Little Ruckomechi Camp

Canvas covered decks function as the open-sided lounge and dining rooms. There are plenty of comfortable sofas and cushioned armchairs where you can make yourself at home between activities, and a guide book on every subject for you to test your newfound knowledge. The dining room, with its long wooden table and a well-stocked bar, makes for an intimate relaxed setting for dinner, while lunch is usually served in the shade on the riverbank. Out front, these's a sandy patch - home to the camp fire pit, and to one side, a decent plunge pool on a smaller deck with a few recliners. Overall, it feels like a really comfortable old-school classic explorers' camp with a few modern touches.

There are four spacious wood and canvas chalets, although only three are booked at a time (unless a private group reserves the whole camp). Large mesh windows ensure your ridiculously awesome view goes uninterrupted, whilst letting in a cool breeze. Each open-plan room is elegantly furnished with wooden wardrobes and desks, king or twin beds, a few comfy chairs and two copper basins. The ensuite shower room continues the open-plan feel, while the toilet is in its own cubicle at the back. There's a tiny verandah out front, just big enough for two to sit and enjoy the iconic albida tree surrounds.

Being on a private concession bordering the national park means you can do some things at Little Ruckomechi not otherwise permitted in Mana Pools, like a sunset cruise along the Zambezi on a motorboat or pontoon - providing great hippo and elephant viewing along the river. This is also a top spot for tiger fishing, so take a rod if you're keen. The slightly more adventurous can go canoeing down the river too, which will likely get the adrenaline pumping as you and your guide navigate around the aforementioned hippos (and crocs). Canoeing is also a fine way to birdwatch, affording a unique perspective of the colorful carmine bee-eaters' nests along the banks. The game drives (and night drives) regularly produce impressive sightings of a myriad of wildlife, including lions and wild dogs. And the guided bush walks through the woodlands provide insights into the natural world that may otherwise go overlooked.