Best Places To Stay In The South Luangwa
Located in East Zambia's Luangwa River Valley, the South Luangwa National Park is one of the world's best wildlife viewing habitats. it is an area that must be explored if you are a keen safari enthusiast. Naturally, the rivers attract the highest concentration of wildlife, especially during the dry season which is where the majority of camps and lodges are located. These areas of the park can become quite crowded at times, although the further into the park you go, the most isolated you become and the less visitors there are.
South Luangwa has a variety of landscapes from open grassy plains to mesmerising woodlands. The differing habitats support a rich plethora of eco-systems which contains a fantastic variety of game, including all of the 'Big 5' and hundreds of species of birds. The South Luangwa is considered to be the home of the walking safaris with excellent guides who take you into the wilderness without the safety of a vehicle. Only then will you truly appreciate nature's true splendour and learn about all things great and small. Game viewing is phenomenal for most of the year, but it is at the peak of the dry season when it is at its best. On top of walking safaris there is also the additional option for nights drives to go in search of the more elusive nocturnal creatures.
The expert guiding is also mirrored by the expert accommodation options. With a mixture of rustic and luxurious camps and lodges, there is certainly a decision to be made about which style would suit you better. No matter where you choose though, the personal and professional levels of hospitality are second-to-none. Many of the camps have fantastic views with many overlooking the river or other water sources which will, of course, attract plenty of game. Below we have chosen a few of our favourites:
Chikoko Tree Camp
Run by Remote Africa as part of the infamous Chikoko Walking Trails, Chikoko is a camp that truly fits in with its surroundings; this is a stunning little bush camp. From the moment you see Chikoko there is an undeniable charm about the camp and staying there gives you that sense of adventure that only bushcamps can provide. The quality of guiding and walking on offer here is hard to describe – it is truly exceptional. Our favourite bush camp in the South Luangwa National Park….by quite a long way!Chinzombo Camp
Representing a whole new league of design, style and elegant luxury hitherto unavailable in Zambia, Chinzombo is aimed at a new class of ultra discerning traveller - it is a real winner. Combining sophisticated contemporary design with indigenous building methods and materials, the individual villas appear to float and melt into the surrounding bush. With outstanding, award-winning guiding and fantastic game viewing, this place is very special.Crocodile Camp
As with all of the Remote Africa safari camps, the standard of guiding and simple approach to safari accommodation is what sets this camp apart from virtually everywhere else. Guiding here is up there with the best in Africa. The camp is rustic and simple yet don’t be put off, Crocodile is actually finished to a very high standard. A safari connoisseur's choice and a camp from which so many other bush camps should learn lessons from!Kaingo Camp
Overlooking the wild Luangwa River deep within the prime safari area of the South Luangwa National Park, Kaingo has a more relaxed and personal feel to it than most camps in Zambia and offers some of the best game viewing opportunities in the area.Kakuli Bush Camp
Views, views and more views – the setting at Kakuli is spectacular. The tents are fully enclosed and so overall, this camp is not as rustic as the sister camps Luwi or Nsolo. However Kakuli offers a great bush experience for those who want to feel a little more ‘secure’ – this is yet again a fantastic camp from Time and Tide.Luwi Bush Camp
Described on the Time and Tides website as ‘simple yet extremely comfortable’, Luwi rather undersells itself! It is certainly extremely comfortable and although ‘simple’ that’s the last thing that crosses your mind on entering camp, it is a simply stunning bush camp! The rooms, especially numbers 1 and 4 are superb, the guiding is some of the best around and its character and charm are undeniable. This is a camp that offers a product every true safari enthusiast would relish. We love it and regard it as one of the best bush camps in South Luangwa.Mchenja Bush Camp
Although the whole idea of a bush camp is to be in the bush, away from all luxuries etc., there is a market that doesn’t want to lose the luxury! Mchenja caters for this market and does it damn well. This is a great camp in a great location – standards of guiding are up there with the best of the Time and Tide (Norman Carr) camps and this would be an ideal camp for a couple of nights after roughing it elsewhere.Nsolo Camp
Nsolo is one of the more historic camps in Zambia, it was sited by Norman Carr in the 80s and has since moved down the river bed and turned into a seriously good bush camp. The guiding is exceptional and character in camp tangible; one of our absolute favourites in the Luangwa. A truly stunning little camp.Bilimungwe Camp
Bilimungwe, owned by The Bushcamp Company is a great little walking camp, well regarded as one of the best walking camps in the Luangwa. Adventurous safaris are guaranteed with award-winning guides, often spending subsequently large chunks of the day walking out of camp. It is one of the more elegant Luangwa bush camps – fantastic!Tafika Camp
What a truly exceptional camp! Tafika is one of the remaining owner run camps in Africa with John and Carol Coppinger ever present. The result is a camp that genuinely cares for each and every one of its guests. The quality of guiding here is some of the best in Africa with Bryan Jackson, Isaac Zulu and Alex Phiri offering a level that is hard to beat anywhere; they have been guiding in the Luangwa for years. Couple these facts with the setting and the excellent game viewing on offer and you have one of the best camps in Africa. We absolutely love it.Chamilandu Camp
As with so many of the Luangwa camps, Chamilandu is a wonderfully authentic bush camp; a style of property more uncommon in Africa, and the only bushcamp with just 3 chalets in the area. It gets our vote for having the most mind-blowing views from everywhere in camp. Chamilandu makes a good starting point before heading further south in the park to the other Bushcamp Company walking camps. By designing the trips this way, Chamilandu is viewed as a less adventurous option. But be under no misconception, this is a rustic, adventurous camp.Chindeni Bush Camp
Recognised as one of the Luangwa’s more luxurious bushcamps, complete with writing desks and solid wooden furniture, Chindeni caters for a client who wants a secure tented camp, but one that also has a sense of adventure. In our view it lacks that sense of wild adventure that the Luangwa’s bushcamps are so famous for. Subsequently we prefer the other Bushcamp camps. However for clients wanting a more secure camp than many of the bushcamps can provide, Chindeni is a good option to combine with other Bushcamp Company walking camps.Edward Selfe
Edward is a professional guide and photographer living full-time in the Luangwa Valley. First and foremost, he's a naturalist and his love is for the park, its inhabitants and the pleasure of being immersed in the park's wild places. He has built a loyal following of guests who like to be hosted by a guide who can lead walking and driving safaris and is also a professional photographer.With 7 years of guiding experience in the South Luangwa National Park, he puts together tours which are both a classic safari and a specialist photographic experience. He plans each safari around making the best of the photographic opportunities on offer, but also ensures that even clients without cameras will enjoy the tour by sharing his knowledge of wildlife and animal behaviour.
Kapamba Bush Camp
Out of the Bush Camp company this property is a slightly different design with concrete walls as opposed to thatch walls like the other camps but the location is stunning overlooking the Kapamba river and the guiding as ever is great. If you are looking for a typical bush camp old school camp this may not be the one for you but the open fronted rooms are a unique style in the Luangwa valley and the camp location offers excellent game viewing.Kapani
Kapani is currently closed.Kapani is certainly one of the best value lodges in the Mfuwe area of the South Luangwa. Built as a permanent lodge rather than a bush camp, Kapani is a great introduction to the Luangwa and is a superb option when booked in conjunction with Norman Carr’s bushcamps. There are a couple of seriously good guides here making Kapani a superb start to a safari, and a very affordable one at that.
