UNCHARTED® · Outposts · Sapi Private Reserve, Zimbabwe

Tembo Plains

Tented Camps

Live Luxe in the Ultimate Riverine Conservation Area

Tembo Plains sits in a private reserve on theshores of the Zambezi River, where elephants,hippos and buffalo swim.

Why it's unique

This camp has a long and unique relationship with elephants—“Tembo” even means elephant in Swahili. Established by National Geographic Explorer Dereck Joubert, the camp lies in the Sapi Reserve, a former hunting region turned conservation area.

Tembo Plains Camp, near Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, is a private wildlife reserve established by Great Plains Conservation in 2016. Each suite features professional cameras and binoculars. Guests often see elephants, painted dogs, lions, and leopards. The camp honors the area's history of traders and explorers, celebrating its conservation efforts.

2021Established

2025With UNCHARTED^®
since

Now showingWelcome to Tembo Plains

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The stay

Tembo Plains at a glance.

Type: Tented Camp
Ideal For: Couples
Experience: Conservation
Geography: Savanna
Collection: Ultra-Luxe · Off the Grid · Classic Safaris
When To Go: April-November

Where it is

Sapi Private Reserve, Zimbabwe

Tembo Plains

Sapi Private Reserve, Zimbabwe

This region is one of Africa's top wildlife destinations, located in the Greater Mana Pools UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its diverse ecosystems and as a sanctuary for elephants, predators, and over 350 bird species.

How To Get There

The reserve is reached by a two-hour flight from Victoria Falls by small plane (about 90 minutes from Harare), followed by a two-hour journey by land.

Flora & Fauna

Wild dogs, lions, and leopards are often seen in Sapi and buffalo and elephants can be seen swimming in the river.

Cultural Impact

Sapi has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding natural beauty and its magnificent ecological and cultural qualities.

In the magazine

Zimbabwe Stories

StoryUNCHARTED^®'s Top 8 Reasons to Safari in ZimbabweAfrica's most underrated safari country is making a comeback after three decades as a no-go zone due to political and economic strife. The safari circuit is one of its primo assets. Here are some of the main reasons for that.Read the story

StoryZimbabwe: There’s No Place Like HomeUNCHARTED® co-founder Sandy Cunningham revisits sites of childhood family memories while creating new ones with a friend on the “Shady Lady Safari.” She finds the country — which she calls Africa’s most underrated safari destination — in the throes of an inspiring comeback from decades of inhospitability due to political and economic turmoil.Read the story

StoryThe Long Way HomeFrom the slopes of Table Mountain to the mighty Zambezi to the flooded Okavango — follow along on our co-founder’s homecoming safari full of UNCHARTED^® Outposts, up-close wildlife encounters, and childhood locales revisited.Read the story

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