Bushlife Safaris is owner run and managed by Nick and Desiree Murray, who have created an award-winning portfolio of safari experiences for you. These include the luxurious Vundu Camp built on the banks of the Zambezi River, Little Vundu – an intimate camp, the Ruwesi Canoe Trail which is ideal for adventurous travellers and lastly a tented camp set in the wild Chitake Springs area. The globally-acclaimed BBC Dynasties Painted Wolf episode was filmed at Vundu Camp in Mana Pools, and Nick was the lead guide for the production crew, working alongside Sir David Attenborough. In 2019 Vundu Camp won Best Walking Safari and Best Value Safari Property in Zimbabwe from The Safari Awards.
My wife and I stayed here for a week in amongst a group of 7 wildlife photographers. It was an ideal bush location right on the bank of the River Zambezi from which to head out each day. Our guides were simply outstanding and we had great opportunities to work from the vehicles and on foot as the occasions and circumstances allowed. The rooms are very spacious ( we were in Room 1, which we are told was the same one occupied by Sir David Attenborough when he filmed the Wild Dogs Dynasty programme based in this area). The large bed was covered with a mosquito net and there was a turn down service each evening. There is plentiful hot and cold water in the attached en-suite along with flushing toilet. Power in the rooms was able to take UK plugs. There is plentiful shelf space for clothes and mirrors on both a dressing table in the room and over the wash basins in the en-suite. There is no wi-fi into the rooms but we got reasonable internet connections every day from the main building lounge area. Breakfast is buffet style which we ate outside each morning before heading out for the early morning light opportunities. Lunch is one main course and there is a nice afternoon tea. Dinner was three courses each evening. There is a decent bar. The staff are supremely flexible and helpful and our stay ran extremely very smoothly. In all, if you want a great place form which to explore the Mana Pools bush and safe and knowledgable people to guide you: look no further than here!
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Date of stay: October 2022
Service
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Nick and Des Murray once again provided the outstanding Mana Pools and Vundu camp experiences. Tusker, our Bushlife Conservancy mascot was also in outstanding form, and we have the pictures to prove it! What an intelligent and handsome gentle giant that Tusker is!
Vundu Camp has a wonderful young couple, Sophie and Anthony (Ant) helping to co-manage the camp. They are a very hospitable young couple, and they work cohesively with guests, staff and guides. The guiding by Nick is always excellent, and we also enjoyed the experience of being in camp with guides Mitch, Siraj, and Dave. They are all absolutely fantastic - great teachers, highly engaged with clients, great conversationalists…I asked every one of them to stick around until we get back again in two years as they are a fantastic group of people and exceptional guides and staff.
We were privileged to spend time with owners Nick and Des and were their first campers at their new Little Vundu camp location. This continues to be an outstanding camp experience. The new location and camp layout unimaginably exceed that of the old Little Vundu (which was my number one favorite camp in Africa). The new camp is also directly on the Zambezi River (as is Vundu Camp) and it faces an island that has ongoing wildlife and bird activity. If you want to enjoy sleeping to the sounds of safari at night, this is the place to go! Tusker made it into camp for the first night’s “grand opening” which was an intimate soiree of brilliant camaraderie, service, food, and beverages.
Not everyone gets to spend time with Des in camp and we were truly fortunate to be with her. Des makes sure that all logistics, supplies, décor, and staff are pulled together to make these camps a premier safari experience. She also managed all the steps for our Covid testing in camp, as was required for us to go back home to the U.S. The process was flawless, including Admire meeting us at the Harare airport at our departure, and handing us our certified test results.
We saw Violet’s wild dog pack three times, once while they rested during the day, and twice as they prepared for their early evening hunt with there pre-hunting rituals. The wild dog experiences in Mana are superior to any experience we have seen wild dogs on safari multiple times in south and east Africa. Nick’s expertise regarding the dogs is incomparable to any guide we have ever worked with.
Lots of elephant babies. It was still green and the grass was not as high as Hwange is at this time of year. We walked, took several trips on the pontoon on the river, and did multiple safari drives. We went fishing with Nick a couple of times on the Zambezi and we have the pictures to prove it! Nick always asks what we would like to do and develops the best plan for the day’s safari. Seven days still is not enough time spent at Vundu camps as far as we are concerned; truly incomparable!
