Buffalo herd in the Rifa concession
Tafika Zambezi  ·  A New Camp on the Zambezi
SITIKILA
Opening 1 April 2027
The Name
"Sitikila" is a Tonga word meaning to become calm, to settle, to sit and be still.
It is the quiet hush that descends over the valley at dusk, the drift of dust as elephants pass, the Zambezi breathing slowly at your side. When we found the site — tucked into the edge of a secluded pan, beneath ancient trees — that was exactly how it felt. The camp named itself.
THE RIFA STORY
A Rediscovered Wilderness in the Heart of Africa

Hidden between the escarpment and the winding Zambezi River lies Rifa, a wilderness that time, and the public, forgot. For more than two decades this 55,000-hectare concession remained closed, its 32 kilometres of river frontage and Mana Pools-style floodplains left undisturbed. Since anti-poaching and conservation efforts began in 2017, the land has quietly come back to life, its plains and big game populations flourishing once again. Sitikila Camp is one of only four camps that will ever be permitted into this protected wilderness — a semi-permanent, low-impact tented camp set on raised decking overlooking a wild inland pan. Designed for photographers, birders, and those seeking a version of Africa that is disappearing everywhere else, Sitikila links seamlessly with our camps at Tafika and Makombakomba in Sapi, forming one uninterrupted photographic safari corridor along one of the most spectacular stretches of the entire Zambezi River.

Location
Rifa Photographic Safari Area
Accommodation
5 Tents + 1 Family Tent · 12 Guests
Concession
55,000-Hectare Private Concession
Opening
1 April 2027
About the Camp

Five safari tents and one family tent, set on raised decking overlooking a wild inland pan. Built for photographers, birders, and those seeking a quieter Africa — with the same understated comfort as Tafika and Makombakomba.

Concept rendering — camp under construction
Sitikila Camp tent, concept rendering
Each Tent Features
Raised decking overlooking the pan
King or twin beds, within a mosquito net
Private outdoor shower
Fully solar electricity & WiFi
Mini bar
Tea and coffee station
Air cooler
Overhead fans
In-room safe over the main bed
Daily laundry service
Spacious indoor sitting area
Uninterrupted views of the pan
Activities at Sitikila
Set 11 kilometres inland around a wild pan, Sitikila offers a different rhythm to our river camps — big game and open plains, on foot and by vehicle.
Game drives photo
Game Drives
Open-vehicle drives across the Rifa plains, tracking big game drawn to the pan.
Walking safaris photo
Walking Safaris
Guided walks through country few have ever set foot in, at eye level with the wilderness.
Bird watching photo
Bird Watching
Woodland, floodplain and pan habitats side by side make for exceptional birding.
Arm chair safari photo
Arm Chair Safari
Watch the pan come to life from camp — no vehicle required.
Camp Progress Journal
Following Sitikila from bush to camp
Photo to follow
June 2026
Site clearing begins

The footprint for raised decking is marked out overlooking the pan. First supply runs into Rifa are underway.

Photo to follow
TBC
Decking & tent frames

Next update as raised decking and tent structures go in.

Photo to follow
TBC
Grand opening — 1 April 2027

Counting down to welcoming our first guests.

Glimpses of Sitikila
Concept renderings — real photographs to follow as the camp takes shape
Getting to Sitikila

Fly into Harare, then take a light aircraft charter to Rifa Airstrip — our team will meet you and drive you the 40 minutes to camp. Self-drive from Harare takes 7–8 hours.

The camp links seamlessly with Tafika and Makombakomba in Sapi, forming one uninterrupted safari corridor along the middle Zambezi.

RIFA PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI AREA SAPI SAFARI AREA MANA POOLS N.P. Sitikila Camp Rifa Airstrip nearby Tafika Camp Makombakomba TO HARARE (7–8 HRS) Zambezi River ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE MOZAMBIQUE N 0 10 km
Want the full details?
Download the Sitikila Camp fact file for location, accommodation, facilities and access information.
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Opening 1 April 2027
Days To Go
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