The Grow Africa Foundation is part of Hideaways and an accelerator for the sustainable upliftment of the local communities of the areas we operate in. The foundation strives to instill a sense of purpose and pride for Hideaways’ employees, clients, and partners. One of the ways we do this is by overseeing and assessing various…
A Hideaways holiday is all about providing a bespoke experience for our guests. Sometimes this means making some necessary adjustments to our lodges so that some of our differently-abled guests are still able to have the holiday of a lifetime. One of our recent guests to Rio Azul had a dream come true when he snorkelled for the first…
It is usually the largest most well-known parks of Africa that top most people’s bucket lists, including Kruger, Maasai Mara, Okavango and the Serengeti, all destinations renowned for offering thrilling wildlife experiences. But there is another undiscovered gem to be added to the list: Hwange National Park in the northwest corner of Zimbabwe. Some critics…
Last year Elephant’s Eye, Hwange introduced our Sponsorship Pledge, a pledge to sponsor a full year’s school fees for a child at Dingani Primary for every guest who stays 3 nights or more at Elephant’s Eye, Hwange. We are excited to announce that we will be extending this pledge for another year! In rural Zimbabwe,…
Did you know that since the 1994 release of the first The Lion King film we have lost 50 % of the wild lion population? This is a statistic that shocked most attendees of Hideaways’ conservation talk at a Belgium premiere of Disney’s new Lion King film, where CEO Katja was invited to speak on…
Hideaways’ goal is to positively and sustainably impact and support communities and people in the areas we operate in. In Zimbabwe, our lodge Elephant’s Eye, Hwange is part of the Dete community. In Dete, Dingani Primary School is severely under-resourced. More than 50 % of Dingani’s children cannot afford the yearly school fees. Unfortunately, a…
The Community Upliftment Experience at Elephant’s Eye, Hwange sees guests engaging with the local community in reality. We introduce guests to the entrepreneurial women behind the Thandanani Sewing Project and help engage with the headmaster at Dingani Primary School. This way, interested and open-minded safari travellers learn about the incredible resilience and generous spirit of…
In rural communities in Zimbabwe, characterized by ill-equipped sanitation and deeply embedded stigmas, girls can miss up to 25 % of schooling due to menstruation. Project Penya was born when the Hideaways’ Elephant’s Eye Lodge took it upon themselves to fight the taboo of menstruation in sustainable collaboration with the local community. The goal was to…
Hideaways’ philosophy is all about guests being part of creating their own adventure on a daily basis – Hideaways doesn’t offer passive experiences. Did you know that everyone who stays at Rio Azul, Mozambique, gets their very own tinnie boat to explore the lagoon and river system? Guests feel the freedom of embarking on an…
Hideaways CEO Katja has recently been featured not only once, but twice, in Travel Africa magazine. First, she shared her unique insights on how to sustainably and responsibly engage with local communities in Africa’s travel hotspots. In the latest issue, she discusses how she hopes to involve more travel agents in conservation and what inspires her to come…
Education is a lifeline for many children in Zimbabwe, offering a path to a better life. However, the village school at Dingani, near Elephant’s Eye, Hwange, is significantly under-staffed and in urgent need of assistance. With over 350 children, the 6 teachers employed by the government are facing daily challenges. The Grow Africa Foundation has…
Along with our new website and new portfolio of properties and experiences, Hideaways is pleased to launch our new exclusive Safari Collection, offering unique African experiences designed to deliver unprecedented hospitality in close proximity to Africa’s spectacular wildlife and pristine wilderness, all whilst ensuring the conservation of these unique habitats. We’ve focused on curating custom-made…
Explore our recent expansion of bespoke properties and experiences – lodges and safaris superbly positioned across Southern Africa’s most exclusive wilderness areas, allowing guests to savour equal moments of awe and serenity as they are immersed in the pristine African bush or a seaside paradise. Truly life-changing experiences. For inspirational imagery, greater user-friendliness and our…
Hideaways is delighted – dreams are now a reality and the two handcrafted dhows, Zambezi Tribe and Zambezi Origin, are finally ready to welcome guests on an authentic journey along one of Africa’s most legendary rivers. After wading through the sometimes muddy waters of bureaucracy we are officially out of the woods and onto the…
Nicole Jacobs has been appointed as Hideaways Sales Manager. This is a new position as Hideaways is expanding significantly with exclusive new properties and activities. Nicole moved from Jenman African Safaris’ Series division and has been with the company for 6 years. Over the past years she has earned a proven track record in delivering…
Hideaways is offering agents the opportunity to familiarise themselves with its amazing new property Rio Azul. Spend 4 days unwinding after the hustle and bustle of Indaba in a secluded tropical wilderness where you can explore the pristine mangrove forest and blue lagoon surrounding the lodge, while feasting on fresh seafood. Exciting activities such as…
