Accommodation

South Luangwa National Park

Chikoko Trails incorporates two small and exclusive bush camps, Chikoko Tree Camp and Big Lagoon (previously known as Crocodile River Camp). In 2022 Crocodile River Camp was relocated to the historic Big Lagoon site, overlooking an extensive lagoon from the surrounding ebony forest. Located on the west bank in the South Luangwa National Park, a few kilometres upstream from parent camp Tafika, Chikoko and Big Lagoon are only accessible on foot and offer unparalleled walking safaris – being immersed in the idyll of remotest Africa. On foot, the minutiae of the bush come to the fore: the smells; the essence of the macro world and a sense of timelessness. On foot, biggest herbivores become gentle giants as giraffes and elephants tower over you and the buffalo are now on eye level. The Luangwa's predators now become the prey as you track lions prints from the night before. It is the realness of the experience, that dash of adrenaline associated with standing downwind of an elephant and catching its unmistakable scent that make walking safaris unforgettable.

Description

Includes: all safari activities, meals, local drinks, laundry & park fees
Excludes: imported wines, premium brands & spirits

Detailed Itinerary: 1 night Nkwali Camp, 5 nights Mobile Walking, 1 night Nsefu/Tena Tena

Day 1: Nkwali Camp
On arrival at Mfuwe International Airport a guide from Robin Pope Safaris will meet you. The drive to Nkwali Camp is 1 hour through colourful local scenes of villages, agriculture as well as bush. Nkwali Camp has a wide view of the Luangwa River. Nkwali is located on Robin’s private land, overlooking the South Luangwa National Park and ideally situated for the start of your safari. The camp’s six rooms all look out over the river with open-air bathrooms. Depending on your arrival time during the day you will enjoy a lunch looking out over the lagoon or afternoon tea before the afternoon and night game drive.

Day 2: Mobile Camp
After an early breakfast, you will be heading north to start your walking mobile safari. Your drive is some 90kms to the Mupamadzi River along a bush road, through remote parts of the park. You arrive in camp for lunch around midday. The camp is already set up for your arrival with well-equipped walk-in tents. The shower is under a tree and the toilet is a long drop with a wooden throne. Enjoy a relaxing siesta after lunch, before tea and going for a walk around camp in the afternoon before returning for sundowners and dinner in the open under the stars!

Day 3: Mobile Camp
This morning will be up at sunrise for the morning walk to explore this remote and wild area with varied terrain and habitats where the game is shy and unused to man. From ants to buffalo, a bird’s nest to tracking a lion, you will learn the many facets of the bush. The mobile camp will be packed and moved to Camp 2 and lunch will be ready as you arrive late morning. Lunch will be followed by siesta and an afternoon walk.

Day 4 - 6: Mobile Camp
Day four will be spend exploring the area on foot before returning to the same campsite. On day five the camp will be moved again to camp 3 during the morning as you walk further down the river. The Mupamadzi River is a major tributary of the Luangwa. All walks are led by an experienced naturalist and accompanied by an armed game scout.

Day 7: Tena Tena or Nsefu Camp
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Luangwa River crossing point opposite Tena Tena. This is a 4 to 5 hour drive. Tena Tena staff will meet and boat the party across the river for a 20 minute drive to Tena Tena camp.

In an enviable location on the edge of a lagoon where hippos snort and elephant wallow, stands Chindeni - undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, tented camps in the South Luangwa.

Theres something about sleeping under canvas that ignites a sense of adventure in everyone. At Chindeni you can combine that thrill with style and comfort in one of its four opulent tents. Gaze out from your private veranda onto the lagoon which attracts birds and animals from miles around. Or settle back with a gin-and-tonic in the central lounge and dining area - a glorious expanse of decking arranged on several levels around the surrounding ebony trees, boasting, of course, the same spectacular view of the serene lagoon and its inhabitants

Immerse yourself in wilderness and luxurious comfort at this intimate riverside retreat

Mchenja is the local name for ebony, and the camp is tucked into a shady ebony grove beside the Luangwa River in the heart of South Luangwa National Park.

Its five safari tents (including a two-bedroom, two-bathroom family safari tent) are pure, natural elegance with grass walls, soft cushions and light-as-air curtains. Each has a feather-top bed, large picture windows and open air en-suite bathroom with a bath looking out onto the river.

