Ivory Lodge
Situated in the North West on the border of the Hwange National Park
Positioned on the southern border of Hwange Game Reserve, Ivory Lodge is situated on a private conservancy of 6000 acres just 3 ks off the Bulawayo / Victoria Falls road. Ivory is a family friendly lodge and has 9 en-suite rooms, accommodating a total of only 18 guests thus ensuring one’s space and privacy. The lodge encourages ‘communal’ meals around a large table but should you wish to dine separately, that is easily arranged. The banter around the table is a lot of fun and you meet some interesting people from around the world who all have a story to tell. It is such a pleasure to witness the excitement of visitors describing their safari experiences and ‘sightings’ for the day.
The lodges at Ivory are all well positioned and point towards the waterhole. They are built on ‘stilts’ above the ground which provides added security and makes for better game viewing. In the hotter summer months the elevation helps with cooling. The rooms are very well appointed with comfortable beds and each room has a ‘deck’ or ‘verandah’ where you can sit and enjoy the view or sundowner in the evenings. Each room has an en-suite and some have bathtubs.
Hwange National Park is well known for its elephant herds but is also home to a large selection of other wildlife and has over 100 mammal and 400 bird species. We saw plenty of wildlife but having said that sightings of game is never guaranteed in the African bush but with patience, good timing and a savvy guide you are bound to see enough to leave you very satisfied. Typically visitors to Hwange will see a number of plains game such as Buffalo, Sable, Kudu, Eland, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Warthog and Impala but there are also a number of carnivores such as lion, hyenas, wild dogs, jackals, leopard and cheetah. For Birders, Hwange is an absolute delight and for those keen photographers there will be numerous opportunities to capture those special moments.
Activities at Ivory Lodge includes game drives, walking safaris, bird watching or simply relaxing by the swimming pool. Game viewing activities can last for a few hours but Ivory’s experienced guides will know when is the best time to go out and where the best viewing is likely to be. Being out on the safari vehicles is so exhilarating and on the evening drives we would park the vehicle and enjoy a sundowner whilst watching the animals feeding and listening to all the bush ‘chatter’. Absolutely magical!.
At A Glance
Accommodation
- Seven elevated and well appointed thatched tree house style rooms
- Two grand tented presidential suites
All rooms command great views of a private and extremely active waterhole. Guests have the opportunity to view some of Hwange’s most prolific wildlife species from the comfort of their room or the main dining area.
Each elevated en suite room is positioned with sweeping views of the lodge’s productive waterhole. This is lit at night by an unobtrusive, gentle floodlight. Electric blankets keep guests warm and snug during the cold winter nights and in summer, there are ceiling fans to stay cool. All of the tree-houses have mosquito nets, 24 hour electricity and on tap hot water in the en suite bathroom.
The standard rooms have showers and the two presidential elephant suites have bathtubs and showers.
Ivory Lodge is located outside the Hwange National Park on a private concession of 6,000 squared acres. This well appointed lodge is situated in the key home range of the Presidential Elephant herd, made famous by Alan Elliot in the 1980s
Airport and Road Transfers
Scheduled Flights:
Guests can fly into Victoria Falls and transfers can be arranged. It is approximately a two hour road trip (173 kms) to Ivory Lodge where guests are met by an Ivory Lodge representative.
Ivory Lodge is a little over an hours drive from Hwange Main Camp.
Alternatively, you can fly into Bulawayo and it is approx four hours (263 kms) by road to Ivory Lodge.
Guests can drive to Ivory Lodge but off the main roads a 4WD is definitely recommended.
Light Aircraft:
It is only a 35 minute flight between Victoria Falls Airport and Hwange National air field. Ivory Lodge is just 60 mins from the Airport. Transfers can be arranged.
Road: Victoria Falls Airport is approximately 22 kms out of Victoria Falls Town and 150 kms from Ivory Lodge. Pick ups from the airport can be arranged by Ivory Lodge or with local transfer companies at an additional cost.
You can fly into Bulawayo and it is approx four hours (263 kms) by road to Ivory Lodge. You can do self drive or a transfer by ‘Driving You Wild’ can be arranged for a fee.
Wildlife
There 100 mammal species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores and over 400 bird species which have been recorded in the Hwange National Park. .
Animals: Elephants, Hippos, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Buffalo, Sable, Hyena, Gemsbok, Painted dogs, Black rhino, Warthog, Zebra, Impala, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Mongooses, Genets, Servals, Caracals, Bat-eared Fox, Jackals, Eland, Kudu, Duiker, Red Hartebeest amongst many others.
