Lower Zambezi Safari

This excursion is either a 6 day/5 night or 8 day/7 night package combining the two luxurious Zambian Basecamps located within the Lower Zambezi National Park. The description of the two camps is as follows:

CHIAWA CAMPChiawa Camp is a must for any visit to Zambia. Superb accommodation, magnificent game viewing and scenery and a large variety of activities are complemented by a modern infrastructure, renowned guiding and attentive professional staff.

Perhaps the best all round safari camp in Zambia with a fascinating history and conservation background too. Chiawa Camp lives up to its reputation for imaginative delivery and consistently high standards in all aspects. Exceptional guiding & wildlife, a friendly and unpretentious atmosphere, personalized and efficient service, great accommodation, super food, a wonderful variety of safari activities, excellent vehicles and boats, reliable communications and logistics, all backed up by the Cumings family, make for not only an unsurpassed safari but also a trouble-free one. Elephants, lions, leopards and wild dogs plus "the river"!

Owned and operated by the Cumings Family since it opened in 1989, Chiawa Camp was the first safari camp to be established in the Lower Zambezi National Park. It remains the only camp in the Park that is still owned by its founders. Chiawa Camp's aim is to provide its guests with Africa's finest safari experience whilst actively conserving the precious wildlife and habitat of the Lower Zambezi.

The Chiawa Camp is open from April 15 - November 15. It has a lovely thatched lounge/bar area with upstairs viewing deck and lots of comfy furniture is complemented by a similarly styled dining room with al-fresco dining area, set under a large winter thorn tree and overlooking the Zambezi River. Other amenities include a viewing hide overlooking the confluence of the Zambezi River, the seasonal Chowe River (favoured watering site of numerous mammals and birds) and a refreshing plunge pool with wooden sundeck for the hot months. A small gift shop has curios, safari wear, film and toiletries available.

Accommodation is in large insect-proof safari tents on wooden decks, with canvas flysheets, all with en-suite but not enclosed facilities, flushing loos, 24 hour lighting, hot & cold water, 220v electric power for fans and charging batteries, beds with top quality mattresses and mosquito nets, all with wonderful views.

The staff is an enthusiastic team of 32 professionals who take care of Chiawa Camp and its guests is overseen by Grant & Lynsey Cumings. Activities are led by some of Africa's most experienced guides and guests may choose from day & night game drives, nature walks, game viewing by pontoon boat, canoeing and fishing (catch & release only). The camp owns 6 Toyota Land Cruisers, 4 motor boats and 6 canoes.

Access is via a 1 1/4 hour drive from Jeki or Royal Airstrips, however, preferred mode is a 45 minute combined road and boat transfer to/from Royal Airstrip. For those less pressed for time, Chiawa Camp can also be accessed from Lusaka or Kariba by a 6 hour combined road and boat transfer.

OLD MONDOROOld Mondoro is set in a grove of Acacia trees on the banks of the Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi National Park some 10km downstream from Jeki Airstrip, near the Chakwenga River confluence. Old Mondoro is a beautiful site overlooking a maze of hippo-inhabited islands and channels.

Old Mondoro is a rustic but beautiful, small bush camp in a wonderful location that complements any visit to Chiawa Camp. Takes a step back from the sophistication of many safari camps and focuses instead on providing guests with a more down to earth though no less rewarding safari experience. Situated far inside the Park in lovely walking country (miles of open woodland) with great game viewing, Old Mondoro is a great spot for elephants, leopards, and seasonal wild dog sightings.

Old Mondoro Bush Camp was opened in 2002 and is the only bush camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The aim is to offer Chiawa Camp's guests with a unique but complementary safari extension in order to provide a more comprehensive experience of the Lower Zambezi.

Old Mondoro is open from May 01 – October 31. A canvas and reed lounge/bar area overlooks a maze of islands in the Zambezi River, as does an imaginative outdoor loo. Turn around in your seat and you look across mature open woodland and some of Africa's finest walking country!

Accommodation is in reed chalets with canvas roofs, left open during the day and canvas blinds with screens are lowered for privacy and security at night. All chalets have paraffin lanterns, flush loos, wash basin, and shower each built around an ancient winter thorn tree, and each with 24 hour cold water. Hot water is delivered by wheelbarrow on request and into old fashioned canvas buckets. Comfy beds and mosquito nets complete the accommodation – all with wonderful views. The kitchen has a 220v generator for refrigeration and charging batteries.

The staff consists of a team of 12 professionals who take care of Old Mondoro and its guests. The Manager/Guide is Roelof Schutte, accompanied by his charming wife, Hostess/Assistant Guide – Helen. Activities generally consist of morning walks and afternoon game drives. A motor boat for afternoon game viewing on the Zambezi River is also available as is canoeing. Old Mondoro owns one Landcruiser, one LandRover and one motor boat.

Access is to Old Mondoro is a 1 hour motor boat ride, or a two hour game drive, or an 8 hour canoe trip away from Chiawa Camp. Jeki Airstrip is only a 30 minute game drive away but Royal Airstrip is nearly 3 hours away. Old Mondoro is 35km downstream from Chiawa Camp so canoeing from OM to CC is not available.