Guest Comments

Dear Ant,
A few words of thanks for a magical trip to Gonarezhou! What a serendipitous meeting last year in Hwange where you briefly mentioned to our guide that you ran a bush camp in the south. Eager to go walking again this year, we contacted you, and from that first moment, we knew the trip would be good. So many businesses don’t appreciate the importance of first impressions, but your immediate, in-depth response to our initial inquiry gave us great confidence, and that never wavered in all subsequent correspondence.
While making the arrangements is a very important part, delivering the goods is key – and you did so in spades! From the moment we saw the site of the camp, with our tents nestled under trees along the banks of the Runde River, we knew we had made an excellent choice. The effort you and Rawana have taken in stylishly furnishing the camp, providing every comfort while not losing the bush camp feel did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The food was especially enjoyed! Every meal was carefully planned and all delicious. It still remains a complete mystery to me how you can serve such superb meals from a camp fire and a tin box oven, and salads, fresh fruit and yogurts when we were miles from anywhere. We have stayed in many tented camps, and yours stands out.
At the end of the day, however, whether you have a good trip or an outstanding trip depends on the park and the guide. Gonarezhou is a hidden gem. The scenery is spectacular, from the Chilojo cliffs, to the banks of the rivers, and provides wonderfully varied landscapes for walking over six days. We found the game to be plentiful and far less skittish than what we experienced on foot in Hwange. The opportunities in Gonarezhou abound, and our night at the fly-camp on the sandbank under the stars will be a special memory always. But Ant, it was your extensive knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm which truly made the trip for us. From the trees to the birds, to the bugs to the plants, you were always able to make it interesting and informative. It was a spectacular trip – easily one of the very best we have taken in many years of travelling through Africa.
You were good enough to make suggestions and all the arrangements for the various stops on our self-drive trip through Zimbabwe which could not gone better. After so many years of limited tourists, everyone we met, from the staff in the lodges, to gas station attendants to police at road blocks could not have been friendlier or more welcoming. I am sure the growth of tourism in Zimbabwe will bring many, many new guests to Gonarezhou Bush Camps where they will be assured a magnificent trip under your care. Please make sure, however, that you save a place for us, because we will most definitely be back!
All the very best,
Stuart and Suzanne -- Bermuda

We had a truly amazing time with you, very special memories. The highlights being fishing with the hippos, the scorpion nearly for dinner and it has to be the storm.......We loved all the walking despite the heat, and especially the breakfast by the riverbank. It was amazing the quality of food produced in the bush.
We both learnt so much and it really did make the time very special...

"Dear Rawana and Ant,
What a pleasure to first of all finally get to Gonarezhou. It has always been high on my list of places to go in Africa. There can be few places in Africa that remain with such a fantastic wilderness feel combined with raw beauty. I was so surprised to see the amount of wildlife. It seems that even the poachers have forgotten this corner of Africa. Long may that last and that is where you both will play an incredibly important role. Eyes on the ground and Ant's love of the area with Frankfurt's arrival to support conservation hold up great hope.
There can be few more spectacular views from a campsite in Africa. The Chilojo cliffs from camp or sitting overlooking the whole area are a spectacular feature. The freedom to walk all day, fish for bream and Tiger on the river, fly camp where we felt like is hard to match anywhere in Africa..."
"....One thing remains: your food was a match for all the finest camps in Africa, even with the wonderful simplicity of camp. Do not lose that.
Thanks to you both for a break in my season that has re-energised me,
Salaams,
James"

Hi Ant and Rawana
I hope this email finds you fit and well - we certainly are. Having spent four weeks travelling through Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, I must say that everything went exceptionally well on the trip and everything and I mean everything went exactly to schedule - unbelievable when we had heard all about African time.
You have a beautiful spot in Gonarezhou and your camp was very comfortable and beautifully situated - you won't get much passing traffic dropping in for a chat! The game was initially a little scarce but this improved as the days progressed - every day is so different as you well know.  As you also well know a big factor with viewing game and especially the cat family is the ability to be able to travel off the tracks and follow their spoor etc which became quite evident when talking to other people on safari who were never able to get near the game - this especially applies in Gonarezhou where the wildlife is very unused to traffic and much wilder than many other locations.  Your walking treks obviously overcome this aspect which in the area, I believe with your skills and energy and Rawana's support, you wish to develop - I must say we all thoroughly enjoyed our walks and this concept.
I cannot thank you and Rawana enough for your excellent organisation on our behalf and really everything ran like clockwork - and this is apart from the wonderful time we all had which I'm sure we will remember for a very long time.
If I can be of any assistance for references and any other info for any likely customers from this part of the globe I would only be too happy to oblige. They may contact me direct if you wish.
I hope we will keep in contact in the future and we will be most interested to hear what path and progress your business is taking.  Needless to say if you are ever contemplating a trip to this neck of the woods, be sure to get in contact
Again many thanks from us all.

Now we are unfortunately back in the ‘real’ world I thought it was time to send a note to you and Rawana to thank you for the most fantastic time we had in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The itinerary was excellent and we really enjoyed relaxing at Indigo Bay at the end. You were the perfect hosts and undoubtedly the best experience was at your camp with excellent guiding and entertainment from you and Rob combined with Rawana’s superb cooking!
Once again very many thanks.

Anthony is one of the finest wilderness guides worldwide. He has planned and led several trips for me over the past 10 years. Most recently, he took me and my wife on a magical trip through the Zimbabwe lowveld (including Gonarezhou and the Save Valley Conservancy) through the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, and into Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. The experience exceeded expectations. We learned so much about the bush and the countries we visited from Ant. Travelling with him is like having a private zoologist and adventure guide in one. I would go anywhere with Ant and trust him completely.