Dana B Savanna Camp, Zimbabwe (all you need to know about visiting it)

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Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Introduction
2. Directions, Road condition & Type of vehicle to use
3. Contact information
4. Arrival, Entry fee & Other rates
5. Wildlife encountered
6. Other activities
7. Camping experience

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NB: It is strongly advised to read all the reviews on this site in their entirety to ensure that the destinations really suit all your needs & preferences.

Introduction

Who does not want some ‘now & again’ intimacy with nature though – I know I do, especially when I can enjoy it without having to break an arm & a leg to afford it. If you are like me then here is yet another sensational game park, located very close to the capital city.

Please note that DUE TO LIMITED FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT i.e. braaing areas, ablution blocks, canoes etc in small game parks like this one, DAY VISITS REQUIRE A BOOKING AS WELL.

Directions, Road condition & Type of vehicle to use

Dana B Savanna Camp is a private game park located less than 40km from Harare CBD along the Harare/Mutare road. You drive 30km on the highway from the Pick’nPay Msasa roundabout, and you will find the turn off to the park on the right. There is a toll gate before the turn off so do budget for that as well. The turn off is not easy to miss as there is a conspicuous sign post written “Dana B Savanna Camp“. However, remember to use your indicators well ahead of time, (just as you reach the bridge after the dual carriageway becomes a single lane highway) , to give other drivers behind you ample warning time. If you have ever driven on the Harare/Mutare road then you already know it’s such a bliss to drive on. If you have not yet, then you are in for a treat, driving on the most comfortable road in Zimbabwe ever.

The right turn off from the highway takes you onto a dirt road which stretches about 4km to the game park entry point. The dirt road and especially the roads in the park are well maintained therefore small vehicles can manage. However, as always, I would advise you to use a vehicle with 4 wheel drive when going to any game park during the wet season because the conditions of the roads drastically change during that season. For all your car hire needs, get in contact with Presley Car Rental on +263772546880.

Contact information

I did not know about this private park until the day I published the Pindi Game Park post, and one lady recommended it to me in the comments section. I quickly looked it up and found the Facebook page. You may send them a message for bookings on their Facebook page too.

The reason I am sharing these places which may not be well known is not only because of their close proximity to Harare, but also being private owned & run, the hope is for all of us to get inspired and appreciate that wildlife conservation is everybody’s responsibility.

A private game park comes to be when an individual(s) buy a piece of land, and instead of doing what most of us do, which is to cut down every tree & build mansions, these individuals choose to provide a safe home for wildlife. If a private citizen can sacrifice owning a mansion(s) in order to provide a safe home to wildlife and preserve the environment, surely we too can do our bit. For example, not leaving litter lying around when we visit game parks (or even in towns), and also allowing the wildlife in our small backyards to thrive.

Arrival, Entry fee & Other rates

The drive to this park felt like just hopping in and out of the car. It is the shortest drive I have taken to a game park in a while. Our fuel budget most definitely thanked us for that. The entry point is manned by such welcoming gentlemen in uniforms. It was as if we had been to this park several times & we were just catching up. Meanwhile, this was our first time. Their smiles & high spirits will probably last in my mind until our next trip.

The entry fee is $10 per adult and $5 per kid for a day visit. An overnight camping visit costs $20 per adult and $10 per kid. Firewood is charged per vehicle at $5 each. After making our payment, we got a receipt & we were to collect the change the day we were leaving since they did not have it then. They wrote the amount on the receipt and on our way back it was nice that they remembered us and were already waiting with the change at the gate.

One thing I most definitely appreciate is when game parks do seemingly small things, yet making a huge difference to the whole game drive experience. One example of such is when they provide you with a well detailed map of the park. At Dana B Savanna Camp however, they not only give you a pamphlet with a well detailed map, but it also includes a checklist of all the bird and mammal species found in the park. Going through this list just got me really hyped up. Some animal species like the Common Tsessebe were going to be my very first (hopefully close) encounter because they are quite shy & timid so not easily seen in many parks.

At this point, I was more than ready to start our adventure…

Wildlife encountered

1.Bird species

The first animals we spotted just as we drove in were some Francolin and Horn-bill. Later on we spotted an African Fish Eagle, some Swallows, a Hammerkop and some European Bee-Eaters. Unfortunately, this time I did not manage to capture the bird species well enough to share pictures. Seeing them playfully chasing each other, against the blue sky background was such a heart warming experience though.

2. Kudu

Our first mammal encounter was where the “giraffe road” begins and it was a magnificent Kudu bull . We had driven not more than 10mins, and there he was, standing right in front of us, completely unbothered in all his glory. The spiral horns on these bulls are such a masterpiece.

The seemingly curiosity in his eyes as we drove closer just made me feel extra special. One of the ways you can be the most intimate with nature, I find, is when you lock eyes naturally with a wild animal & spend a couple of minutes like that… heavenly!

After about 10minutes the bull then swiftly walked a few steps from the side of the road, as if giving us his blessings to proceed into his Kingdom. His eyes must have hypnotized me also because I only remembered to pick up the camera after he had already turned around lol.

When we did the second, third and fourth game drives, we still saw other Kudu around the same spot. There were now some females and young ones too just blissfully playing in the bush. When you visit do check out that area for this Kudu family. You will love them.

3. Impala & Wildebeest

We drove a few meters onto the “Impala road“, headed towards the main camp, then out came these adorable impala youngsters. They were sportively jumping in front of us as if to show off their newly acquired skills. It just reminded me of how human toddlers do that when they are so proud that they can now do something they previously could not do. We stayed watching them for a while, just enjoying this special treat. Adult Wildebeest later on decided to join in the show & I was most certainly up for it all.

