The rolling landscape of South Luangwa is one of Zambia’s most famous scenes. Many a documentary has been shot in this untamed valley, supporting a magnificent population of wildlife and bird species, home to the original African walking safari. This week we are showcasing our selection of top safari camps and lodges in South Luangwa National Park, where time stands still and we can breathe in the wild moments in peace! First up on our list of the “Safari Stars of South Luangwa” is Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp, located high up on an escarpment overlooking unfurling floodplains and all of South Luangwa’s inhabitants.
“If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders” ~ Vi Keeland.
This is surely one of the most spectacular scenes in the eyes of an adventure lover. Someone who seeks solace, stellar skies, peaceful nights, and abounding wilderness will find their dream destination at Kuyenda Bushcamp. Only 4 grass and thatch chalets accommodate guests comfortably on the banks of the Manzi River in South Luangwa, and it is nothing less than a feast for the escapist’s soul.
A treehouse in one of Africa’s greatest wildlife areas, cradling guests in comfort while overlooking the wilderness that sprawls beneath. This is the sleepout location at Mwamba Bushcamp, a rustic reed platform, draped by a mosquito net for only the necessary shelter, otherwise propped all too perfectly for an experience of sleeping under the stars. This is one South Luangwa safari experience we couldn’t allow you to miss!
South Luangwa flooded with gold from just another powerful sunset on the Kapamba River. Imagine watching the last light of day seep from the sky while resting in your canvas seat in the middle of a wild African river… This is the scene at the end of the day at The Bushcamp Company’s Kapamba Bushcamp and it’s nothing short or breathtaking. This wide, shallow stretch of water is so inviting as it reflects the golden sunset and cools your feet after a day spent walking through the wilderness with Kapamba’s expert guides. A South Luangwa experience to remember forever.
A slice of African heaven under the shade of ebony trees on the banks of Zambia’s sublime Luangwa River: Chamilandu Bushcamp. This small 3-roomed safari camp effortlessly accommodates a group of adventure loving guests in reed and thatch chalets, which are simply charming. Glowing gently in the darkening wilderness, Chamilandu is entirely inviting; from its relaxed ambience, to invigorating open air showers, and a hide overlooking the active river from above. This is what South Luangwa dreams are made of!
Another day, another South Luangwa sunset. This time, we’re all starry eyed over Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge, which was, of course, built for the President in the 1970s. Restored to its original beauty, this historic lodge is full of the ambience of an older era, and when guests venture out into the Luangwa Valley on game drive, they will be absorbed by the timelessness of the bush. This cost fireside setting is such a memorable way to end a day on safari in South Luangwa.
If you thought the days in South Luangwa were spectacular, just take a look at this night sky… The Milky Way, burning in cool cosmic clouds, shimmers overhead, cloaking this pristine part of the world in a bejewelled blanket. It is nothing less than awe-inspiring to listen to elephants drinking by darkness in the lagoon, scops owls chirping intermittently from nearby branches, and hyenas calling out in the distance, and then to gaze up and watch the infinite sky twinkle. This place of magic is Chindeni Bushcamp, and it brings an element of luxury to this rugged Zambian landscape. Wait until you see it in the light…
