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Is HGTV’s first ‘Africa-based series,’ Renovation Wild, perpetuating colonialism?

HGTV is heading to Zambia for its next renovation series, Renovation Wild . A press release sent Tuesday announced that the show will be “the network’s first ever Africa-based series.”

Its stars, Grant and Lynsey Cumings, look a lot like most of HGTV’s other stars, which is to say: very, very white.

They may be very nice people! And the show may be very interesting. But for a show set in Zambia—and the first Africa-set show for one of the United States’ largest cable channels—this seemed like a curious choice.

That’s because, as of 2014, “white people make up less than 40,000 of Zambia’s 13 million-strong population,” the BBC News reported . That’s 0.3 percent of the population.

That disconnect prompted me to post a photo and the show’s title to Twitter . My friend Damian Holbrook from TV Guide Magazine offered a succinct summary in the form of a perhaps more-accurate title: “Construct It or Colonize It”?

Is a show about white people running a safari operation just perpetuating colonialism? Is HGTV reinforcing stereotypes about African nations by titling the show “Renovation Wild”? Let’s explore.

HGTV says Renovation Wild , which premieres May 15, “will chronicle the incredible journey” of Grant and Lynsey Cumings , who will “work arm-in-arm with their right-hand man and project manager, Ngoli, and resort manager, Juliet, to take on the challenges of renovating in a remote locale.”

Ngoli and Juliet are only mentioned once in the press release, and HGTV did not send a press photo of them. They are clearly not the stars of the show, and are not even mentioned in the first episode’s description.

In the press release, Grant is quoted talking about his life: “I was born here in Zambia, our safari lodges are here and we’re raising our family here, so everything is on the line. And it’s survival of the fittest out there.”

According to the website of Chiawa Safaris , which Grant and Lynsey own, they “oversee Chiawa Camp’s day to day operations from Lusaka,” which is 225 kilometers away from the camp, or about a six-hour drive.

What I found most interesting about the website was the About Chiawa Safaris page, which gives a detailed history of the Cumings’ family’s time in Africa. They “are 5th generation Africans”—and I’m quoting here from the website—and their family has a “rich sense of history.”

That history includes the following things their relatives did:

• “heading for the gold and diamond fields of South Africa in 1898”
• “spent his time fighting for the British”
• “became a diamond buyer for De Beers ”
• “grew up in South Africa’s mining fields and who went on to become one of South Africa’s authorities on gold mining”
• “finally settled on the Lower Zambezi to put down their safari roots, a place of refuge and solitude, an untamed place of raw beauty set on the banks of the Zambezi River, where there was no one else. Just them, and the animals”

One of the camps that’s being renovated on HGTV opened in 1991, and the history says that “guests had the privilege of enjoying this wilderness all to themselves and becoming part of history in being the first tourists to explore and enjoy this wilderness.”

All of this seemed to scream “colonialism” to me.

While I do know that Zambia has hosted reality TV before—the very first leg of The Amazing Race season 1 took teams to Zambia for the show’s first-ever challenge —I am not an expert on Zambia. So I interviewed someone who is.

‘Definitely plays to all sorts of stereotypes about Africa’

I asked Dr. Jeff Schauer , associate professor in the Department of History and UNLV, for help, because his bio describes him as “a historian of colonialism, decolonization, and nationhood in eastern and southern Africa.” His research “explores environmental politics and tensions, and the broad meanings, experiences, and contestations of late-British colonialism, decolonization, and nation-making.”

After reviewing the Chiawa Safaris website and HGTV’s materials, Dr. Schauer told me, via e-mail, that “The family’s presence there is definitely the result of colonialism, and a couple of layers of it. Firstly, resource exploitation in southern Africa related to the mining sector that seems to have drawn the family to southern Africa. And secondly, the ability to move to and settle to what was then the British colony of Northern Rhodesia.”

While it sounds great that the family is “dedication to its guests, staff, local communities and conservation,” the reality is more complicated.

“This model of conservation—national parks and game reserves, protected spaces, tourism—was a product of colonial advocacy, and the protected spaces that emerged from that advocacy were often created through the eviction of Africans,” Dr. Schauer said, noting that “forms of tourism that emerged in the ’50s and early ’60s were highly segregated.”