At breakfast, listen to a chorus of birdsong and laughing hippos. Between safari activities, relax in the refreshing pool overlooking the Luangwa river.

Pull yourself away from camp to track big cats through the bush with hushed voices and beating hearts. Night drives are always rewarding, with the bush revealing a different nocturnal surprise every time. At the right time of year, this is one of the best camps in the park for seeing carmine bee-eaters.

Its hard not to be seduced by the charm of Bilimungwe.

Here, the traditions of the African bushcamp meet elegance and style to create a stunning camp that feels like it has grown organically out of the surrounding landscape. Set beneath a huge mahogany tree, the heart of Bilimungwe is the cool, shady lounge area that looks out over one of the camps three waterholes. Settle down in a cosy armchair with a sundowner and relax as you watch an enviable display of spectacular birds and animals that clearly feel as comfortable here as you do. With the open waters of the Luangwa River also on your doorstep and a nearby plain where leopard prowl, its clear that this is a nature-lovers paradise, and with Manda Chisanga - Bilimungwes award-winning resident guide - to lead you, you could not be in better hands. (In the event that Manda is not available, another guide from The Bushcamp Companys excellent and experienced team will be on hand).

Overlooking the banks of the Luangwa River listening to the soothing sounds of the bush relax and surround yourself with the wildlife of South Luangwa. Watch as herds of elephants cross the river, giraffe come to drink, hippos bathe in their pods, monkeys chatter through the trees and if you are lucky watch the cats amble down the river banks in search of their next meal. Take a dip in our refreshing pool overlooking the river as you allow nature to revive and soothe the soul. Soak in the stunning views with a cold drink from the bar and enjoy as the many animals cross the river at sundown, in what can arguably be one of the best sunset spots in Africa. 

The newest camp in our collection, Zungulila is a charming camp that embodies the essence of old Africa and a bygone era, with breathtaking views onto the Kapamba river and an expansive plain where natural springs attract huge herds of game. Zungulila is eminently peaceful, and you may be tempted to stay forever!

Meaning ‘heaven’ in our local language, Mwamba is the quintessential African bushcamp.   Our intimate camp features just 4 rustic rooms, authentically recreated each year using woven reed, thatch and other natural materials. 

The rooms are perched overlooking the dry, meandering Mwamba riverbed with comfortable, shaded verandas from which to enjoy the abundant birdlife and feeling of total serenity.

Gauzed skylights offer views of the stars enjoyed from the luxury of your deep, king size bed.  Clean and silent solar power provides each room with lighting and cooling fans for the summer months. The ensuite, outdoor bathrooms elevate the bush experience further with carved stone basins and steaming hot bucket showers allowing you to feel even more emersed in and connected with nature.

Delicious meals and stories of the day’s encounters are shared around the glowing campfire with our central bar and dining area snugly located under the shade of twisted ebony trees.

When not out exploring the bush, guests can enjoy the camps famous 'Last waterhole hide'. A short walk from the camp, this productive hide is truly a wildlife enthusiasts dream spot.

Take in spectacular views of the Luangwa River from your perch high above on its bank

Kakuli, meaning old buffalo bull, was the nickname given by locals to Norman Carr, the pioneer of walking safaris.

Its five bright and airy safari tents (including a two-bedroom, two-bathroom family safari tent) are designed to make the most of the panoramic setting, each offering a feather-top bed, indoor and outdoor showers and a covered open-air seating area.

The elevated main lounge overlooks the river and a permanent lagoon. Beneath it, a wildlife hide offers up-close views of visitors stopping by for a drink. Take a deep breath and admire the sweeping vista with a refreshing drink of your own before sampling traditional Zambian dishes at dinner.

The camp makes a great base for exploring by vehicle and on foot, with a resident lion pride, a seasonal colony of jewel-like carmine bee-eaters and the most sightings of leopards in a single drive every year. During the lush emerald ‘green season’ venture out by boat and on foot to enjoy some of the best opportunities for wildlife and landscape photography.

Luangwa River Camp sits nestled under an ebony grove on the banks of the Luangwa River, in a game rich area.

