Mpala Jena

 
 
 
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Mpala Jena offers the perfect Victoria Falls luxury accommodation. Mpala Jena is an intimate safari camp positioned along the beautiful tree-laden banks of the Zambezi River.

The architect team of Craig Hayman and Hannah Charlton and interior designer Tracy Kelly created a haven that epitomizes “Barefoot Luxury” at its best. Mpala Jena is located on the white sandy edges of Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River and in the Zambezi National Park. The team sought to combine natural elements using thatched roofs in the main areas and flowing canvas luxury tents for the bedrooms. The sand floor in the bar area, and the adjacent swimming pool, set the scene for guests to kick their shoes off and relax after their morning game drive or river cruise. The pool lounge makes you feel that you are right on the river. It is the ideal place to hang out with a book during the day’s heat. Mpala Jena is highly sought after for those wanting Victoria Falls luxury accommodation.

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‘Mpala Jena’ means “White Impala”. According to the local National Park rangers, when the Zambezi National Park was separated from the Victoria Falls National Park and declared a National Park in its own right in 1979, sightings of an albino impala were reported.

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About Mpala Jena Camp

Located within the 56,000-hectare Zambezi National Park, the camp is home to an ever-increasing number of wildlife that can be enjoyed on game drives, boat cruises, walking trails or even while sipping cocktails from the camp’s swing chairs. Higher concentrations of buffalo and elephants are typical from June to October. There are more lions per km² here than in any other park in Zimbabwe. Birding is spectacular all year round, with the highest species diversity seen from November through April. Catch and release fishing is a popular activity and peaks during the Tiger fishing season between June and December.

Mpala Jena has a strong sustainability ethos, being powered entirely by a solar plant and battery. Building materials and design elements were specified and sourced with a clear vision of minimizing embodied energy and transportation miles.

The camp is conveniently located 16 kilometres inside the Zambezi National Park, allowing easy access to Victoria Falls town by a 40-minute boat or road transfer. Mpala Jena also offers guided tours of the Victoria Falls.

Guests staying at Mpala Jena, the perfect Victoria Falls luxury accommodation option, often continue their safari to Tembo Plains Camp and Tembo Plains Suite in our private Sapi Reserve or our camps in Botswana.

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Accommodation

Three large double or twin bed configuration Suites, plus two 2-bedroom Family Suites, are all under sand-coloured, flowing canvas, with canopy ceilings and open (yet netted) views of the river frontage and are beautifully decorated by Tracy Kelly.

Each suite has a shaded, private veranda area and en-suite bathroom facilities, including an indoor shower, separate loo, and double basins. The highlight of the suites is the outdoor bathrooms with a beautiful bathtub and outdoor shower. Decking in front of the tent leads onto views of the Zambezi River’s calming and peaceful flowing waters.

One guide room is also available.

Location and Activities

Mpala Jena Camp offers professionally guided wildlife viewing in open game drive vehicles, walks and morning or afternoon boat cruises (water level dependent / seasonally). The camp has custom-built Land cruisers, and the vehicles are fully stocked with reference books, drinks and snacks. In addition, guests should take the opportunity to enjoy an excursion into Victoria Falls town, including a visit to the thunderous and impressive mass of falling water of the actual Victoria Falls during their stay. A guided tour of the Falls can be arranged for guests.

Additional cost activities are available for those who wish to participate in the varied adrenalin and more relaxing activities that this tourist hub has become renowned for. A range of activities exists, including navigating one of the world’s most intense white-water rafting, partaking in the numerous high-wire activities located at the Gorge / Lookout Cafe, conducting a cultural village tour, a historical guided high tea tour, or simply enjoying wandering the streets of this bustling tourist town.

The Zambezi National Park is located upstream from Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, separated from the Victoria Falls National Park in 1979 and is 56,000 hectares in its entirety. Most of the Park is within the eco-region of Zambezian and Mopani woodlands, whilst a small portion in the south is within the Zambezian Baikiaea Woodlands. The Park essentially has two main habitats – riverine and Chamabonda vlei.

The Park has a vast diversity of indigenous tree species. Its terrain varies between riverine woodland, dry riverbeds, rocky outcrops and spring-lines with a gradual escarpment leading towards the Kazungula road split. Soil types vary from alluvial and Kalahari sand, riverine sand and pockets of black cotton soil.

The Zambezi National Park is host to many larger mammals, including the African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, hyena and the rare leopard sightings. Antelope and other grassland species include sable antelope, common eland, common zebra, southern giraffe, greater kudu, waterbuck, wildebeest and impala. An estimated 400 bird species can be viewed within the Zambezi National Park, including the Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer, collared palm thrush, Lanner falcon, goliath heron, African finfoot, rock pratincole and long-toed lapwing as specialities.