Introducing Tum Tum Treehouse Lodge

Imagine waking up in a beautifully appointed treehouse watching the sunrise light up the treetops that surround you. Think about stepping through your glass doors onto your deck and enjoying fresh Zimbabwean coffee surrounded by birds and an elephant walking below. Followed by a day spent in a very remote part of a vast wilderness that you share with very few people…

Building treehouses for a lodge has been a dream of Imvelo’s for more than 20 years. The dream started to turn to reality in February this year when they met with the folks from Nelson Treehouse (of Treehouse Masters television fame) in Seattle. A visit followed six weeks later by one of their architects and one of their tree house experts Dan and Daryl to design their unique one-of-a-kind treehouses.

In 2019 Imvelo won a tender for a site near a pan called Mandiseka close to Hwange’s southern border with the communities with whom they have been aligned for decades. For their new lodge they chose a beautiful grove of ancient Camelthorn trees overlooking the Tum Tum ‘vlei line’ (fossil inter dune trough) and a string of waterholes. Located centrally on Imvelo’s unique ‘pump run’ that they have maintained for Hwange’s thirsty herds for over 20 years, adjacent to what will be Sanctuary 3 of the CRCI Rhino project and next door to the frontline villages around Mtshwayeli school and clinic, the site ticked all the boxes that fit Imvelo’s core ethos.

Six very busy months later the dream, now a reality, has surpassed expectations. The four ensuite treehouses fit perfectly into their trees, perched on artificial high carbon steel limbs inserted into them (think steel pins used in human bones). We also have a twin-roomed ensuite ground level ‘family tent’ and then a main lodge nestled between a huge teak tree and several ancient ‘rubbing posts’. Stevie and Camilla from Pezula Interiors kindly and generously offered to assist with furnishing and decorating, and they’ve done that both elegantly and tastefully.

There is still lots of work to do: a swimming pool; an outside under-the-stars decked dining area; additions to weatherproof the main lodge (to protect the original artwork on the walls of course); the family tent needs a plunge pool; the network of game drive roads needs to be expanded and more. But what everyone is really loving is the excitement of the new staff in training all from nearby villages learning enthusiastically from the experienced staff from Imvelo’s other camps.

A soft opening is underway – to smooth off rough edges and for a handful of industry insiders to get a taste. So far, their excited reactions have been gratifying; they’ve seen the dream come true. The waterholes in front of camp are distinctive for their red mud and as the day heats up and elephant arrive to drink and mud bath, the cameras come out for photos of the ‘shiny wet red elephants.’

Imvelo has installed one of their signature look up blinds at Mandiseka pan. They have managed to raise the bar from their others – it is perfectly aligned with sunset behind and golden hour light in front; the photography and up-close experiences are already causing excitement.

The wildlife characteristic of this area is diverse and every day the team is learning more about them. The local lion pride numbers eight, the local wild dog pack alpha male, heavily scarred and very yellow, is already an old friend. May to August next year during camelthorn pod season expect to see lots of photos of elephants wandering under the tree houses with delighted guests gawking down at them. And by the way, the guided walks in this area are going to be a highlight.

If you like a lodge experience that is different, that is making a difference – welcome to Tum Tum!