Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge – Unique Hwange Safari Accommodation

Canopy-Level Treehouses with Wildlife Wandering Below

Introduction

Genuinely one-of-a-kind among Hwange accommodation options, Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge offers something quite different: sleeping five to seven metres above the ground, with elephants and other wildlife wandering and feeding beneath you.

The treehouses have been deliberately built at canopy level among mature camelthorn trees, whose pods are particularly attractive to elephants. From your room or private deck, you can simply sit quietly and watch the wildlife moving through below.

Imvelo Safari Lodges has built a reputation for offering different perspectives and experiences on safari, and at Tum Tum they have quite literally taken this to a whole new level.

A Different Kind of Hwange Safari

Tum Tum's location close to the southern boundary of Hwange National Park gives guests access to all the traditional safari activities, including game drives in open 4WD vehicles, guided walks with professional guides and close-up wildlife viewing from a sunken hide at a waterhole.

But there are also a couple of experiences here that set Tum Tum apart from many other Hwange safari lodges.

Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary

Nearby is the Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary, where Imvelo's Community Rhino Conservation Initiative has reintroduced white rhino to this part of Hwange after decades of absence.

The sanctuary is now home to four white rhino, protected around the clock by the well- trained and equipped Cobras Community Wildlife Protection Unit.

What we particularly like about this project is that conservation and the local community are very closely connected. The sanctuary is situated on land provided by the community, giving the people living alongside Hwange a direct involvement in the protection and future of these endangered animals.

For guests, a visit to the rhino sanctuary adds another dimension to a Hwange safari and provides a fascinating insight into conservation beyond the boundaries of the national park.

Community and Village Visits

Tum Tum's location also makes it possible to visit one of the neighbouring villages and gain some insight into everyday life in rural Zimbabwe.

During school terms, visits can include the local school and, if timing allows, you may even be able to give some lucky children a lift to school. Visits are deliberately timed to minimise any disruption to classes.

You can also visit a village homestead, meet local residents and learn more about traditional and contemporary rural life. Conversations often extend well beyond the traditional aspects of village life to current issues and, in particular, the hope and opportunities the rhino conservation project has brought to this remote area.

We think this connection between wildlife, conservation and the surrounding community is one of the things that makes a safari at Tum Tum particularly rewarding.

Tum Tum Treehouse Accommodation

With just four treehouses and a lower-level family suite, Tum Tum is a small and intimate Hwange safari lodge, with the sort of personalised service that naturally comes with having relatively few guests.

The individual treehouses sit approximately five to seven metres above ground and combine timber decks and insulated canvas walls with extensive glass windows. Rather than feeling enclosed, the rooms make the most of their unusual position among the trees, with large windows framing the leafy canopy and sliding glass doors opening onto private viewing decks.

Two of the treehouses also have private walkways leading to the Eagles' Nest, a secluded viewing platform where you can sit above the bush and simply watch what passes below.

The family suite is quite different. Fully tented and positioned on a raised timber deck approximately one metre above the ground, it has two en-suite bedrooms, a spacious lounge, private dining area and its own splash pool.

The main guest areas include a bar, dining room, lounge, al fresco dining deck and a small swimming pool – particularly welcome during Hwange's hotter summer months.

Our Opinion of Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge

There is a lot we like about Tum Tum.

Firstly, the treehouses really are different. There are plenty of excellent safari lodges in Hwange, but very few where you can sit five to seven metres above the ground watching elephants feeding beneath your deck.

More importantly, though, Tum Tum is not relying on the novelty of its accommodation alone. The range of safari activities is excellent, the guiding and staff are personable and well trained, and Imvelo's commitment to conservation and the neighbouring communities is clearly visible rather than simply talked about.

The opportunity to visit the nearby rhino sanctuary is another major attraction and adds something genuinely special to the safari experience.

For travellers looking for Hwange accommodation that offers more than the traditional safari lodge experience, Tum Tum gets a very strong recommendation from us.

It also combines particularly well with one of Imvelo's other Hwange properties, giving you two quite different safari experiences within the same area.