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:We always get tent number 1 at Vundu and Little Vundu, but each tent location is excellent!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An amazing location on the bank of the Zambezi, our rooms were very comfortable on par with luxury glamping. Love the outdoor bathroom as well as indoors, to shower oudoors while elephants are busy grazing and munching on tree branches close by was an incredible experience. We love the feeling of being in the middle of the wild far remote from human habitation with monkeys constantly chattering in the trees above and the sounds of hippos in the river. Watching the sunrise and the stunning scene over the Zambezi with the flocks of waterbirds flying over the water while you enjoy your hearty breakfast was a spectacular sight! This signaled the start of their day, just magical! Our Safaris were an amazing a mix of river safaries and bush adventures that have left us with unforgettable memories! We were so amazed with the knowledge of our guide Nick Murray who together with his wife Desiree are passionate and devoted to conservation. It is no surprise that they have earned awards for their lifetime committment. David Attenborough chose to film his documentary here with Nick and Desiree about the endangered Painted Dogs which speaks for itself. The meals were first class, all cooked in a small bush kitchen.Their hospitality was warm and generous it was a priviledge to have spent this special time with them and their family. We were sad to leave, they have given us the experience of a lifetime!
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Date of stay: April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The wildlife viewing was simply AMAZING, the review is solely for the accommodation. I've stayed at tented camps before, but this one slightly missed the mark for me. Whenever we took a shower, the water wouldn't drain. On the last day, the water spilled out of the shower pan, under the barrier from the bathroom to the bedroom, and INTO the bedroom. The entire floor was sopping wet. As there were two of us and I didn't want to make it worse, I took an outdoor shower at nearly 6am. The food was ok-- not the best but not the worst, but portions were really small. When there were buffets, there was simply not enough food made as other reviews also indicate. This was the first time I was in Africa where I was hungry. The camp itself is in a great location and we had some of the best wildlife sightings I've ever had in Africa, but the accommodation was just okay. Nevertheless, I really loved Mana Pools and hope to be back in Zim one day.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
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Response from Nick Murray, Owner at Vundu Camp - Bushlife Safaris
Responded 02 Aug 2022
Hi Elissa - thank you for your comments .We will take what you have said to heart and make sure these concerns are addressed for future guests .Glad to hear that you had some great game viewing .
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This is a seriously special place. Don’t hesitate to come here! We stayed in some truly fabulous places during our trip, but this was the favourite: Our room was spacious and comfortable, going to sleep with the sound of the hippos from the Zambezi. (David Attenborough had previously stayed in it while filming for a documentary on the African Wild Dogs.) We had breakfast with our most wonderful hosts in the shade of some trees by the river, watching the antics of the monkeys, watching us. This place feels that bit more wild than others, yet with comfort and a welcome that is second to none. The family-run lodge also pours its efforts and resources into conservation in the Mana area, so you really get a sense of supporting, rather than disturbing the ecosystem here. We were genuinely sad to leave. (It’s also the first time I’ve seen lions & jackals during a transfer to catch a flight. Seriously cool!)
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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We stayed at Little Vundu, which is the smaller, more intimate camp. But Vundu and Little Vundu share the same thing, which is their top-level guides. This is the priority for any place I stay on safari, because with elite guides you get unique wildlife experiences. And experiences go beyond sightings. They mean elephant approaches on foot, sitting with painted dogs, tracking lions on foot, canoeing down the Zambezi, etc. (Of course, you do these things only if you choose to. But another advantage of having top guides is they are intensely trained to do these activities safely.) Nick Murray owns Vundu, and he's the lead guide. He also makes sure all the others are the highest level. Also, the Vundu Camps base their schedule around the guests and the animals. If you want to stay with a sighting, you stay with a sighting. Some camps tell you it's time to go for lunch or dinner. Hmmm. I can eat any time. How often do I get to sit on the ground near painted dogs?
