Miombo Safari Camp

A rambling thatched main area opens up to sprawling courtyards and a large pool. The smart looking lounge and dining areas are adequately furnished with plenty of comfortable seating, and a recent face-lift has rendered them bright with modern touches. Communal or private buffet-style meals can be arranged beneath the thatch or in the courtyard, but the evening campfire tends to lure all for a pre-dinner drink and eager accounts of the full day's adventures.

There are three accommodation styles at Miombo. The four newly built safari suites are roomy and scenic, scattered around a productive waterhole. The thatched, stilt-raised structures offer plenty of light, ensuite bathrooms and open verandahs with roll-back blinds. The honeymoon suite boasts a deep bathtub. The two standard tree houses are spacious, raised canvas structures with ensuite bathrooms and a double basin - they too overlook a waterhole. Finally, the four ground-level thatched rondevals are considerably smaller and stuffier with a basic bedroom and ensuite bathroom with showers.

Activities run the gamut from fully guided to self-guided, rates adjusting for each. Guests keen to be guided by a pro will have some of the industry's best and brightest in a Zimbabwean guide. Or, veteran safari-goers are welcome to choose the self-driving option, though night drives and walking safaris are obviously not possible alone. For a cultural experience, an authentic village tour is available and for those staying two nights, a visit to the African Painted Dog Research Project is a must.