Hideaways CEO Katja Quasdorf has been invited to give a talk at WTM about a subject very dear to our hearts: Combining forces in the pursuit of the greater good! In fact, she has since adopted the neologism ‘co-opetition’ – the practice of business competitors putting aside their rivalries in the spirit of selfless cooperation,…
Rio Azul is fantastic for families! Our two family villas have upstairs lofts that can sleep up to 4 kids, and our beach chalets have a spare bed for one child staying with parents or guardians. And as for keeping the little ones happy and entertained, that’s easy: each beach chalet has the use of…
Whispers of a mangrove forest, a crystal-clear lagoon, white powdery sands, and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lapping gently against the shore… It’s serenity in a tropical wilderness, it’s Rio Azul in Mozambique, the newest lodge in the Hideaways portfolio. This beach paradise in a remote and secluded location is waiting for guests…
Hideaways is dipping its toes in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean with a new luxury eco-lodge on the white sandy beaches of Mozambique. We cannot contain our excitement to announce that we are expanding our portfolio of life-changing experiences to include a tropical paradise near Vilanculos in breathtakingly beautiful Mozambique. A haven of…
Our two new dhows, Zambezi Tribe and Zambezi Origin have arrived in Vic Falls and are going through the final phase of their induction – undergoing their finishing touches, soft furnishing, romantic lighting, and other amenities, as well as a test run on the mighty Zambezi River! The dhows will escort guests on a romantic…
When it comes to wildlife conservation, poaching is a critical issue that needs to be tackled head-on. As a responsible eco-lodge with a prime focus on sustainability and conservation, Elephant’s Eye, Hwange is committed to protecting the wildlife in and around our lodge. We have been collaborating with the Conservation and Wildlife Fund (CWF), of which Hideaways…
Elephant’s Eye, Hwange is becoming even more family friendly! In addition to kids staying for free (when sharing a chalet with 2 adults) we have included some exciting kid-friendly activities.Besides learning about the circle of life and experiencing the wonders of the African Bush on game drives and kid-friendly nature walks, we keep the young…
Elephant’s Eye, Hwange has added horseback safaris to its list of activities offered at the lodge. Replace the hum of the safari vehicle with the clip-clop of hooves and occasional soft neighs of a horse. Guests observe game from a completely different vantage point and feel like they’re part of the action, as the antelope…
There has been a buzz about what is increasingly becoming known as the most exciting new product range from Jenman African Safaris. Jenman Select’s magnificent new tours and destinations showcase only the best and most inspiring. All properties have that special something and have been hand-selected for their unique charm and sophistication. Obviously, our exclusive…
Hideaways is committed to improving the lives of those living in the Dingani community close to our lodge Elephant’s Eye, Hwange, either through employment, supporting local businesses or through the various projects organized through the Grow Africa Foundation. One of our most important initiatives is to address the lack of access to education, as is…
Have you heard about the new Hideaways experience that’s on the horizon? Zambezi Truth will launch in August in Victoria Falls on the banks of the Zambezi River. This romantic experience is a completely new offering in Vic Falls, and is perfect for travellers who are looking for that something extra to add to their…
Hideaways’ lodge Elephant’s Eye, Hwange is located on a borderless concession adjoining Hwange National Park and although guests are able to enjoy game drives on the concession and in the park, when guests enter Hwange National Park they currently need to momentarily leave the concession and spend a portion of their journey to the park…
Most of us have learned in life that good things don’t last forever, but when something comes to an end a new chapter begins. This month, we are bidding farewell to Blessed Chalibamba, who has not only been managing our eco-lodge Elephant’s Eye, Hwange for the past 4 years but has literally built it to…
Hideaways has introduced a new transformative experience for guests at Elephant’s Eye, Hwange – the Community Upliftment Experience, which is an excellent opportunity for guests to learn more about rural Zimbabwe life and to meet and interact with local Zimbabweans. The new tour is designed in collaboration with the Grow Africa Foundation’s redefined vision and…
Elephant’s Eye, Hwange is now offering night game drives. Nighttime in the African bush is an experience like no other. The sun sets and the stars appear, slowly filling the sky as it gets darker. The night sounds of the bush are unique too; hooting owls, hyenas “laughing”, perhaps even some lions roaring, and the…
Elephant’s Eye Hwange has decided there is no time to waste in combating the plight that our wildlife is facing. As of the 1st of July 2017, the conservation levy will be compulsory for all guests staying at Elephant’s Eye, Hwange. The amount is set at $10.00 per person per night. Simply put, without wildlife,…