Set under the shade of ancient mahogany trees on the banks of the Luangwa River, our authentic Zambian bush camp is the gateway to one of the most remote and unspoilt areas of South Luangwa National Park. Island Bush Camp offers a pure wilderness experience with walking safaris at the core of its activities. You will have the park to yourself!

Tafika Camp’s location on the east bank of the Luangwa River, north of the Nsefu Sector of the South Park, makes it ideal for those who enjoy the serenity of the bush. Here, exceptional game viewing is combined with exciting activities including daily day and night drives, mountain bike safaris, walking safaris, visits to the local Mkasanga Village and microlighting in May (only offered in May). Tafika also has two hides which offer the opportunity of game viewing in-between activities. Hides overlook the camp waterhole which is frequented by herds of elephant, bushbuck, puku, impala, mongoose and several bird species.

The Nsefu sector boasts some of the finest leopard viewing in Africa. This, combined with the abundance of diverse game populations; some of the most experienced guides in the valley, and the unusual and exhilarating safari activities available, make for an unforgettable African adventure. The Luangwa Valley is known as The Valley of the Leopard for good reason, and you have an extremely high chance of seeing several of these spotted beauties during your stay.

Tafika Camp is seasonally operated and is open during the dry season from the 1st of May to the 15th of November. Due to its remote location, exclusive sightings are the norm as there is very low congestion in the area.

Tafika Camp accommodates up to 14 guests in six spacious chalets with en suite facilities, built from natural materials around the trunks of stunning sausage and leadwood trees. Four chalets have twin double beds in each room; the honeymoon suite has an enormous king size bed; and a final chalet with two rooms, a king size bed and two doubles serves as the family suite. The family chalet has an add-on hide which overlooks the camps waterhole.

Robins House offers the perfect exclusive safari, a home away from home experience, ideal for those seeking a more indulgent type of safari.

Lion Camp is a privately owned safari lodge in one of the best safari locations in Zambia. with just 10 safari suites, it is built on the edge of an oxbow lagoon which attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Game viewing in and around camp is spectacular with lions, leopards, wild dogs, large herds of elephant and buffalo, the highest concentration of hippo in Africa, incredible bird viewing, and plentiful sightings of the unique Thornicroft’s Giraffe, Cookson’s Wildebeest and Crawshay’s Zebra. Savannas, woodlands and the meandering Luangwa River form the backdrop to this amazing part of the South Luangwa.

Lion Camp operates in Zambia’s dry season from  21 May to 31 October.

Theres something undeniably special about Kuyenda. Set beneath shady trees by the Manzi River, it may be the simplest of our camps, but Kuyenda embodies the authentic charm of old Africa, with its cluster of six raised reed and thatch rondavel chalets and a central lounge and dining area with a back-to-nature feel. As for the wildlife, you hardly need look for it as it will come to you. Settle down in the lounge and look out over the rippling grasses of the neighbouring plain where the drama of the African wilderness is played out each day.

Theres nothing quite like waking up at Chamilandu.

Early morning views dont get much better than the rippling waters of the Luangwa River, the gentle rise of the Chindeni Hills and a vast African sky - especially when youre lying in a four poster bed in a handsome stilted tree-house. You dont even need to leave your bed to see the wildlife - from your unique vantage point you can watch as animals roam across the landscape, or swing through the trees above your head.

There are just three stilted chalets at this exclusive camp, set on the riverbank beneath a soaring ebony grove. Enjoy a sundowner from the comfort of the thatched bar and dining area, as you watch the wildlife do the same at the river.

Exceptional game viewing and understated elegance make Chamilandu a place to remember

Luangwa Safari House is an extraordinary castles-like house giving you space, luxury and comfort with nature on your doorstep.

Three Rivers Camp is a luxury tented safari lodge set at the confluence of the Luangwa, Kapamba and Lusangazi Rivers in South Luangwa, Zambia. The stylish tents sit under shady sausage trees facing the Luangwa River or the game-rich lagoon.

Three Rivers Camp is the first camp to be established on the border of the Malama Chiefdom and the national park. Its location is simply spectacular. The rooms are set far apart with the wildlife passing through camp. The dining area offers boundless views of both the Luangwa and the Kapamba River where hippos love to bask on the white river sand. Three of the tents are positioned right on the edge of the oxbow lagoon, teeming with wildlife, and our guests can relax on the plush daybeds while observing giraffes and waterbucks strolling by. For the guests moving on to Island Bush Camp next, we recommend the experience of walking between both camps.