4. Common Tsessebe & Blesbok

YES! My dream came true. I got to see the Common Tsessebe very very close. When we spotted them, I could not contain myself. A bit embarrassing but yeah I did jump up & down on my seat like a little kid. They look so precious & I could not stop wondering how they could be so calm while being so close to our vehicle like that! We figured later on during our stay at this game park, that they have managed to keep poaching rates low enough for the animals to relax this way. A huge thumbs up to the team for such dedication & a job very well done!

You might be wondering why I would be so eager to see this antelope…. Well! for starters, I would not mind seeing every single African animal species. Being the fastest antelope in Africa however, the common Tsessebe was definitely on top of the list. It can run at an average speed of 90km/hour. How insane is that!

It is therefore quite sad to note that at some point this animal species had become endangered (meaning its population had dropped to levels close to extinction). Luckily, more efforts were made to try and reduce poaching & hunting of this species and protect its habitats. However, being selective grazers, they require a specific type of grass to survive. Dana B Savanna is one of the very few game parks where they are doing well in terms of breeding because the moment other selective grazers are introduced & a right balance is not met, the common Tsessebe populations will start dropping. Hence the special antelope still requires close monitoring. (For those who follow my ‘Daily Wildlife Quizzes’ on Instagram, this one is definitely coming) 🙂

The Blesbok is another phenomenal antelope. Known to be endemic to South Africa. This is actually the second game park I’ve seen it in, in Zimbabwe. The first one was Gosho Park. It is quite impressive to see the antelope doing so well here.

5. Giraffe & zebra

It has become apparent now that the giraffe & zebra feature quite a lot, especially on my Instagram feed. Well… they were my first loves as a kid. Watching wildlife documentaries growing up, the two species definitely stood out for me. I guess now, subconsciously, I get drawn to their gracious walk and soothing look. With this particular giraffe though, we could tell immediately that its behavior was different from the other giraffes we had encountered. We could not pinpoint exactly what it was so we spent quite a while trying to figure it out.

We then found out later on talking to one of the ladies who run the park, that the giraffe is semi tame and usually walks towards her for food whenever it sees her. Which explains why the behavior with his ears & posture was a bit hard for us to predict since he does not act like a completely wild one. We absolutely enjoyed our time with him and saw him pretty much each time we did a game drive, such a beauty.

The zebras were mixed up with wildebeest (as they commonly are), and with other common tsessebe and blesbok herds too. That and being in a real savanna grassland, gave me Hwange vibes. I don’t know how many times I verbally uttered the words “OMG! This is too beautiful”. I was in awe! The combination of observing the animals in such an open space & feeling the African breeze on my skin was just priceless.

Other activities: (Terms & Conditions Apply)

Other activities include:

• camping – $20 per adult / $10 per child
• braaing – $5 per vehicle for firewood
• canoeing – No additional fee
• fishing – No additional fee
• nature walk – No additional fee
• picnic – No additional fee
• weddings, parties and other group gatherings – contact the management team for rates.
• splash pool – only for those camping [no additional fee]

Camping experience

The accommodation option as of now is camping only. Being so close to nature is what my heart yearns for every single day, & camping awards me just that. Dana B Savanna Camp is one of the game parks in that price range with very cozy camping ablution blocks. The art in the bathing areas and toilets is just phenomenal. Art is one huge interest of the ladies running this park and they definitely have a good eye for it. It blends in so effortless with the natural surroundings & makes a huge difference compared to an ordinarily painted ablution block. YES, there is HOT showering water 24/7. They use the Rhodesian boiler system so regardless of weather conditions, there is always hot water.

The fixed braaing areas are well built and well positioned under trees, so you have a nice shade during the day. There is also a sink with running tap water which is super convenient. All the other campsites I visited with movable braai stands also have water taps right nearby.

For camping, you would have to take with you the usual camping kit. You may check this link for details of what you require 10 Things to consider when going for ‘nature themed’ camping in Zimbabwe. There is however no need to bring extra tables and chairs when camping at this park. There are quite a number of them there with even some well thought out cushions for comfort. There is also a huge cemented sofa, again with cushions where you can start a fire at night and spend quality time with family, friends and/or mates. The park is definitely a great venue for group trips, parties, weddings etc.

River camp

There are two camping areas namely the River camp and the Main camp. We were booked at the main camp because all the other campsites had been fully booked. But as soon as we arrived at the park, we decided to check out the river camp first. The moment I saw the river as the back ground of that camping area I was sold. I most definitely could not wait to explore the river in a canoe at some point during our stay. Later on that day we got the opportunity to do just that and it was as perfect as I had imagined it to be. At first I was a bit hesitant to canoe myself, but I quickly warmed up to it and I totally loved every moment.

The river camp does not have hot water yet but most people seem to love it so much. It must be the river effect.

Main camp

The main camp overlooks the savanna grassland. What a perfect camping spot. I remember waking up in the morning and my husband who was already up, rushed back to the tent and asked me to look outside quickly. When I did, my eyes were graced by the beautiful sight of a herd of Wildebeest running in a single file just a few meters away. I rushed outside of the tent to see where they were headed and guess what caught my eyes again?!… another herd of zebras and a giraffe in the mix. My husband handed me a cup of tea, and as I took a deep inhalation of the clean, unpolluted bush air, I sipped my tea, thinking to myself, “… this is most definitely the life that I signed up for… and I’m here for every second it“.

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Remember to always have a little intimacy in your life, & as always I’m talking about intimacy with nature