Once a hunting concession, Zimbabwe’s idyllic Sapi Reserve has been meaningfully transformed by Great Plains Conservation into an inspiring conservation landscape. This is a success story shaped by careful and considered restoration.
Spanning 120,000 hectares and home to just one camp, Sapi offers a level of privacy and exclusivity that’s rare even by safari standards. At its heart lies Tembo Plains, a property that reflects the same sense of renewal and care as the land around it.
Following a recent trip, we wanted to share more about our experience. Both the inspiring work behind this initiative – Project Rewild – and a camp that perfectly captures the spirit of the Zambezi Valley and its wilderness; one which leaves you wanting to return the minute you leave.
Sapi Reserve
Sapi borders Mana Pools National Park and sits just beyond the Chikwenya Floodplains, a natural buffer between park and reserve.
Here, mopane forests and leadwood trees rise from red earth and wildlife sightings feel relaxed and unhurried. Lions, antelope and elephants move with caution, slowly learning to trust again after years of alertness.
Through Project Rewild, more than 100 elephants across 13 herds have been relocated into Sapi. Recently, a pack of wild dogs was introduced, including a pregnant female who gave birth on the airstrip just before the flight that brought them to Sapi Reserve. Swift adjustments were made to bring the newborn pups along, and the entire pack arrived safely together in their new home, an encouraging symbol of new beginnings.
The forest gives the landscape its structure, while the river adds movement and depth. The sound of hippos below the banks, a soft evening breeze, the reflection of light on water, the blue evening glow along the Zambezi, these are the small details that stay with you well after your trip.
Tembo Plains
Set within the reserve, Tembo Plains is one of Great Plains’ most carefully designed camps. Passing through its carved Zanzibar doors, there’s an immediate sense of calm and composure. The atmosphere is warm and genuine, shaped by a team whose kindness feels innate and effortless. On arrival, the welcome dance was full of energy and joy – immediately setting the tone for the rest of the stay and representative of true Zimbabwean hospitality.
Suites are well proportioned: spacious enough to unwind and just be, yet open enough to let the river in. Each has a private terrace and plunge pool – spaces to pause and watch the valley shift through the day.
Days at Tembo Plains follow a gentle rhythm shaped by the wilderness and the water. Mornings might begin with coffee around the fire and breakfast aboard a boat drifting through the early light, followed by a fishing trip along the riverbanks. Later, lunch is served on the deck overlooking the plains, while the warmth of the afternoon invites a siesta, with the calls of baboons and the occasional grunt of a hippo as your soundtrack.
Evenings unfold with sundowners in the bush, celebrating another adventurous day, before a dinner by oil lamps on the floodplain completes the experience. The campfire burns in the morning and again at night, making it feel like a true safari camp.
Image credits: AMADI, Great Plains Conservation
Tembo Plains is the kind of place that we love at AMADI: a combination of thoughtful design, authentic energy, genuine people and a stunning natural setting with a unique sense of place.