Kafunta River Lodge is a classic Zambian safari lodge, combining all the essentials for a great safari, including its spectacular location at the edge of the floodplain. Beyond the plain, lies the Luangwa River – one of the best game viewing areas in the magical South Luangwa National Park. This is indeed the premier park in Zambia and one of the best national parks in Africa. The lodge was fully renovated in 2019 and offers a relaxed atmosphere and great attention to details. We love what we do and we can’t wait to share this with you!

At Kafunta River Lodge, each of the luxury private chalets, the main lounge and the dining decks overlook the game-rich floodplain. Our eight safari chalets stand on raised wooden platforms and have thatched roofs and private viewing decks. They are pleasantly decorated to match the local style. We also have two spacious luxury suites with extra-large en-suite bathrooms. Each suite features a cosy mezzanine with additional day beds and an open balcony. Our rooms all have comfortable sitting areas with coffee and tea facilities and a small fridge stocked with refreshing drinks.

Our partnership with legendary guide, Jacob Shawa, not only inspired the name of Shawa Luangwa Camp; it created the foundation for us to bring Silent Safaris to the South Luangwa.

Like us, Jacob fell in love with the Zambian wilderness many years ago and has been deeply connected to it ever since. The spot where Shawa Luangwa sits overlooking the Luangwa River was handpicked by Jacob and is one of the park’s most untouched areas.

Voted one of Wanderlust’s top 8 best professional guides and one of the finest people you will meet, Jacob is at the heart of Shawa Luangwa’s story.

Welcome to your unforgettable wildlife safari at Flatdogs Camp! Our Zambian safari camp provides an affordable, authentic bush gateway to the South Luangwa National Park - one of the last great wildlife wonders of the world.

Within our range of great value South Luangwa safari accommodation options, Flatdogs Camp welcomes every type of safari-goer to rest their head. There are the family-friendly Chalet Rooms, the wild and luxurious Jackalberry Treehouse, the traditional Safari Tents with 270° views, and the ultra-private Crocodile Nest.

The South Luangwa National Park is a pristine wilderness in eastern Zambia, and is part of the broader Luangwa Valley. The Valley is home to an astonishing diversity of life, including around 100 species of mammals, more than 400 bird species and over 2000 types of plants.

Added to this, there is an amazing density of game, particularly along the riverine strip. Our guests often comment that ‘there’s something around every corner.

Flatdogs is the closest camp to the Mfuwe main gate of South Luangwa National Park. All our South Luangwa safari activities are led by a fully-qualified guide, and include morning drives, night drives, and walking safaris.

The professionalism and skills of our guides are what get you to the best sightings with the fewest number of humans around. We normally limit numbers to six guests per vehicle and our guides use their guiding skills, not their radios, to find the game. You might sit listening to the sounds of the bush, alone in the wilderness, when the guide hears an alarm call. What better way to find a leopard?

The South Luangwa is one of the few parks in Africa to allow night drives, and the guides’ knowledge of animal behaviour really pays off after dark. Knowing where predators might hunt, which other predators might be around to take advantage, and how to ensure we don’t interfere with the normal behaviour of these animals is crucial to your enjoyment.

Nsefu Camp, the first photographic safari camp in Zambia offers charm, history, exclusivity and comfort in the best location in the South Luangwa National Park.

Introducing the Sunset House, our latest and exclusive lodging option nestled near Kafunta River Lodge, on the edge of the South Luangwa National Park. Created to provide the perfect setting for family multi-generational getaways or intimate gatherings of friends in search of secluded retreats, the Sunset House promises a one-of-a-kind and memorable experience complete with personalised services and activities.  

The name Sunset House is inspired by the breathtaking sunsets witnessed over the Luangwa River, a particularly enchanting moment to share with friends and family.

The Sunset House is composed of two separate units. The main unit has two spacious en-suite bedrooms (one with a king size bed and one with twin beds)  with a comfortable lounge in between. A few meters away, the adjacent unit houses the third en-suite bedroom with a king-sized bed. 

The bedrooms are super spacious with a sitting area, where an extra bed can be accommodated. In total the Sunset House can therefore host up to 9 guests. 

