Verney's Camp

Verney’s Camp

Located in Hwange National Park, Verney’s Camp sits within a private concession in the park’s remote southeastern corner. Ten luxury tents are strung in a gentle arc along the edge of a teak and mopane forest that looks upon a floodplain with a waterhole—a playground for elephant herds and wildlife. This configuration and the armchair safari experience it affords has been described as an “amphitheater,” with dramatic safari moments unfolding daily, but especially in the dry season. (Hwange National Park has no permanent sources of water, so animals congregate in dizzying numbers at pumped boreholes when water is scarce.) What’s more, the privileged location, in combination with excellent guides, makes bush walks at Verney’s Camp especially satisfying.  

On early morning and dusk game drives, guests traverse the 24,710-acre concession in open vehicles. Highlights might include migrating buffalo and elephant herds, as well as leopard, lion, antelope, wild dog, giraffe, and zebra. Learn basic tracking skills on a walking safari, spot some of Hwange’s 420 bird species while birdwatching or head to a local village to visit a school. In the evening, experience the thrill of a night drive.  

Between game drives, take a dip in a cool plunge pool, sink into a sofa with a coffee table book next to the fireplace, or treat yourself to a refreshing G&T in the bar to mingle with others.  

Dining is a casual, sociable affair at Verney’s. The oversized tented deck area is the beating heart of the camp, where you can enjoy a meal before retiring to the lounge. Some nights, tables are moved to the sandy stretch in front of the main tent for a barefoot luxe dining experience. After dark, gather at the firepit where seats have been arranged in a horseshoe and backlit with glowing lanterns. Beneath a starry sky, sip a nightcap, swap stories and toast to another day well lived on safari.  

There are eight double tents and two family tents at Verney’s Camp which have hot running water and electricity. Generously distanced from one another and facing the waterhole, the accommodations are private, serene, and scenic. Each tent features a wooden deck, hardwood flooring, lounge seating, double vanities, fan(s), and a bathroom. Family tents are adjoined by a living space and have roll-down walls. Apart from the chandeliers and crystalware, Verney’s general aesthetic is that of a vintage safari camp—stylish but not ornamental.  

Our Favorite Hwange National Park Accommodation on a Map