Origin Story

The redesign of Singita’s Pamushana Lodge is an exploration of Zimbabwe’s Shangaan heritage

- Louise Frost

Whether it’s that first herbaceous sip of a G&T against the parched bush backdrop or the unsettling proximity to the wild from your private plunge pool, the allure of a safari holiday lies in its ubiquitous juxtapositions. For luxury safari group Singita, the marriage of opposites – between untamed nature and contemporary creature comforts – is successful only when each side is paid respect, honouring the old while valuing the new. Pitched atop a cliff and presiding over the Malilangwe Nature Reserve in Zimbabwe, the brand’s newly redesigned Singita Pamushana Lodge possesses an unbeatable vantage point over the ever-transitioning landscape, showcasing the abounding contrasts while nestling unobtrusively into its remote setting.

‘The buildings are unexpectedly blended into the rocky outcrops with their natural stonework and thatched roofs,’ explains Geordi de Sousa Costa of Cécile & Boyd, the design firm that’s been attached to all of Singita’s projects. ‘The overall result is architecture that’s immersed in the natural environment,’ she says. The creative team went about camouflaging the eight suites, villa and communal zones using a dark brown-charcoal hue for exterior walls, while the decks that hover over the craggy rock face remain light and unassuming.