The outdoor area boasts a generously-sized swimming pool, surrounded by an expansive deck with comfy chairs and shaded by umbrellas. It also include a dining area, and extends to a lower deck complete with a cozy fireplace – the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset!

With private activities and dining, the emphasis is on flexibility, allowing you to plan and structure your day according to your preferences. 

Ease yourself into Luangwa life with a stay at the award-winning Mfuwe Lodge. Set inside the park, just five minutes drive from the main gate, the lodges allure is instantly obvious. Beneath a canopy of ebony and mahogany, its eighteen air-conditioned chalets are arranged around the banks of two lagoons.

The open plan reception, lounge, dining, and bar areas have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and is furnished in a contemporary African style, complementing its natural surroundings.

An endless stream of wildlife will keep you enthralled as you lounge or dine on the open deck or take a dip in the swimming pool.

This region of the park is renowned for its prolific game - giraffe, hippos, buffalo, antelope, and crocodile are constant visitors to Mfuwe Lodges lagoon, whilst in November the local elephants regularly wander right through the lobby, lured by a nearby wild mango tree. Whether you stay overnight, or just have lunch en route to a Bushcamp, Mfuwe Lodges relaxed charm and enviable surroundings make it the perfect stopover.

Mfuwe Lodge also offers you the chance to relax at its Bush-Spa offering a lovely refuge to wind down and relax during some quiet time at the Lodge.

You can also buy mementos of your time in Zambia at our curio shop

Newly renovated with no aspect left unattended to, the upgraded Puku Ridge blends style and comfort seamlessly with nature. From the elegant architectural lines to the thoughtfully outfitted game viewing vehicles and the perfectly-positioned photographic hide in front of the camp’s private watering hole.

Located well inside the incredible South Luangwa National Park with an outlook onto a private floodplain and watering hole, this remote and elevated landscape framed is enriched by the rolling gait of giraffe, the heart-shaped nose of the puku, and the midnight whoop of the hyena.  

A collaboration between its new owners, Chichele Safaris, and the Cumings Family of Chiawa Camp & Old Mondoro – the reimagined Puku Ridge is situated on one of the Park’s prime sites.

The well-known and much loved facilities, service and guiding have been upgraded to the highest of standards that the Cumings Family’s own Lower Zambezi safari camps have become renowned. Unique in design but traditional in outlook, it has been completely rebuilt with a lighter footprint.

Elements from the Luangwa bush camps of old have been combined with traditional village life and authentic, local art works complement crucial creature comforts making for one of the most appealing and welcome safari camp launches for many years.

Previous guests of the old Puku Ridge will feel that everything has changed, but nothing has changed, as many special touches from the past have been retained.

In a remote corner of the South Luangwa National Park lies Kapamba, a camp that combines the isolation and superb game-viewing opportunities of a true bushcamp with a touch of... dare we say it... luxury.

Set on the banks of the shallow, spring-fed eponymous river, Kapamba is surrounded by some of the parks richest wildlife. The central living and dining area is positioned under a huddle of matumi and sausage trees, opening onto an extended deck with a swimming pool, and views of the Kapamba River.

And if thats still not close enough for you, why not enjoy your G&T from the middle of the river itself, your feet dipped in the cool, crystal shallows.

Experience the ultimate in wild luxury at Zambia’s premier safari camp

Named after a type of tree which grows near camp, Time + Tide Chinzombo’s natural building materials and vintage accents blend modern style with the best of a traditional bush safari camp.

Its six spacious luxury safari tents (including a two-bedroom, two-bathroom family tent) rest beneath ancient msikizi trees. Each has a private pool and soaking tub with panoramic views over the river and its abundant wildlife.

The luxury safari tents’ award-winning design features canvas, timber and reed, accented with leather and raw linen. Each stretches out onto a shaded verandah where you can while away the afternoon or unwind with an in-room spa treatment.

Down a winding path, the main lodge beckons. Lounge on the riverfront sun deck with a book from the open-air library. Enjoy dinner under the stars, made with produce we grow ourselves. Sip a drink at bar while browsing through old books and photos or around the fire pit suspended high atop the river bank.

This is one of the most game-rich areas of South Luangwa National Park. Take a boat across the river with our experienced guides for a game drive, safari walk or boat cruise (seasonal) to catch sight of lions, leopards and other predator action.

