Tom’s Little Hide

This is not an ordinary lodge. Rather, it feels more like a stylish, comfortable family home. The house has two ensuite bedrooms and a dining room between them. A covered verandah runs along the front of the house and a small deck with a few outside couches stretches out to a plunge pool. The uninhibited view from the house, verandah and pool, towards the bush and the waterhole in front of camp can be as good as any in the area.

There are two bedrooms in the main house, both with ensuite bathrooms; a third room (which is more of a family tent) is off to one side and has an outside bathroom. The bathrooms have both large showers and generous bathtubs. This little gem best suits a group of 6 adults and up to 4 children (there is one kid's bed in each of the two rooms in the house, and two in the family tent, allowing 10 guests in total). You can also incorporate the nearby Tent 10 from The Hide main lodge (making it possible to include two more adults in a booking). The rooms are simply decorated and furnished with stylish Zimbabwean teak.

While Tom's Little Hide is located within Hwange National Park, it also sits on a private concession, affording guests additional activities like night drives and bush walks. With a private guide and vehicle, there's really no limit to how much you can do each day. Start with an early morning walk or drive then return for breakfast, after which you might head out again for a longer drive or soak up some waterhole action at one of the private hides dotted around the concession. Afternoon activities usually culminate in a sundowner and a night drive back to camp. But you don't have to stop there - if you still have the energy, you could even head out again after dinner to catch some nocturnal action, or dial down the action and simply enjoy stargazing.