent. Dining is generally as a group although private dinners are readily provided. The huts are heavy duty tents with thatched roofs but seems like a regular room as there is concrete floor & interior toilet & shower as well as outdoor shower & bath.

The feature is the actual "hides" - underground viewing areas very close to the waterhole - the main one connected by short tunnel to the lodge. Here you are within a couple of meters of elephants when they come to drink & bathe & also attracts many other animals (zebra, giraffe, baboons, wildebeest etc).

Game drives were frequent, ell run with plenty of animal sightings." See all these reviews: 4n in Botswana; 4n in Zimbabwe

"We had a very good stay at The Hide, but none of it was what I would call exceptional.

The rooms were good, the staff excellent, the food was not much better than average, and the guide was good but, again, not exceptional.

Overall a very nice stay, but I would not return." See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Zambia

"A fabulous lodge. Great staff, food and facilities.

We chose it for the hides and were not disappointed- amazingly close to elephants and game at the waterhole. We were extremely fortunate to see wild dogs bring down a kudu in the vlei directly in front of camp during breakfast one day. An amazing experience, and the opportunity to see all the other animals and birds that came to clean up the carcass (vultures, spotted hyena etc).

We also hugely enjoyed the night drives, the only lodge on this trip that offered them.

Many thanks to Nicholas our terrific guide, Nick, Lindsay and Kim." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe

"This was our first visit to The Hide and we were very impressed. It is located on a private concession just outside the Hwange National Park - so one has the benefit of easy access to the park but also the possibility of night drives in the concession. We liked the option of a night drive after dinner. We found the activities very well organised and flexible - and in particular enjoyed the possibility to stay out longer on a drive and not be rushed back to camp too early.

We had an excellent guide (Sean Hind). One morning in the middle of breakfast (my birthday in fact) a pack of dogs appeared on the opposite side of the water hole and Sean said "let's jump in the vehicle and go after them". So we were off and followed them for a while before returning to finish our breakfast. I like that sort of spontaneity and flexibility which is missing in many camps.

The Hide goes on our list of places to return to again." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia; 8n in Zimbabwe; 1n in Botswana

"Very professionally run camp. The underground hide, at the end of a 25m tunnel from the breakfast table, gives a great perspective of the wildlife gathering around the waterhole. Excellent guiding by the owner Ian. We had great sightings of wild dogs, lions and much more. Fantastic place to see a very healthy population of elephants. Should have stayed longer to get the opportunity to stay at the tree house. An excuse to go back!" See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe; 5n in Zambia

"Lovely camp. Very helpful and friendly staff.
Very knowledgeable guide, Daffy (sorry for the spelling !). Greatly helped improve our bird recognition.
We were lucky enough to see lions, cheetahs and sable here, all great sightings.
We had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay here. Everyone made sure we were very well looked after.
The actual hide by the waterhole is a real bonus.
Slight drawback from the train noise at night, but it didn't really bother us." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe