Kusini mash-up – from Mexico to Zimbabwe’s Jozibanini Camp

We had a bit of a Kusini mash-up last month when Bryan and Sergio Jauregui from Todos Santos Eco Adventures embarked on a grand adventure throughout Africa. One highlight of their trip was spending time at Imvelo Safari Lodges’ Jozibanini Camp. They shared a bit about their stay with us…

“Being in complete wilderness in complete luxury in complete bliss is a rare and wondrous thing in this world, and that you can enter this state via a 6-hour game drive is, well, extraordinary. First, about the wilderness. The elephants are everywhere! And going into the hide at the Jozibanini watering hole is incredible. In the late afternoon you can see hordes of elephants running for the water, as if answering some clarion call, and there is a general riot of drinking, bathing, mud bath sloshing and socializing. You see mothers and babies, groups of teen males, older bulls with their askaris, and lots of other family groupings, variously enjoying each other (leaning against each other, putting their trunks in each other’s mouths, babies suckling) and setting each other straight about exactly who ranks where in the hierarchy. Since the hide at Jozi is right in the midst of all this, we definitely got to share in the mud bath a bit.

Which brings me to the luxury. Our guide Dean, camp staff Bekhi, and Shaldrick, and chef JB run this camp that is completely off the grid in the middle of the African wilderness as if was a luxury hotel on the French Riviera. Our mud-splattered clothes were promptly laundered AND IRONED with an old-fashioned coal iron, we were able to shower with water that had been heated over a fire and put into a container that was hoisted into position via a crane and pulley system – and this wasn’t just a spit bath to get the big chunks off, it was more than enough hot water for 2 of us to shower, shampoo, shave, sing a ditty – and there was a comfortable flush toilet, a stand-alone sink, along with all the toiletries you could need if you happened to wander out there without your own. We took them up on their suggestion to have our (very comfortable) bed put outside each night; the African night sky with no light pollution is worth the trip alone. JB created beautiful vegetarian dishes for those who wanted them, and even managed to produce a birthday cake and bottle of bubbly for my birthday! All completely unexpected luxuries.

Which brings me to the bliss. No cell phone, no internet, no last-minute business calls, nothing to distract from the beauty of the bush and the crazy fun of being out there with those you love the most while the elephants are doing the same. Dean is a superb guide (Dean, if you’re in there, we promise not to tell the scorpion dance story if you promise not to show the G&T mud bath video), Bekhi and Shaldrick are so kind and thoughtful in everything they do, and JB is a true gem. We met some members of the anti-poaching unit in the vicinity of the camp and can’t say enough great things about those guys and the work they do. We had a lot of truly remarkable experiences during our month in Africa, and our time at Jozibanini really stands out as a trip highlight.”

Jozibanini was a bit too far off the beaten path for time restricted travelers, but intra-Hwange flights are now available between Jozibanini and Nehimba or Bomani for a $150 seat rate! There’s no reason travelers can’t experience the wonder and exclusivity of a stay at Jozi. Contact Imvelo for availability.