For more information and bookings Contact Us

Tum Tum Lodge at a Glance

• Unique canopy-level treehouse accommodation
• Small lodge accommodating relatively few guests
• Excellent wildlife viewing, including the Big Five
• Large concentrations of wildlife during Hwange's dry season
• Visits to the nearby Community Rhino Conservation Initiative
• Meaningful interaction with neighbouring communities
• Guided game drives and walking safaris
• Sunken hide for close-up wildlife viewing
• Raised dining, bar and lounge areas
• Spacious two-bedroom family suite with private splash pool
• Swimming pool and sun deck
• Excellent option for combining Victoria Falls and Hwange safaris

Accommodation at Tum Tum Lodge

• 2 en-suite treehouses with king-size beds, handbasin and shower, plus a private walkway to the Eagles' Nest viewing platform.
• 2 en-suite treehouses each with two double beds, handbasin and shower.
• 1 family suite with one king bedroom and one bedroom with twin three-quarter beds. Both have en-suite bathrooms with bath and handbasin plus an outdoor shower. The suite also has a spacious lounge, private dining area and splash pool.

All rooms have:
• En-suite bathroom with flush toilet, shower and basin
• Private deck
• Views towards Hwange National Park
• Mosquito nets
• Fans
• Solar power with generator backup
• Complimentary laundry service

Safari Activities at Tum Tum Lodge

A stay at Tum Tum offers considerably more than simply game drives. Activities include:

• Morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD safari vehicles
• Guided walking safaris with professional guides
• Wildlife viewing from the sunken hide, which has its own toilet facility
• Vivists to the Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary
• Birdwatching
• Bush breakfasts and dinners on request
• Wildife watching directly from your treehouse - sometimes the easiest safari activity of them all

Dining at Tum Tum

The main public areas are open-sided and positioned on a raised deck beneath a canvas roof, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and very much connected to the surrounding bush. Facilities include:

• Dining area
• Bar ad lounge
• Al fresco dining deck
• Bush breakfasts and dinners on request

Facilities and Services

• 220V solar power with generator backup
• Wi-Fi in main guest area
• No mobile phone coverage
• Bar, lounge and restaurant
• Swimming pool
• Complimentary laundry service

Children at Tum Tum

• Families are welcome at Imvelo properties, although children must remain under the supervision of a responsible adult at all times.
• Children under seven years are accepted by special arrangement and may be required to have private dining and separate safari activities at the discretion of lodge management.
• Children aged 12 years and younger pay 30% of the accommodation portion only when sharing with an adult. Up to two children may share a room with an adult.
• Families should check the current child policy with us when booking, particularly when travelling with younger children.

How to Get to Tum Tum Lodge

By Light Aircraft

Guests can fly by light aircraft to Linkwasha Airstrip, followed by approximately a 45- minute transfer by 4WD vehicle to Tum Tum.

A private airstrip closer to the lodge is planned, so check with us for the latest transfer arrangements when booking.

By Road

Tum Tum is approximately 1.5 hours by road from Bomani or Camelthorn, either through the communal lands or as a game drive through Hwange National Park. From Jozibanini, allow around three hours by game-drive transfer, while the transfer from Nehimba is a full-day game drive of at least six hours, with plenty of opportunity for wildlife viewing along the way.

By Elephant Express

Due to the current National Railways of Zimbabwe timetable, the Elephant Express can only be combined with Tum Tum when departing the lodge.
Guests transfer by road from Tum Tum to Ngamo Siding to board the Elephant Express at approximately 09h30–10h00. The scenic rail journey to Dete takes around three hours, followed by an approximately three-hour road transfer to Victoria Falls, arriving at around 16h00.
As the Elephant Express operates according to a timetable allocated by National Railways of Zimbabwe, timings are approximate and may change. We will confirm the current schedule when making your booking.

Combining Tum Tum with Other Hwange Safari Lodges

One of the best ways to reach Tum Tum is by road transfer from another Imvelo property. In reality, these transfers are often more like extended game drives than simply getting from one lodge to another.

There are several possible combinations, making Tum Tum particularly well suited to a longer Hwange safari itinerary where you experience different areas and styles of accommodation within Hwange.

