Hwange starbed Sleepout
Sleep Under the Stars: A Night to Remember in Hwange
What if your next night in the bush didn’t come with a roof?
In Amalinda Safari Collection’s private concession, unfenced bordering Zimbabwe’s famed Hwange National Park, there’s a one-of-a-kind experience that redefines what it means to “sleep under the stars.” Think luxury bedding, lantern light, and the soft sounds of the wild as your nighttime soundtrack.
The Magic of Sleeping Outside
Our starbed is located on a secure platform overlooking the Dete Vlei, an ancient dry riverbed home to abundant wildlife.
This exclusive starbed is available as an add-on at Khulu Bush Camp, Ivory Lodge, or Sable Valley. It’s designed for two people, making it an ideal choice for couples, best friends, or even solo travellers craving stillness and intimacy with nature.
Built on a raised wooden platform, the starbed features a king-size mattress dressed in fresh linens, ambient lanterns, scatter cushions, and a low table complete with your favourite sundowner.
From your bed, you might hear the haunting whoop of hyenas echoing through the night or the distant rumble of elephants moving through the bush. The starbed is completely safe and set in a predator-free area, but close enough to nature that you feel part of it. There’s no fence, no walls, no barriers between you and the wild.
As the stars begin to appear overhead, the sky takes centre stage.
Stargazing in Hwange
Far from any light pollution, this corner of Zimbabwe offers some of the clearest skies in the region. On a cloudless night, the Milky Way spills across the sky in full splendour, and you can easily spot:
Orion’s Belt (especially vivid in the Southern Hemisphere summer months)
The Southern Cross (Crux), used for centuries as a navigation tool
Scorpio, with its distinctive hook shape
Alpha Centauri, one of the closest star systems to Earth
The Magellanic Clouds, two satellite galaxies visible to the naked eye
And if you’ve brought a camera? This is astrophotography heaven.
Wake Up in the Wild
In the morning, your guide will arrive just after sunrise to collect you. A hot cup of coffee, a light breakfast, and then it’s back to camp—or straight into a game drive, if you’re keen to keep the adventure rolling.
Why Book a Starbed Safari?
A starbed safari in Zimbabwe offers a rare chance to step outside your usual comfort zone, without compromising on comfort itself. It’s about stillness and spectacle. Romance and remoteness. It’s a gentle reminder of how extraordinary the natural world can be, especially when we let ourselves really see it.
There’s a growing movement among travellers to seek experiences, not just stays, and the starbed sleepout taps directly into that. It’s not an everyday thing. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.
And it’s exclusive to Amalinda Safari Collection.
How to Book
The Hwange Starbed Sleepout is available to all guests staying at:
Khulu Bush Camp
Ivory Lodge
Sable Valley
It can be pre-booked or arranged in camp, depending on availability. We recommend planning ahead, especially during high season.
Location: Private Amalinda Concession, unfenced bordering Hwange National Park
Sleeps: 2 people
Includes: Dinner, drinks, and morning pickup
Best Time to Go: May-June, August-October for clear skies and cool evenings
There are some things you’ll never forget—your first elephant sighting, the colour of a Hwange sunset, and the feeling of lying in bed while the night sky wraps itself around you. The Hwange Starbed is a bucket-list experience for stargazers, safari-lovers, romantics, and anyone looking to reconnect with nature, with a partner, or just with themselves.
Because some memories are too special to be made indoors.
