Zambia : South Luangwa National Park

One of Zambia's finest parks and one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries South Luangwa National Park is an area of outstanding beauty where walking safaris are some of the best in Africa. There is a huge variety of game within the park, including large numbers of lion and leopard and it was originally established to protect the unique Thornicroft's Giraffe. The best way to get close to the animals and learn about the area is on a walking safari where you will walk to and between the bush camps.

Quick links:
Kapani Lodge Luwi Bush Camp
Nsolo Bush Camp Kakuli Bush Camp
Mchenja Bush Camp Nsefu Camp

Kapani Lodge
Kapani Lodge is an exclusive, privately owned camp situated on a large lagoon beside the Luangwa River accommodating a maximum of 20 guests. The ten brick and thatch rooms are designed for the warmer weather with high ceilings, overhead fans and large gauzed windows. Each of the eight standard suites has an en-suite bathroom and sitting area with a bar fridge. The two Lagoon Houses overlook the Kapani Lagoon and are very private and spacious with en-suite facilities.

A thatched building in the centre of camp houses the bar and sitting area and is a pleasant place to relax between game drives. According to the season, dining is al fresco with dinner taken on the terrace and brunch taken on a shady platform overlooking the lagoon. There is a small gift shop offering books and local crafts as well as a secluded swimming pool at the far end of camp. Kapani Lodges offer walking safaris and game drives, night drives as well as superb game viewing from the camp itself.

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standard suites sitting area shady platform
secluded swimming pool walking safari game drives

Luwi Bush Camp
Luwi Bush Camp sets the idea of the perfect bush camp simple, unobtrusive and comfortable, it is deep within the National Park with all the animal activity happening all around you. There are four thatched bamboo huts set in a beautifully shady grove of trees on the banks off the Luwi sand river. Each room is en-suite with a flush loo and hot showers.

Your meals are served around a table under the trees and in the evening a myriad of stars and the noises of the African night are your company around the campfire. The main activity from Luwi Bush Camp are the walking safaris, which are done with a qualified guide and armed guard, there are also the opportunity to watch large mammals in close proximity at the surrounding waterholes. Walking safaris give you an opportunity to learn more about your surrounding habitat as your guide will point out tracks and other indications of wildlife activity that you would miss from a vehicle.

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thatched bamboo huts table under the trees large mammals

Nsolo Bush Camp
Nsolo Bush Camp is named after the local word for the Honey-guide bird. The camp has four spacious canvas roofed, en-suite chalets built on raised wooden decks with reed walls and en-suite bathrooms.

Each chalet is set under the shade of large evergreen trees with private verandas overlooking the surrounding bush. There is a thatched chitenje with a bar and dining room offering a peaceful refuge where guests can study the camps collection of books or view a variety of game at the waterhole.

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spacious canvas roofed raised wooden decks chitenje

Kakuli Bush Camp
Kakuli has five traditional walk-in safari tents each with en-suite open-air bathrooms made from natural materials. Kakuli is located on the confluence of the Luwi and the Luangwa rivers. The bar and dining chitenje is constructed of reed and thatch the centre point of camp. This building along with each of the tents is on an elevated stretch of riverbank overlooking a wide grazing lawn that follows the Luangwa River until it meets the Luwi River.

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walk in safari tents open air bathrooms reed and thatch

Mchenja Bush Camp
Mchenja Bush Camp lies hidden in a shady grove of age-old ebony trees on the bank of the Luangwa River. It is a picturesque site with expansive views of the river. The accommodation at Mchenja is in five raised wooden chalets with thatched roofs and all have en-suite facilities. Guests dine in the shade of ebony trees right on the bank of the river. There is a grass hide close to camp over-looks a deep lagoon providing secretive and close up views of a variety of animals.

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a variety of animals

Nsefu Camp
Nsefu camp lies in the Nsefu sector of South Luangwa National Park, a phenomenal game-viewing area that is relatively undeveloped. In the 1950's this camp was the first photographic camp in Zambia, it was renovated in the 1999 but still keeps it original style and magnificent charm. The camp is situated next to a sweeping bend in the Luangwa River, the views of the river from the bar, dining area and each bedroom are spectacular. There are only 6 comfortable, en-suite bedrooms taking a maximum of 12 guests, making this a small and personal camp. The original rondavels have been extended, with a spacious bathroom added. Each room has a clear view of the river, through large windows and from the new wooden veranda.

From Nsefu you can enjoy the immediate surroundings from camp, there is an excellent selection of books, a waterhole nest to the bar which is regularly visited by leopard and other game, not to mention the regular elephant crossings at the river. Or you can explore the National Park from vehicle with a qualified guide, or go on a walking safari (for which the owner Robin Pope is famous).

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accommodation rondavels accommodation
evenings elephants crossing walking safari

 

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