Combining Victoria Falls and Hwange

Tum Tum can also be incorporated very easily into a Victoria Falls and Hwange safari, combining a few days exploring Victoria Falls with a wildlife safari in Hwange National Park.

Hwange is the closest major national park to Victoria Falls and, in our view, combining the two gives first-time visitors to this part of Zimbabwe an excellent balance of the Falls, wildlife, scenery and safari.

Talk to us about the best way to combine Victoria Falls and Hwange, including accommodation, transfers and other Hwange safari lodges that work particularly well with Tum Tum

Frequently Asked Questions About Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge

Where is Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge?

Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge is situated close to the southern boundary of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. Its location gives guests access to excellent wildlife areas as well as some experiences that are a little different from those offered at many other Hwange safari lodges, including visits to the nearby Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary and neighbouring communities.

How do you get to Tum Tum Lodge from Victoria Falls?

Tum Tum can be combined very easily with a stay in Victoria Falls as part of a longer Zimbabwe itinerary. Depending on your itinerary, you can travel by light aircraft to Linkwasha Airstrip followed by a 4WD transfer to the lodge, or reach Tum Tum by road and safari transfer through Hwange.

We can arrange the most practical combination of accommodation and transfers depending on which other parts of Hwange you are visiting.

Can I combine Victoria Falls and Tum Tum Lodge on the same safari?

Absolutely. Combining Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park is one of the most popular Zimbabwe safari itineraries and one we frequently recommend.

Spend a few days at Victoria Falls enjoying the Falls and the many activities available there, then continue into Hwange for a completely different experience centred around wildlife and safari.

Tum Tum works particularly well as part of a Victoria Falls and Hwange safari, and can also be combined with another Hwange lodge if you have enough time and would like to experience two different areas of the park.

What wildlife can I see at Tum Tum?

Hwange is home to an exceptional variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, and is particularly famous for its elephants. During the dry season, large numbers of animals congregate around the permanent waterholes.

At Tum Tum, the wildlife experience can begin without even leaving your room. The elevated treehouses overlook the surrounding bush and elephants and other animals may wander and feed beneath the trees.

Guests can also visit the nearby Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary, where white rhino have been reintroduced to this area after decades of absence.

What safari activities are available at Tum Tum?

Activities include open-vehicle game drives, guided walking safaris, wildlife viewing from a sunken hide, birdwatching, visits to the Mlevu Rhino Sanctuary and visits to neighbouring communities.

One of the pleasures of staying here, however, is that you don't necessarily have to go anywhere to watch wildlife. Sitting quietly on your private treehouse deck and seeing what wanders past below can be an experience in itself.

Is Tum Tum suitable for families with children?

Yes. Families are welcome at Tum Tum and the two-bedroom family suite is particularly well suited to parents travelling with children.

Children under seven years are accepted by special arrangement, and there may be restrictions on certain safari activities depending on their age. If you are planning a family safari in Hwange, speak to us about the ages of your children and we can advise whether Tum Tum is the right choice and which activities will be suitable.

When is the best time to stay at Tum Tum and visit Hwange?

There isn't really a bad time for a Hwange safari, but the experience changes considerably with the seasons.

The dry season, particularly from July through October, generally offers the most concentrated wildlife viewing as animals gather around Hwange's waterholes. It is also the busiest and most expensive period.

The green season brings a very different Hwange. The landscape becomes lush and green, birdlife is excellent and there are generally fewer visitors. Rates can also be considerably lower, making this an attractive time for travellers who aren't solely focused on seeing the greatest concentrations of game.

How many nights should I stay at Tum Tum?

We would generally recommend at least two to three nights at Tum Tum. This gives you enough time for game drives and walks while also allowing time for some of the experiences that make this lodge different, particularly the rhino sanctuary and community visits.

If you have more time, Tum Tum combines very well with another Hwange safari lodge in a different part of the park. This gives you a broader safari experience and allows you to see more of Hwange rather than simply spending additional nights in one location.

Enquire Now

[Top of Page]

Return from Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge to our Victoria Falls home page