“The family’s presentation of their history on the Chiawa site certainly glosses over the physical and structural violence that was central to colonialism,” he added. “The dates are a bit vague, but any conservation work that had its roots before 1964 was certainly built in a general environment of huge power imbalances, segregation, and exploitation.” 

The language HGTV used to introduce the series also seemed questionable to me. Why must a show set in Zambia be called “Wild”? After all, the family lives in a city, and they run a luxury resort.

Dr. Schauer told me, “In my teaching I often ask students to consider how Africa is still framed pretty uniformly as a ‘wild space’—in terms of everything from book covers to tourism ads to movie themes—and this seems very much along those lines.”

“The word ‘wild’ “definitely plays to all sorts of stereotypes about Africa. Zambia—just like Africa as a whole—is a complex place, with heavy extractive industry, a long history of urbanization, all the fraught character of conservation history, etc,” he said. “The country played a major role in the liberation struggles from the ’60s through the ’90s, was linked to the Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of African Unity, Commonwealth of Nations, and had leadership that espoused a complex philosophy of humanism. The relationship between state and economy has altered drastically over time, with implications for people’s everyday lives.”

“And yet I have my doubts whether much of this complexity will surface in a show billed in this way,” Schauer added.

I think that’s a reasonable doubt. After all, it’s not in HGTV renovation series’ DNA to be an educational resource about actual renovations, never mind the history of the places where renovations take place. At most, locations get a cursory mention, or become an obstacle to overcome.

Schauer said that the network’s description of the Cumings “work[ing] arm-in-arm” with Ngoli and Juliet “may represent some acknowledgement of the potentially problematic presentation of an otherwise white conservation enterprise.”

Perhaps there will be more such acknowledgements; perhaps Renovation Wild will surprise us, despite its title and framing and casting. Or it just may be a disappointing choice for HGTV’s first time exposing its audiences to life in Zambia.

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About the writer

Andy Dehnart is the creator of reality blurred and a writer and teacher who obsessively and critically covers reality TV and unscripted entertainment, focusing on how it’s made and what it means.

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Wednesday 22nd of November 2023

I enjoyed the show. I recently made a friend from Zambia so I used this show as a way to see Lusaka and the surrounding areas. I found it helpful and informative. I had fun seeing the textiles and construction techniques that they used. Now when I talk to my friend, I know what the Zambezi river looks like! Just because the Cumings' have a complicated family history in Africa doesn't make this a bad show. Lighten up!

Friday 29th of September 2023

Maybe Andy needs to go back to his country since white peoples aren’t from America. You know nothing about Africa how about you worry about your issues “I can’t breathe” and we will worry about ours.

Eldad Golan

Friday 28th of July 2023

I am currently working on the official translation of the show to Hebrew and I couldn't agree more. Beside the colonial aspect, and the sickening sense of entitlment, it is simply a horrible TV show. Either they are complaining about the tight schedule and all the little misshaps, as if someone realy cares, or we see the lady of the house shopping (sourcing as she puts it)for all sorts of local art pieces to decorate her cabins. "It is going to look so romantic", and so on. Boring, mundane characters who may be good at their work but offer no intersting insights or caprivatind ideas. But the words "safari suite" are repeated over and over and over and over again. This is pure garbage, not worth a second of your time, unless you like the most obvious 42 minute commercials for some rich people's resort. Revolting.

Wednesday 7th of June 2023

I've watched a couple of episodes now and I find it entertaining. These people are dumping $450,000 into the renovations, mostly for locally sourced products and local labor. That's a lot to dump into an economy. Would that much be dumped in if they weren't there? They are not doing bad things to the local residents...they are providing them with a way to provide for their families. This is an unfair look into their history to say these people are bad.

all is well but as a show this a mega disaster, endless boredom and nothing more

Monday 5th of June 2023

I am disgusted that HGTV would air such a show. At first I thought it was an old show but became shocked to know it was current. A show disenfranchising black Africans.

Friday 16th of June 2023

@Dionne, how is it disenfranchising black Africans? Do you know what the local economy and job market is like for people living in rural Zambia? Subsistence farming, charcoal production, and moving to the capital are the only options. Genuinely, people need the tourism industry to provide jobs that would be nonexistent otherwise. If it can also support conservation, provide people with a livelihood, offer them opportunities of advancing their careers and support their children in going to school, what "disenfranchisement" is occurring here?

