Meet our local representative on arrival in Lusaka
Proflight shared charter flight Lusaka – Mfuwe (approximately 1 hour)
Road transfer from Mfuwe Airport to Kapani Lodge (approximately 40 minutes)
Norman Carr built Kapani Lodge in 1986 and made it his home until his death in 1997. He had been in the valley for over 50 years. In this time he earned the reputation across the continent as a tireless conservationist and was the founding father of photographic walking safaris. He wrote several books describing the local area -- and the people and wildlife that live there. His legacy and tradition now continues through his family and dedicated staff. Kapani is an exclusive, privately owned camp situated on a large lagoon beside the Luangwa River accommodating only 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 lounge with a bar fridge. Two special accommodation units, the Lagoon houses, overlook the Kapani Lagoon and are very private and spacious with en-suite facilities. The camp is on mains electricity and offers most modern facilities. A thatched building in the center of camp houses the bar and lounge 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. Game viewing facilities are tailored to the interests of the guests however there is generally a morning and afternoon game drive in the park in open vehicles. Night drives with a spotlight are one of the highlights of the Luangwa Valley.
Road transfer from Kapani Lodge to 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. Mchenja Bush Camp has 5 comfortable thatched huts with en suite facilities. A grass hide close to camp overlooks a deep lagoon providing secretive and close up views of a variety of animals. There is main chitenge under thatch, which houses the bar and lounge area, although most meals are enjoyed under the canopy of the magnificent trees outside. Mchenja features open-air bathrooms, uninterrupted views and game drives as well as walks. Game viewing activities are tailored to the guests in camp at the time but usually small parties are taken into the park twice daily in open vehicles. Night drives with a spotlight are one of the highlights of the Luangwa Valley giving the chance to see nocturnal animals such as Hyena, Porcupine, Civet, Genet, Honeybadger and particularly Leopard for which the area is now famous. Walking safaris from camp are not strenuous and are conducted a pace determined by the guests, but usually last 3 to 4 hours, led by a fully qualified guide and armed game scout. If lions were heard calling on the early morning breeze, this will influence your guide’s choice of route, otherwise you will all set out in the hopes of picking up the fresh tracks of the pride or perhaps a leopard that that was patrolling his territory. If you chose to walk it is usually a slow and leisurely wander through the bush, tea and cool drinks are carried and enjoyed in the shade of a tree or next to the river. Your evenings are spent surrounded by the sounds of the African night that will fill your dreams for a long time to come.
Chiawa Camp is constructed essentially of natural materials, and is designed to ensure its idyllic setting can be fully appreciated. Only 16 guests are accommodated in 8 well- appointed safari tents, each on a raised timber deck with private veranda. Access paths to the tents run through a grove of Mahogany trees behind them, maximizing privacy. All tents are under shade, have en-suite facilities with hot & cold running water, twin or double beds, insect screens and solar powered lighting. The spacious lounge and bar area has an observation platform built into its roof, providing one of the best views in the valley. Of course the dining area also looks out onto the river and the animals which regularly come to drink and feed at and near the lodge. Enjoy barbeques under the stars on our al-fresco dining veranda, while your hosts oversee your comfort and the preparation of Chiawa's renowned cuisine. Vegetarians are catered for with advance notice of any special culinary requirements. After dinner, retire to the campfire and enjoy a cocktail or two while taking in the sounds and magic of the African night. Another viewing platform has been constructed in the quietest corner of the lodge, overlooking the confluence of the Chiawa & Zambezi Rivers. Chiawa Camp employs enough guides and maintains a sufficient infrastructure that ensures maximum efficiency and flexibility. This means that guests will enjoy levels of choice & convenience not found elsewhere. The guides at Chiawa Camp are experienced and qualified to help you get the most from your visit to the Lower Zambezi National Park. All boats and vehicles, canoe trips and walks carry first aid kits, and are linked to Chiawa Camp with our extensive VHF radio network. Chiawa Camp communicates with the rest of the world via HF radio. Chiawa Camp has its own in-house guide training program to ensure quality and consistency is maintained. Guests can set their own pace and select activities according to their preferences.
