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It’s a great way of making a positive impact while having lots of fun too…
If you’re looking for enriching experiences while on safari in Zimbabwe then visiting the local villages and their schools is a great way of making a positive impact while having lots of fun too. For us at Bomani Tented Lodge, unorchestrated, authentic interactions with the community are somewhat of a speciality.
When choosing the location of the lodge in the remote south-east of Hwange National Park, it was crucial that the camp was situated near our neighbours in rural Matabeleland in order to involve them in the benefits of safari tourism. We pride ourselves on this proximity to what I call the front-line villages where guests of Bomani can fully immerse themselves in local life.
One of the most enjoyable activities is to join the children on their commute to school – a cool two-to-three-mile walk. That’s plenty of time to lose the formalities and learn about the students’ aspirations (these days Covid protocols are in place).
At the school you’ll be welcomed with warm smiles and high fives. Guided around by the headmaster you’ll get to join the enthusiastic singing of traditional songs and chat to all the children eager to talk to you. Your guide, a local of course and often a former student of this very school, will then accompany you around the village introducing you to our neighbours as if you were an old friend visiting for the first time. Nothing forges deeper connections than breaching different cultures. You’ll no doubt learn something new.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Andy, who's travelled extensively in Zimbabwe. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember – the ranger who can show you the best game viewing and fishing spots on the Zambezi, the guide who’ll introduce you to ‘moonbows’ at Victoria Falls and the locals who’ll invite you in for dinner.
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