A View with No Room

Sleep—we spend a third of our lives immersed in it, but it rarely comes under consideration when we plan vacations. It falls by the wayside as a necessary pause, not an attraction in its own right. But on a wilderness safari in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, sleep is magical.

The Mavros family first settled in rustic, beautiful Zimbabwe five generations ago. Their love of the sprawling, vibrant landscape and the Zimbabwean people swelled with each passing year, inspiring them to start Mavros Safaris, the family business of bespoke safari excursions. Visitors can’t help but fall in love with Hwange National Park. Guests move through days unencumbered by schedules or alarm clocks, taking tour guides out to explore a Noah’s Ark of exotic animals, idly enjoying the sounds of chirping birds by the river, roaming the rugged terrain in pursuit of great adventures, and sleeping under the impossibly vast African sky.

Outdoor living rooms at the intimate Little Makalolo give guests the opportunity to mingle and enjoy the region’s natural wonders.

Home base: Little Makalolo. The cozy camp features just six tented rooms with ensuite bathrooms, all gently tucked into the tree line above the plain. Wooden paths lead to a viewing deck where tourists can watch majestic creatures front-and-center as they come to quench their thirst at the watering hole. The camp’s crown jewel is the Star Bed, a plush sleeping platform on the deck, flanked by colorful native rugs, gently illuminated by the glow of lanterns, covered with nothing but soft white netting and a blanket of stars. After a full day immersed in nature, why stop at bedtime? This truly is a dream place to sleep.