Article: Rudo Nhamoinesu | Images: Sian Simba River Lodge & Rudo Nhamoinesu
Sian Simba has one of the finest settings, built on a private concession in wild and remote Zambezi National Park overlooking the Zambezi River. The lodge offers incredible panoramic views of the river and the untamed bushveld which is home to an abundance of wildlife that frequent the unfenced camp for a refreshing afternoon drink. Located 32km from the city of Victoria Falls, this newly opened lodge offers its guests an adventurous and unforgettable safari experience, in unexplored territory, all whilst receiving world-class service from the team and delicious meals freshly prepared by the in-house executive chef. The journey to the camp is an hour long, so, we recommend making an experience out of it by exploring the vast African wilderness, as we did with our guide Zulu, who had such incredible knowledge of the flora and fauna and a ready joke up his sleeve! We quickly learnt that the area the camp is located in is rich in wildlife, our transfer come game drive was full of incredible sightings, from elephant roadblocks to the Giraffe towers that blessed us with their gorgeous markings and showed off their feeding calves going about their day unbothered by our presence. Arriving at Sian Simba was incredibly special for me, having visited once before in its building stage. It was phenomenal to see this passion project come to life and to stand in the well decorated, African inspired lounge when last time I was here it was open ground- it felt unreal.
The main area of the lodge consists of an indoor/outdoor dining area, a lounge with a fireplace for those chilly evenings, a bar and a library to help you unwind, stocked with informative bush literature. Upstairs you will find a viewing deck where you can enjoy the sundowners with your beverage of choice while feeling the gentle breeze, the only sounds being the call of the birds, elephants trumpeting or if you are lucky the roar of the lions. The pool area has been set under shade, a great place for an afternoon dip or much needed reading in my case! The lodge values guest’s privacy and its structure is reflective of this, each of the 12 lodges are set apart, surrounded by pristine woodland overlooking the Zambezi River. The walk to my tent was an enchanting journey set to the musical notes of wind in the trees and the rustling of leaves, ending in the reveal of a spacious en-suite tented room that consists of a very comfortable extralarge double bed, a lounge area and a bathroom. Water is safe to drink but bottled water is available upon request, the idea behind the rooms is to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible, while also ensuring you do not miss out on the action- you can choose to stay in camp all day and be able to watch game from the comfort of your private deck. Sian Simba offers daily safaris which include game walks and game drives and will soon launch river cruises, fishing, and canoeing for the water enthusiast. While twitchers will love spotting elusive species of birds.
The lodge is located on a private concession meaning you will have a private experience with the only other vehicles being those of the other guests. I found the guides to have a well-rounded understanding of the bush who always tried to offer a different perspective. One such incredible guide who I had the honour of meeting was Xhlo, a deaf guide who is an incredible tracker- we could always trust Xhlo to be the first to spot something exciting! It is so interesting to witness first-hand how there are no limitations to what we love and if there is anything my trip taught me- “believe you can and you will”. There are so many things that make Sian Simba special, for me, it is the inspiring stories of the different team members like Xhlo or the young men working as waiters, barmen, kitchen porters and cleaners who I learnt built the camp up and have now been trained up and contributing to the day to day running of the lodge. Petros Kok who was overseeing the build and training the guides and staff believes in life-changing opportunities, offering a chance to those normally side-lined and Sian Simba is definitely making a mark in that regard. The service I received from my arrival to my departure was exceptional! Zambezi Spirit Restaurant The meals at Sian Simba are mouth-watering, no matter the time of day- you are assured of a meal prepared with love and fresh ingredients. Executive Chef and office manager, Yuan Lee Sonny Khan, comes with international experience and passion that each bite will land you in heaven! The Zambezi Spirit restaurant is not only open to staying guests but day visitors and caters to all well dietary preferences. Chef Yuan goes out of his way to ensure your culinary experience is an adventure on its own and always has something special up his sleeve! As you plan your festive family getaway, be sure to consider Sian Simba- they have incredible opening specials, or if you are in Victoria Falls, why not celebrate a special occasion with an island lunch?