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
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It’s the little things in life that count, and the managers of this Safari camp go the extra mile…..from asking you whether you’d prefer to go on game drives, walks or boat trips, to Sophie (the manageress baking home made cakes, treats and cookies), and even making us fresh coffee and a pack up lunch on the day of our departure. The knowledge of the rangers is world class and we came away feeling enriched from our trip. The attention to detail in everything that they do made this trip a wow factor on our two month trip through Southern Africa. Thank you team Vundu!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Pack mosquito repellents, a small torch and some good walking shoes (long trousers are advisable...
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Response from Nick Murray, Owner at Vundu Camp - Bushlife Safaris
Responded 23 Jan 2024
Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you found the service at our Safari camp to be the best you've experienced by far – wow! The world-class knowledge of our professional safari guides and the attention to detail in everything we do are key aspects we take pride in, and we're honoured that they made your trip a wow factor on your two-month journey through Southern Africa. Thank you for acknowledging the efforts of Team Vundu. We're grateful for your kind words and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back for more safari experiences in the future.
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Visiting Africa for the first time, my husband and I feel so lucky to have had Nick Murray as our guide. From canoeing down the Zambezi River to the game drives and walking safaris....my mind is still processing all the amazing experiences we had and all the knowledge Nick shared with us along the way.
If you're on the fence about the canoe trip, don't be!! It will forever be one of the most thrilling experiences of my life! Hippos, crocodiles, cape buffalo, countless amazing birds, elephants...the list goes on and on.
Nick and his crew are professional, caring, beyond informative, and took great care of us every step of the way. Even with my gluten allergy, the food was exceptional. The accommodations were great as well, especially Little Vundu camp.
I can not rate this experience high enough! Thank you Nick and staff!
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Date of stay: June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How glorious it was to fall asleep in my large luxury safari tent every night, listening to the sound of lions calling to each other across the Zambezi River, and to the sound of Hyena whooping right in camp. It was thrilling to awakein the night with the sound of elephants browsing right outside my tent, and falling asleep again, to be woken up by the morning sounds of the bush coming alive. I am longing for the sound of drums summoning me to each fantastic meal, and the great times around the firepit at night. I have fallen helplessly in love with Mana, and with Vundu Camp in particular. I will be going back.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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Response from Nick Murray, Owner at Vundu Camp - Bushlife Safaris
Responded 04 Oct 2020
Thank you for this fantastic review and wonderful description of the magic of Mana Pool! We are so glad you loved your safari trip with us - we are truly privileged to be able to share this piece of paradise with guests. Thank you for choosing to come on safari with us and we so look forward to welcoming you back! Nick and Desirée
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We could not believe our great fortune to have Nick Murray as our personal guide for 6 days!! Every day was filled with beauty and adventure. Our little group of five journeyed from Washington State to Zambia with open expectations. This is the perfect mindset for any trip. Just be open to what presents itself to you. Zambia gave generously! We saw all we could have imagined, and more, on safari, from sweetness to the realities of how brutal nature can be. From adorable lion cubs to massive herds of stampeding Cape Buffalo and Lions hunting them. It was raw and stunning. Nick is an excellent tour guide and host. He runs a fabulous camp (we stayed in Little Vundu and Chitake Springs) with all the comforts/necessities we need, but without feeling like a tourist attraction. Elephants, hippos, a leopard and other wildlife wandered through camp while we were there. Our accommodations were perfect, clean and comfortable. The staff took care of everything beautifully. The food was fabulous, and we felt like we were eating all the time! Sundowners are really special as there is nothing like enjoying a cocktail with friends and watching the magnificent African sunsets. Nick is a true steward of the land, and river, on which his concession lies. We learned so much from him just by observing his love and respect of the land, wildlife and the amazing Zambezi River. We also learned much about Africa that we had never known. It was very mind expanding and we all appreciated our open discussions about various issues. I think all in our group would agree that we would love to return to Bushlife Safaris, one day. We also recommend it to others. GO!
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Date of stay: September 2021
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your message. If it’s a shared activity up to 6 guests will be accompanied by one of our professional guides. Private professional guides can be booked for smaller groups.
There are more places to choose from in the Mana Pools National Park area.
LOCATION
ZimbabweMashonaland Central ProvinceMana Pools National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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