Norman Carr Safaris, South Luangwa National Park

rooms

Each camp has no more than six double or twin tents, villas or chalets, ideal for those looking for a more intimate safari experience. Chinzombo is the latest addition, an ultra luxury bush camp beside the Luangwa River. It features six beautiful villas, each of which features a spacious living area, private pool and magnificent views.

Beneath the shade of mahogany trees, Luwi is a more rustic, remote bush camp that’s ideal for walking safaris, while Nsolo is one of the more historical luxury safari camps in Zambia with its chalets on raised wooden decks and chitenje lounge.

Sitting on the banks of the Luangwa River, Kakuli consists of traditional walk-in safari tents, each luxuriously decked out and complete with en-suite bathrooms. Meanwhile, Mchenja is a luxurious and elegant riverside camp with five specially designed octagonal tents, each with their own en-suite open air bathroom plus Victorian style baths with river view.

facilities & activities

Clearly, this tour operator is all about the safari experience. Choose from a package itinerary (usually between seven and 14 nights) or a tailor-made option for a more hands-on approach. All guides are experts of the South Luangwa National Park and its bird and mammal species, with most of them having grown up in nearby Mfuwe. Walking and 4WD driving safaris are done in groups, though private trips can be arranged. Safaris are fully-inclusive, with accommodation, all meals, standard bar drinks, laundry, Mfuwe Airport transfers, inter-camp transfers and two guided safaris per day included.

Different camps offer different facilities. Mchenja features a plunge pool while Luwi Bush Camp has a hippo hide nearby so you can watch the wildlife unseen. Chinzombo is ideal for those seeking a more luxurious stay, as it has a private pool and fire pit and also offers spa treatments.

dining

All meals are included for guests, and the fare is of high quality, with chefs able to cater for different dietary requirements. A light breakfast is served at dawn before morning safaris, after which a buffet brunch is available around 11am. There is afternoon tea and cake around 3pm and dinner – consisting of a three-course meal, freshly cooked in camp – is usually taken around 7pm. Dishes include curried chicken and mango salad, lamb tagine and white chocolate and lemon mousse.

family

Mchenja, Chinzombo and Kakuli all have a two-bedroom family accommodation, so families can choose from staying in one of these or combining a couple. The villas at Chinzombo are particularly spacious, with two bathrooms, private pools and cooled sleeping areas. For a more adventurous itinerary, couples or those with teenagers not requiring connecting rooms may wish to stay at a bush camp, such as Luwi and Nsolo which each have just five double or twin chalets. Afterwards, Mchenja or luxurious Chinzombo are good destinations to complete a walking or driving safari that combines stays at different bush camps.

location

There are five camps – Luwi, Nsolo, Mchenja, Kakuli and Chinzombo – situated in South Luangwa National Park. Luwi is set deep in the heart of the park, while Chinzombo sits closer to the edge of the park, beside the Luangwa River and surrounded by 60 acres of private land. All the camps are perfectly positioned for an excellent safari experience and are under an hour’s drive from Mfuwe Airport.