Birds: Bradfield’s Hornbill, Ground Hornbill, Bronze-winged Courser, Rufous-naped Lark, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spur-Winged Goose, Red-billed Spurfowl, Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Ostrich, Francolin, Guineafowl, Quail, Fulvous Duck, White-Faced Duck, Yellow-Billed Duck, Red Billed Teal, Honeyguides, Honeybirds, Woodpeckers, Barbets, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Yellow Hornbill, African Hoopoe, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Lilac Breasted Roller, Purple Roller, Malachite Kingfisher, Stripped Kingfisher, Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Bee-Eaters, Mousebirds, Cuckoos, Parrots, Go-Away Bird, Eagle Owls, Kori Bustard, Red-Creasted Korhaan, Grey Crowned Crane, Red Chested Flufftail, Black Crake, Sandgrouse, Rattling Cisticola, Bush Shrikes, Herons, Saddlebilled Stork, Marabou Stork, Black Heron, Little Grebe, Hamerkops, Swallows, Starlings, Red Bishop, Waxbills, Sparrows, Canarys, Yawny Eagle, African Harrier Hawk, African Hawk-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Secretary Bird, African Crowned Eagle and many more.
Facilities
Fully inclusive rates include:
- Accommodation twin share, triple or single
- Honeymooners will be accommodated in a double-bedded tent (please notify at time of booking).
- All meals and snacks
- Drinks – local drinks including beers, wine, soft drinks and spirits.
Premium brands not included. - Coffee & tea available throughout the day
- Laundry (guests should be in camp minimum 2 nights)
- Wi-Fi is available in the reception area
- Bar
- Fire pit
- A Hide over looking the waterhole is in close proximity to the lodge
The main area of the Lodge has a cool and comfortable seating area with tea and coffee served all day. Ivory’s bar has a wide selection of beverages, alcoholic and non alcoholic. The thatched central dining area, bar and library command great views of the waterhole and overlook the swimming pool which is a welcome haven from the mid-day heat. Wi-Fi is available at the library for all of our Lodge guests.
Location
Ivory Lodge is situated on the south eastern boundary of the Hwange National Park.
Ivory Lodge to:
- Bulawayo is approximately 264 kms (165 miles). It is sign posted just off the Victoria Falls Road.
- Victoria Falls is approximately 170 kms (107 miles).
- Hwange Airport is approximately 48 kms (30 miles)
Hwange Main Camp is approximately 50 kms (31.3 miles)
Activities
There are a number of exciting things to whilst staying at Ivory Lodge. These include:
- Birding
- Walking safaris
- Morning and evening game drives
- Birding
- Visit to the Painted Dog Conservancy
- Village tours
A variety of activities are offered in camp and Zimbabwean guides are recognized as being amongst the most highly trained and revered in Africa. Walking safaris were perfected in Hwange and Ivory Lodge’s guides offer guests the opportunity to view creatures great and small whilst on foot.
From big game approaches to examining the lowly dung beetle, this is a unique and fascinating way to see Hwange. Game drives allow guests to cover vast distances and see the diversity of the park as well as come across a plethora of wildlife. In addition to getting out of camp, guests are encouraged to sit and enjoy the game that moves through the area and gather at the waterhole.
Nearby Attractions
- Hwange National Park
- Painted Dog Conservancy
Hwange National Park has always been one of the best places to visit for a broad range of safari experiences. It is 14,651 square kilometres in area and hosts a large variety of wildlife species. This is Zimbabwe’s largest National Park and is equivalent in size to Wales.
Lion, elephant leopard and buffalo are seen regularly from camp as well as in the park. There are over a 100 types of mammal and more than 300 species of birds in Hwange as well as innumerable insects and reptiles.
The park also boasts the world famous Presidential elephants which often drink at Ivory Lodge’s exclusive watering hole. These include ‘giant tuskers’, huge, old elephant bulls with enormous tusks. The game viewing is superb and the park is teeming with herds of sable, giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest.
The Painted Dog Conservancy (PDC) is well worth a visit. It is estimated that approx 100 years ago there were between 300,000 and 500,000 Painted Dogs occurring in 39 countries. Today the estimate is some 3,000 animals in 14 countries. The work the PDC undertakes is critical to the long term survival of these wonderful animals who are a vital part of the eco system.
The PDC is involved in anti-poaching, Rehabilitation and re-introduction programmes and pack monitoring.
Weather
Monthly Averages:
- January 26°C
- February 25°C
- March 25°C
- April 23°C
- May 22°C
- June 23°C
- July 22°C
- August 23°C
- September 26°C
- October 30°C
- November 31°C
- December 31°C
Summer highs can reach 38° to 40°c
Winter lows can reach 5° to 8°c