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HGTV HEADS TO ZAMBIA FOR SAFARI RESORT RENOVATION IN FIRST AFRICA-BASED SERIES 'RENOVATION WILD' PREMIERING MONDAY, MAY 15, AT 9 P.M. ET/PT

April 24, 2023

New York [April 24, 2023] Two Zambian safari resorts will get the HGTV treatment in the network's first ever Africa-based series, Renovation Wild , premiering Monday, May 15, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Set amongst the extraordinary surroundings of the majestic Lower Zambezi National Park, the eight-episode series will chronicle the incredible journey of resort owners, Grant and Lynsey Cumings , and their children as they work arm-in-arm with their right-hand man and project manager, Ngoli, and resort manager, Juliet, to take on the challenges of renovating in a remote locale. Throughout the season, they'll face an array of logistical nightmares including monsoon season, extreme supply chain issues and countless exotic wildlife encounters that threaten to halt their plans to upgrade their resort in the middle of the African bush.

"There's nothing more challenging than creating beauty when Mother Nature seems to be out to get you with every move you make," said Grant. "I was born here in Zambia, our safari lodges are here and we're raising our family here, so everything is on the line. And it's survival of the fittest out there."

In the premiere episode, the Cumings family will start renovating their most dilapidated villas first at Old Mondoro, just as the rainy season storms begin. Together they'll lay out the design plans to update the reed villas, refinish the en-suite bathrooms and install a one-of-a-kind al fresco washroom. Later, Grant and Lynsey will head over to their sister property, Chiawa, to make a game plan for its luxe renovation.

Fans can access more Renovation Wild content across HGTV’s digital platforms at HGTV.com and via @HGTV and #RenovationWild on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and TikTok . Follow Grant and Lynsey on Instagram @chiawasafaris .

Renovation Wild is produced by Remedy Television + Branded LLC.

HGTV delivers families with relatable stories, superstar real estate and renovation experts and amazing home transformations that inspire a passionate audience. For anyone seeking entertaining and aspirational home and lifestyle content, HGTV is the place to be. HGTV offers: a top 10 cable network that is distributed to 77 million U.S. households; a website, HGTV.com, that attracts an average of 11 million people each month; a social footprint of nearly 29 million; HGTV Magazine, a monthly publication that reaches more than one million readers; and exclusive collections of home-oriented products through the HGTV Home® consumer products line. Viewers can become fans of HGTV and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts through Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Pinterest ,  Instagram and TikTok . HGTV is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a leading global media and entertainment company available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com . 

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Renovation Wild

Grant and Lynsey begin renovations at their more rustic bush camp, Old Mondoro, where a guest tent and public bathroom are first to meet sledge hammers; monsoon season is upon them, which makes sourcing and transporting supplies a challenge.

Grant and Lynsey look to relocate tent eight at Chiawa Camp, and Lynsey has many ideas for the new tent, including a plunge pool on the back patio; during construction, however, Grant comes across an issue that could throw off their entire deadline.

Grant and Lynsey look to create Starbed Tower, a luxury overnight guest experience in an open-air two-story structure; requiring steel and engineering know-how in the middle of the African bush, it's the most ambitious build they've ever taken on.

Two months into their renovation, Grant and Lynsey look to renovate the pool area; they put their carpentry skills and creative design ideas to work, but they face fierce weather as heavy rains wash out the roads into camp and cause delays.

Grant and Lynsey have reached the halfway point of their renovation and decide to tackle the camp's public lounge area; in order to conquer all of its challenges and risks, this massive undertaking will require real bush ingenuity.

After finishing one of their biggest projects yet, Grant and Lynsey turn their attention to the fire pit at Chiawa Camp and their last tent at Old Mondoro; with over a month before guests arrive, it's all hands on deck to get the camp up and running.

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Renovation Wild

Follows safari camp owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings and their children as they take on the challenges that are unique like remodeling dilapidated lodges on their remote Zambia property. Follows safari camp owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings and their children as they take on the challenges that are unique like remodeling dilapidated lodges on their remote Zambia property. Follows safari camp owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings and their children as they take on the challenges that are unique like remodeling dilapidated lodges on their remote Zambia property.

