Anabezi
ANABEZI CAMP IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK WITH LOVELY VIEWS TOWARDS THE ZAMBEZI RIVER.
Anabezi Camp is one of the most luxurious camps in the Lower Zambezi, but while the camp offers elevated standards of accommodation and service, and certainly has the feel of an established luxury lodge, it is not pretentious and retains an authentic safari atmosphere. The camp looks across an open flood plain which attracts plenty of wildlife in the drier months, so you don’t have to go far to enjoy productive game viewing. There are two communal areas, each with a pool, while the tented suites are very well appointed with their own private plunge pools. Anabezi may not be the smallest of camps, but the stunning location and proximity of animals all around makes it feel very ‘wild’. For those who wish to relax, the setting is idyllic. This section of the Lower Zambezi, characterised by beautiful winter thorn forests and open flood plains, is both scenically majestic and hugely productive for game viewing.
Rooms
Accommodation is offered for 26 guests in 12 luxury tents. The tented suites have gauze sliding doors and windows, polished timber floors and a spacious private deck with plunge pool and sun loungers. Each tent has a bedroom with either king size beds or two double beds beneath a four poster mosquito net, and a lounge area with a sofa, coffee table and mini bar. The plumbed en suite indoor bathrooms comprise of a roll top bath, flush toilet and vanity unit. To the side of each tent is an outdoor bathroom with shower, basin and covered loo. One of the suites is a family unit and this has an adjoining second, smaller, bedroom (with a toilet and outdoor shower) accessed via the lounge. Rooms are equipped with ceiling fans, in room safe, hair dryers and mini bars.
Central Areas
The camp has two central areas; the Zambezi Deck and the Mushika Deck. The Zambezi Deck is home to the comfortable lounge and bar and is where meals are taken (game drives arrive/depart from here too). Further facilities include a swimming pool and curio shop. The smaller Mushika Deck, which is located at the other end of the camp also has a bar, lounge and swimming pool. Spa treatments are available in-room.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Lower Zambezi National Park follows the northern banks of the mighty Zambezi River and offers a wonderful mix of miombo, mopane and acacia woodland interspersed with open plains and thick riverine forest.
Along the river, hippo are everywhere, snorting away in their ‘pods’, whilst crocodiles bask in the shallows awaiting their next meal as animals come down to quench their thirst. Elephants are numerous too and can often be seen crossing channels in the Zambezi to reach islands where they can feed peacefully. Buffalo stir up the dust as they approach the river to drink, whilst kudu, eland, zebra, impala, bushbuck and waterbuck graze the sweet grasses or browse on the tasty albida pods. Lion and leopard are the main predators, with leopard incredibly successful in the park and seen very regularly. Wild dog roam through the area, whilst spotted hyaena and side-striped jackals are never far from the action. Night drives can reveal the nocturnal species such as honey badger, porcupine, genet, civet, aardvark and even pangolin. The birdlife is spectacular, with both waterfowl and woodland species in abundance. During the late dry season (late August onwards), both white fronted and carmine bee-eaters nest in the banks of the rivers providing a colourful spectacle.
Activities
Activities include game drives by open four wheel drive vehicles (late afternoon drives are extended after dark to include a night drive back to camp), walks, canoeing and boat cruises on the river. Fishing is also available.
Seasons
Anabezi is open from April to November each year, though wildlife viewing will be best from July to October.
Anabezi accepts children aged 12 years and above (younger if part of a group of eight or more guests) and the family tent provides a good accommodation option for those travelling with children/teens. With big game regularly in camp, Anabezi and the Lower Zambezi are naturally more suited to families travelling with older children who will enjoy the range of activities available and the more adventurous aspect of the area.
Anabezi supports ethical, sustainable wildlife tourism and conservation in the Zambezi Valley region and across Zambia, with a particular focus on grassroots projects.
Zambezi Wildlife Trust is Anabezi’s own non-profit which aims to create solutions for everyday issues faced by the communities in the local Game Management Area. By supporting these communities, there is a direct correlation with wildlife conservation and environmental preservation. Since its implementation in 2018 the trust has completed multiple projects in the area including the construction of teacher accommodations, building of water towers and the creation of a washing station in a central area of the village. In this last example, residents washed their laundry in the river which created multiple issues: detergent run-off in the Zambezi’s aquatic ecosystem, erosion and most significantly, incidents of human-wildlife conflict with hippos and crocodiles. By installing a small, solar-powered water pump in the river which supplies water to the washing station, these issues have been almost entirely eradicated. The trust also funds and operates a 24-hour scout unit which responds to calls of human-wildlife conflict.
Anabezi also supports Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), a Zambian non-profit dedicated to preserving the exceptional wilderness within Lower Zambezi National Park and empowering its neighbouring communities. CLZ operates a number of community scout units for anti-poaching measures including Zambia’s only all-female anti-poaching unit. The operate in conjunction with wildlife scout foot patrols, K9 dog units, intelligence units and aerial units to provide a comprehensive anti-poaching approach.
The camp is supporter of Zambezi Harvest, a community-based program that supports local farmers and promotes sustainable agriculture. It sources fresh produce from local farmers, provides training and resources, and partners with businesses to promote locally sourced produce. It also aims to create economic growth by providing a market for farmers to supply the hospitality industry.
Anabezi was built with sustainability and conservation in mind. As a luxury tented camp, they strive to offer the same modern comforts as a lodge but with no permanent structures that leave irreversible damage to the environment. The camp runs on 90% solar power and was built on an elevated boardwalk for minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