Chikunto Safari Lodge is a superb new boutique luxury Lodge located on an amazing site within the world-renowned South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Itself recognised as one of Africas premier National Parks and has been described by many as the real Africa. Known as the Valley of the Leopard and famous for its high density of game and the absence of high-volume game-viewing traffic it is a huge bonus to actually be based inside the park itself.

Chikunto was built with the assistance of local villagers from the rural Mfuwe area, under the guidance of the German/Swiss owners, and is renowned for its game-rich location, the quality of its Guiding and the superb food it consistently delivers. The close bond with the local Community has been retained, with many of the locals involved with the original construction being re-trained and continuing to work as part of the Chikunto Family. 

This not only gives back to the local Community, but also helps to ensure the next level of customer service.

With 5 spacious luxury Tented Suites it never feels crowded at Chikunto. However the extra-large firepit provides an ideal space around which you can gather for a pre-Dinner drink or two and discuss some of the days sightings. For those of you that might be thinking of travelling with family or a few friends the option of Exclusive Use is becoming increasingly popular, with small photo-specialist groups coming on a regular basis.

Tena Tena Camp is synonymous with Robin Pope Safaris as it was their first camp and has become a favourite amongst many safari lovers over the years.

Watch a parade of wildlife pass by at one of Zambia’s most historical safari camps

Named after the honeyguide bird, Time + Tide Nsolo plays host to some of the most striking and unusual bird species in South Luangwa National Park.

Its five charming safari tents stretch out on raised wooden platforms along a bend in the seasonal Luwi River. Each has a feather-top bed, open air en-suite bathroom and a shady private deck offering views of a permanent river lagoon that teems with wildlife.

Sited alongside an elephant path, there’s no end to the action around camp. Chuckle at warthogs and vervet monkeys while enjoying a cold local beer from the bar. Enjoy life’s simple pleasures with afternoon tea and cake in the spacious main lounge.

With a regular wild dog den nearby and lion prides using the dry riverbed as a thoroughfare, walking and driving safaris around the camp offer big game viewing at its best. Time + Tide Nsolo also makes a great base for our signature activity: the ‘Sleepout Under the Stars’.

Nkwali Camp is an intimate and authentic property offering understated elegance, seclusion and superb service in the heart of the Luangwa Valley.

Feel a million miles away at this remote bush camp in walking safari heaven

An oasis set deep in the heart of South Luangwa National Park, with no other camps around for miles, Time + Tide Luwi is named after the seasonal river that flows between January and April.

Its five cosy safari tents are nestled under a grove of ancient mahogany trees overlooking a floodplain that attracts hippos and elephants. Rebuilt every year, they’re designed to fully immerse guests in the bush experience. Each has a feather-top bed, open air en-suite bathroom and a peaceful outdoor seating area for watching the wildlife wander by.

Take a nap in the hammock beside the main lounge, enveloped in tranquillity. Enjoy a pre-dinner gin and tonic in the inviting open-air bar. Relive your favourite moments of the day over a delicious Zambian-inspired meal in the wild.

Nearby, a wildlife hide overlooks a lively oxbow lagoon—perfect for photography. Combine safari walks with day and night game drives to explore everything the bush has to offer.

Located deep within the park in an area renowned for Leopard, Kaingo Camp offers just 6 traditional brick and thatch rooms nestled discretely along the banks of the Luangwa River.

Large, gauzed windows and skylights offer uninterrupted views and a real sense of being immersed in nature.  The spacious and beautifully styled rooms feature comfortable king size beds, solar powered charging points and fan, with the choice of indoor shower or indulgent outdoor bathtub.   When not out on activity, guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of the bush from their shaded veranda, day bed or private viewing deck perched high above river.

At the heart of this friendly and relaxed camp, guests can come together in our open sided lounge and dining area, sharing a drink over the thousand-year-old leadwood bar.

Our lower deck extends out over the Luangwa with large, comfy sofas for guests to curl up and enjoy the sights and sounds of the river and its wild residents.

Two of our world-famous hides are just a short drive from the camp.  The towering Elephant Hide, sited at an ancient elephant crossing point on the river, and the Hippo Hide. Built into the riverbank and offering a breath-taking, eye-level perspective of our resident hippo pod.