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HGTV greenlights first Africa-based series, “Renovation Wild”

Hgtv has unveiled the newly greenlit reno series renovation wild, the network’s first series based in africa. promising thrilling renovations along with amazing animal sightings, the series has received an eight-episode ....

HGTV has unveiled the newly greenlit reno series Renovation Wild , the network’s first series based in Africa.

Promising thrilling renovations along with amazing animal sightings, the series has received an eight-episode order and is expected to premiere in the summer of 2023.

The new show will follow safari camp owners Grant and Lynsey Cummings and their children as they take on the challenges of remodeling dilapidated lodges on their remote property in Zambia. Located in a majestic national park, the camp must be built to withstand intense weather as well as multitudes of animal visitors.

Renovation Wild is produced by Remedy Television + Branded.

The Warner Bros. Discovery cable net is rolling out several new series over the course of this summer, including Flip To a Million , set for an August 1 debut, and First Home Fix , slated for an August 27 premiere.

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HGTV’s ‘Renovation Wild’ Is Set in an Idyllic Location — Here’s How Much It Costs To Visit

U nsurprisingly, HGTV has done it again. When it comes to renovation series, the network rarely disappoints. And Renovation Wild is no exception. The home renovation series premiered on May 15, 2023, and features a breathtaking wilderness backdrop. Grant and Lynsey Cumings, along with their kids, work together to transform some already breathtaking properties.

Did you know the two properties spotlighted in the show's first season are legitimate luxury safari resorts? Here is everything you need to know about where Renovation Wild was filmed and how you can visit and stay at the locations featured in the series.

Where is HGTV's ‘Renovation Wild’ filmed?

HGTV’s new renovation series takes place in an incredibly idyllic location. Season 1 of Renovation Wild was filmed at two safari resorts in Zambia, Africa — specifically, Lower Zambezi National Park .

Located in southern Zambia, along the Zimbabwean border, the vast landscape boasts everything from elephants and hippos to lions and buffaloes.

Renowned for its “remarkable concentration of wildlife,” Lower Zambezi National Park attracts nature enthusiasts from far and wide with its abundance of lush wilderness.

Home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, the national park is a sanctuary in and of itself. And Renovation Wild focuses on two resorts in the area owned by Grant and Lynsey Cumings — Old Mondoro Camp and Chiawa Camp.

‘Renovation Wild’ follows the luxe renovation of Old Mondoro and Chiawa Camp.

In the HGTV show’s eight-episode inaugural season, the Cumings family works tirelessly to give their two Zambian resorts some much-needed TLC. Old Mondoro is the primary focus of the first episode, with Grant and Lynsey brainstorming how to update their property ahead of monsoon season.

However, Chiawa Camp appears to be the star of the show. The multi-award-winning safari resort was the first of its kind in Zambia, featuring luxury tens that provide breathtaking views of the Zambezi River.

During their stay, guests can participate in everything from guided game drives and walks (prepare to see elephants, lions, leopards, and more!) to canoeing and boating.

Not only that, but the culinary team at Chiawa Camp offers seasonal cuisine of the highest quality.

Old Mondoro , on the other hand, is far smaller than its sister, featuring five sleek chalets. The goal of Old Mondoro is simple: provide “a ‘back to the bush’ atmosphere that centralizes on the wildlife and wilderness experience.”

Old Mondoro and Chiawa Camp rates cost a pretty penny.

Given the popularity of Old Mondoro and Chiawa Camps prior to Renovation Wild , those interested in staying at the luxury safari resorts should book their stay at least one year in advance. Aspiring guests can email the reservations team at [email protected] for an official price estimate.

In the meantime, Classic Portfolio also provides expected rates for Chiawa Camp in 2023. For a safari tent during shoulder season (May 1 - June 30 and Oct. 16 - Nov. 14), prices start at $1,205 per adult.

During peak season (July 1 - Oct. 15), prices begin at $1,635 per adult. Anyone interested in a safari suite can anticipate paying $1,500 per adult during shoulder season and $1,945 per adult during peak season. Though for some, the experience alone is well worth the cost of staying at the Renovation Wild locations.

Catch new episodes of Renovation Wild Sundays on HGTV at 9 p.m. EST.

L O A D I N G .

Renovation Wild

HGTV Renovation Wild  is the newest series from the home and garden network. It follows Grant and Lynsey Cummings as they renovate and rebuild their world-renown safari camps in Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia.

