Little Vundu
Little Vundu is an intimate, authentic bush camp set on the edge of the Zambezi River in the exclusive western side of Mana Pools National Park.
Located three kilometres upstream from Vundu Camp, Little Vundu offers simple exclusivity in a fantastic location. The bush camp is set on the banks of the Zambezi with the towering Zambezi Escarpment visible in the distance. While Little Vundu is not a luxury camp, it follows the same ethos as its sister camp in providing an excellent safari experience and is ideal for those wanting to explore Mana Pools on foot, while being hosted by knowledgeable guides. Little Vundu offers an authentic bush experience in a simple, but intimate little camp on a private concession.
Rooms
Accommodation is offered in five guest tents which are set along the river bank, each with gauze ceiling lights and set under a fly sheet, meaning they feel light and airy. The tents are furnished with either twin or double beds, under a mosquito net, and all have standing fans. To the rear of the tent is an open air en suite plumbed bathroom including shower, vanity and flush toilet, all set under the fly sheet. To the fore of each tent is a shaded veranda with two safari chairs.
Central Areas
The tented main area is furnished with comfortable seating in contemporary bush style and a dining table, although dining in the evening is usually set up on the river bank. There is a campfire area where breakfast and evening drinks are taken.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site, is a beautiful wilderness area, in northern Zimbabwe where the floodplains of the mighty Zambezi, wooded with acacia and mahogany trees, stretch out on either side of the river.
During the dry season, the floodplains teem with a wide variety of wildlife and birdlife. Herds of elephant, buffalo, kudu, eland, and waterbuck graze the sweet grasses or browse on the tasty albida pods. Lion and sable rest in the shade of the giant figs. Fringing the floodplains, the thick ‘Jesse’ bush shelters the shy creatures such as leopard, honey badger, nyala and bushbuck. Wild dog roam through the area, and crocodiles bask in the shallows, awaiting their chance of a meal when the animals report to quench their thirst. Hippo are everywhere. There are also plenty of big elephant bulls, a couple of which are very relaxed and can be approached on foot. The birding is superb, with both woodland and floodplain habitats to explore. During the late season (late August onwards), both white fronted and carmine bee-eaters nest in the banks of the rivers providing a colourful spectacle complete the impressive list of birds to be seen.
Activities
Little Vundu offers a high standard of guiding and activities include morning and afternoon game drives, walks, boat cruises and fishing. Whilst Vundu offers canoeing excursions subject to availability we do not recommend canoeing along the Mana Pools shoreline due to safety concerns, as hippo and crocs have been known to be aggressive towards canoes. Daily activities are flexible according to game movements and local conditions and the walking is a particular highlight.
Seasons
Little Vundu is open from May to November, though game viewing conditions will be best from July to October.
Children six years and older are accepted, though a private vehicle needs to be booked (at extra cost) for families with children 12 years and under. There is no specific family accommodation offered in camp and this, together with the fact that there is big game regularly wandering through camp, means that Little Vundu is better suited to older families with children who can be in their own tent, and who are looking for an adventurous experience.
Vundu Camps are operated under the name of Bushlife Safaris and Bushlife Conservancy is the funding partner, raising funds for conservation mainly in the Zambezi River Valley area. Bushlife Conservancy provides equipment and logistical support for ranger patrols and coordinates efforts to identify, detain, and arrest poachers and other illegal intruders throughout the valley. The Bushlife Support Unit was set up in 2015 to consolidate anti-poaching efforts in the area in collaboration with Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks). Work includes: the enforcement of antipoaching efforts to protect elephants, pangolins, painted dogs, and other wildlife; promoting the conservation of natural resources; and supporting Zimparks Rangers and their families.
Work also involves funding health, welfare and educational projects for local communities bordering the Park. This includes the establishment of community education initiatives. In 2022, two dozen conservation clubs were started in the Hurungwe district adjacent to the Mana Pools National Park boundary with the aim of educating the next generation of conservationists in local schools.
Conservation work undertaken includes the Carnivore Research Project which was initiated at the request of Zimparks and aims to determine numbers, distribution and behaviour of key predators in Mana Pools National Park. Predator impact on the African wild dog is one of the objectives of the project, as well as managing plans for increasing numbers of other species and managing human wildlife conflict.
The Bushlife Conservancy has also been involved in the collaring and monitoring of elephants and works with Zimparks to stop the poaching of pangolins and support the release of recovered live pangolins back into the wild.
