Camelthorn Lodge
Forest villas · Community land in Tsholotsho district, south-eastern edge · Imvelo Safari Lodges
High-end
Outside the gate
Locally owned
Eight forest villas on community land in the Tsholotsho district, on Hwange's south-eastern edge. The camp was built by the community under Zimbabwe's CAMPFIRE programme, so the village shares directly in what guests pay. The hide is buried under a 200-year-old tree and disguised as a termite mound, putting you at elephant eye level. Villas have fireplaces and soaking tubs; reach camp by air to Bomani or by Imvelo's own Elephant Express railcar.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built by the community on community land under CAMPFIRE
- Villas with fireplaces, soaking tubs and canopy-level hammock decks
- Four villas have plunge pools on the upper deck
- Underground hide disguised as a termite mound
- Arrive by Imvelo's Elephant Express railcar from Dete
Cons
- Under-sevens only by special arrangement, with private vehicle and dining
- Imvelo's page lists park fees and spa treatments as extras
- Four hours by road from Victoria Falls or Bulawayo
- No night drives listed by Imvelo
What's here
- Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Solar or 24h power
- Spa or massage
- Laundry
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Guided walks
Read from Camelthorn Lodge's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Hwange National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entryThe rate if you drive in from outside.
- $24per person, per day
- Vehicle$10 a day on a day visit, $3 if you are staying inside.
- $10per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $174 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The full fee schedule for Hwange National ParkRates at Camelthorn Lodge
From $500 pppn. $755 May to October, all inclusive including park entry fees and village visits.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Indicative 2026 rates from operators' own rate cards, gathered July 2026. Always confirm with the lodge. One thing to watch when comparing: some camps include ZimParks fees in their rate and some do not, which shifts the real gap by $12 to $36 per person per night.
Questions about Camelthorn Lodge
Is Camelthorn Lodge good for families?
Imvelo calls Camelthorn wonderful for families, and up to two children may share a villa with an adult. Children under seven are allowed only by special arrangement, which requires private dining and a private vehicle, so it suits families with children aged seven and older best.
Is Camelthorn Lodge good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Each of the eight forest villas has a fireplace, a large soaking tub, a walk-in shower and a canopy-level deck with hammocks, and four of them have a plunge pool on the upper deck. Ask for a plunge-pool villa when you book.
How do you get to Camelthorn Lodge?
Take a one-hour charter from Victoria Falls or Bulawayo, a four-hour road transfer, or a two-hour road transfer to Dete followed by a two-and-a-half-hour railcar safari on Imvelo's Elephant Express. Transfers from Bomani, Sipepa and Ngamo Siding are included. Imvelo's private gate into the park is five minutes away.
What does the rate at Camelthorn Lodge include?
Imvelo's page lists accommodation, all meals, soft drinks, beer, wine and local spirits, laundry, guided activities and transfers from Bomani, Sipepa or Ngamo Siding, and village visits are part of the stay. It lists park fees and spa treatments as add-ons, so confirm park fees in your quote. Rates run from $500 to $755.