The Cumings’ two camps, Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro, are located in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, and zebras. The camps offer guests the chance to experience the beauty of the African bush up close, while also providing luxurious accommodations and impeccable service.

As you can expect, there are unique challenges to renovating a safari property deep in the African bush. To start, they have to conduct their renovations during the off season when guests aren’t in camp. This also happens to be the rainy season, with rains frequently washing out the roads. As Grant says in  HGTV Renovation Wild , “There are no hardware store within 200 miles…gasoline, food…Everything is transported by plane, boat, and 4×4.” But through it all, they never give up on their dream of creating two world-class safari camps.

Chiawa Camp

In 1989, the Cummings Family created the very first photo safari operation in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Since then, the area has become one of Africa’s most sought-after safari destinations. It is here where David Livingstone ventured nearly 150 years previously. Chiawa Camp rests peacefully on the banks of the Zambezi River, under a grove of evergreen Mahogany trees. It is a prime position in the heart of Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park.

Chiawa camp is Grant and Lynsey’s more luxurious camp. During  HGTV Renovation Wild , Grant and Lynsey rework and rebuild tents Seven and Eight, the Safari Suite, Upper Deck, fire pit area, and swimming pool. They relocated and rebuilt tents Seven and Eight due to erosion of the banks of the river. Meanwhile, the Safari Suite received a total design overhaul and structural work. Grant and Lynsey also take on their most ambitious project – building Starbed Tower, a 2 story luxury treehouse without a roof for the most amazing African sleepout experience.

Chiawa’s tents sit nestled amid the bush and alongside the river, each with its own private pathway and deck. The tents are beautifully decorated and furnished, and they offer stunning views of the surrounding bush. Every tent has a king-size bed, Egyptian cotton sheets, en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, and nostalgic claw foot bathtubs.

Activities at Chiawa Camp

There are a number of activities to enjoy while at the Chiawa Camp, including game drives, bush walks, and canoe trips. Gaming by boat and fishing, including the popular tiger-fishing, are also available. Guests are also invited to dine on a mix of African and European dishes, which are made with fresh, authentic Zambian ingredients.

Old Mondoro

Old Mondoro sits 25 minutes by boat from Chiawa Camp. It is Grant and Lynsey’s more rustic camp, trading in the ultra-luxurious in favor of the authentic to support one of the best adventure bushcamp safari experiences in Africa.

The tents at Old Mondoro are more immersive in nature with outdoor showers under the stars and baths that look out onto the Zambezi River. Tents are made with hand cut reeds and canvas. They feature king size beds draped in mosquito nets, and timber sun decks dotted with comfy daybeds for relaxation among the wild.

In  HGTV Renovation Wild , the show follows the Grants as they renovate the family suite and main lounge area. They also completely overhaul their “Loo with a View” to make it a bit more private, building a platform to raise it up into the trees and elevate the experience for the guests.

Activities at Old Mondoro

At Old Mondoro, guests have a front-row seat to the wildlife that traverse the Lower Zambezi National Park. The specific stretch of the riverbank is one of the most beautiful along the Zambezi. It welcomes droves of elephants as they pass by on their way to the waters. Dine alfresco under the stars, around the campfire, and even on a boat in the middle of the Zambezi.

Guests of Old Mondoro also benefit from an unusually wide range of land and water-based activities. Additionally, some of the most impressive guiding on the continent happens at Old Mondoro. Its enviable location boasts intense lion, buffalo, and elephant populations and some of the most prolific leopard sightings in Africa. Outside of day and night game drives, the Lower Zambezi region is particularly lovely for bush walks, canoe trips, catch and release angling, boat cruises, and river safaris to witness the biodiversity in a more relaxing setting.

See HGTV Renovation Wild’s Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro:

HGTV Renovation Wild  is sure to inspire you to plan your own safari adventure to Africa. The designers at Ker & Downey can help.  Contact us  to start planning your  journey to Chiawa Camp  and Old Mondoro in Zambia. For daily travel inspiration  follow Ker & Downey  on social media.

Is Renovation Wild Scripted or Real?

HGTV’s ‘Renovation Wild’ takes the exciting home renovation show genre to Africa, following resort owners Grant and Lynsey Cumings, who take it upon themselves to renovate and update their jungle resort. Even though Grant and Lynsey are joined by their children and other staff members, working in the African heat is pretty tough. On top of it, the judge brings its own set of challenges as the group faces pesky pests, extreme weather conditions, and supply chain issues during the process.

Since ‘Renovation Wild’ is set in the backdrop of the African bush, there are some viewers who wonder if the entire thing is pre-written and recorded in a studio. Furthermore, some fans even question the authenticity of the renovations and are doubtful about the show’s unscripted nature. Well, let’s dive in and find out if ‘Renovation Wild’ is scripted or real, shall we?

Is Renovation Wild Scripted?

HGTV has always presented ‘Renovation Wild’ as an unscripted reality show, and we find no reason to believe otherwise. However, readers should note that, like most reality shows, the production team plays an integral role in pre-planning some stages in order to ensure a smooth filming process. Nevertheless, in order for a show to be completely authentic, it has to do away with pre-written scripts of all kinds. While pre-determined actions cannot be rehearsed and enacted in front of the camera, the production team is expected to stay away from influencing the narrative.

Besides, even the participants are given complete freedom to be themselves in front of the camera, and whatever we see on screen is spontaneous and authentic. ‘Renovation Wild’ ticks off the first box as we can confirm that it is shot on location in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, Africa. On top of it, the resort owned by Grant and Lynsey Cumings is a real-world property that draws in tourists from around the world.

Readers would also be interested to know that all of the participants who appear on the show, from the owners and their children to the resort manager, Juliet, the project manager, Ngoli, as well as the other staff, are authentic professionals, and aren’t being made to put on an act for the show. In fact, while on the show, Grant Cumings even talks about life in the African wilderness and says, “I was born here in Zambia, our safari lodges are here, and we’re raising our family here, so everything is on the line. And it’s survival of the fittest out there.”

While it is evident that the production team vets every cast member before inviting them to be a part of the show, they rarely involve themselves in the narrative and mostly remain passive onlookers. For example, when the renovation team faces numerous challenges in the form of extreme weather conditions and supply chain issues, it would not take much for the producers to step in and solve the crisis. However, instead of stepping in, they let the renovators deal with the problems as they see fit while cameras document everything from the successes to the failures.

Additionally, we can confirm that most of the renovation is paid for by the owners themselves. They even get to keep the changes after the cameras stop rolling. Moreover, the professionals portrayed on the show possess years of experience and knowledge in their respective fields, which adds to the show’s authenticity. That being said, readers should note that most shows are made for profit, and the network benefits massively from an increase in viewership. Hence, producers have the freedom to make minor edits during post-processing in order to make the show more attractive. However, this has little to no effect on the show’s authenticity, and ‘Renovation Wild’ is as unscripted as a reality show can be.

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Renovation Wild

Renovation wild episodes, safari so good.

Grant and Lynsey begin renovations at their more rustic bush camp, Old Mondoro, where a guest tent and public bathroom are first to meet sledge hammers. Also, monsoon season is upon them, which makes sourcing and transporting supplies a challenge.

Taking the Plunge

Grant and Lynsey look to relocate Tent Eight at Chiawa Camp, and Lynsey has many ideas for the new tent including a plunge pool on the back patio. During construction, however, Grant comes across an issue that could throw off their entire deadline.

Starbed Tower

Grant and Lynsey look to create Starbed Tower, a luxury overnight guest experience in an open-air two-story structure. Requiring steel and engineering know-how in the middle of the African bush, it's the most ambitious build they've ever taken on.

Poolside Luxury

Two months into their renovation, Grant and Lynsey look to renovate the pool area at Chiawa Camp. They put their carpentry skills and creative design ideas to work, but they face fierce weather as heavy rains wash out the roads into camp and cause delays.

Old World Feel

Grant and Lynsey have reached the halfway point of their renovation and decide to tackle Old Mondoro's Sitenje, the camp's public lounge area. In order to conquer all of its challenges and risks, this massive undertaking will require real bush ingenuity.

Fire Pit Forging

After finishing one of their biggest projects yet, Grant and Lynsey turn their attention to the fire pit at Chiawa Camp and their last tent at Old Mondoro. With just over a month before guests arrive, it's all hands on deck to get the camp up and running.

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