Chinzombo: Our full report
Opened in early June 2013, Chinzombo is located on an expansive curve of the Luangwa River, overlooking the ...
... South Luangwa National Park. Run by Norman Carr Safaris, probably Zambia's oldest photographic safari company, with a track record of running first-class safari camps, and designed by two of the safari industry's leading designer/architects, this camp is a 'first' for Zambia in terms of its sheer opulence and very clean, contemporary style.Taking its name from one of the valley's first safari camps, long closed due to river erosion, Chinzombo is located on a 0.6km2 area of private land, just across the river from the national park.
Chinzombo was designed by the top safari camp designers/architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens – who count top Botswana camps like Jao and Mombo amongst their credits, as well as the iconic North Island in the Seychelles. Perhaps that is why it reminds us much more of a Botswana safari camp, such as Vumbura Plains, than a Zambian one. We’ve stayed at Chinzombo several times since its revamp, and our most recent visit to this latest incarnation of the camp was in September 2017 - it still remains quite unlike any other camp currently operating in the Luangwa Valley.
Chinzombo has just six spacious villas, one a family unit with two bedrooms, and all are highly contemporary in their construction and fittings. Each has very comfortable twin or king-size bed, with good reading lights, surrounded by mosquito nets. Each bed is fitted with its own air-con unit, which very gently and quietly cools the surrounding air. This works well to help you sleep during the hotter months, and while it doesn't cool the entirety of the large, open room, it is backed up by a free-standing fan next to the beds, and a ceiling fan in the bathroom. The amenities are excellent and include a minibar, tea- and coffee-making station. There’s complimentary WiFi access in each room as well.
The open-plan bathroom is enormous, and separated from the bedroom by a curtain, which can be drawn for greater privacy. There is a shower, his and hers washbasins and a free-standing bathtub big enough for two – bubbles optional! Set behind additional tent flaps within the bathroom, the flushing toilet is furthest from the bedroom. Fluffy towels, bathrobes, soap, shampoo and conditioner are all provided.
Floor-to-ceiling gauze panels run the length of the front of the villa and give a feeling of light and space. These can be rolled up during the day, just ask a member of staff, and there are also additional canvas flaps that can be rolled down in the evening if you wish. The villas all have their own large deck with a good-size plunge pool and a sunken lounge area, though do be aware that in the dry season, when the vegetation has died back, these decks are not quite as private as one might like.
The very contemporary open-plan main area sits on white-washed decking and has been cleverly built around the existing trees, which not only provide shade but also create a striking feature. Off to one side is the covered dining area, although more often than not, guests at Chinzombo may find themselves enjoying the excellent food under the shade of a tree or under the stars, as we did. Positioned at the other end of the main area, facing the river, the crescent-shaped couch and enormous squashy beanbag are inviting, and make the most of the lovely views. Just behind these is a well-stocked bar complete with Nespresso coffee machine, and a small library of reference books.
To the edge of the main area is a 'loo with a view', whose open front reveals the winding stretch of river in front of camp. Its proximity to the main area saves you trekking back to your room should you need to use the bathroom during dinner.
Dotted around the camp are numerous pictures of the legendary Norman Carr, along with some of the company's longest-serving and most experienced guides, including Abraham and Shadrak (or 'Abes' and 'Shaddy' as they're affectionately known), who were guiding during our stay. You're likely to meet a member of the team who either worked with Norman themselves, or whose parents or grandparents did. Memories go back a long way here.
The firepit is a great place to exchange stories after dinner, and it's also here that breakfast is usually served, with eggs cooked to order over an open fire; a fantastic spot to start the day, where you can often spot wildlife even before you head out on a morning activity.
The team at Chinzombo make a strong effort to tailor each guest's activities to suit them, rather than fitting around a specific camp schedule. Options include guided day and night 4WD game drives, and walking in the park accompanied by one of the expert guides and an armed scout.
Chinzombo is just a short distance across the river from the South Luangwa National Park. Guests take the short trip across the river in one of the camp's own boats before meeting the game-viewing vehicles on the other side, giving them private access to the park for drives and walks. Both take place in the game-rich Mfuwe area of the park, where on our last visit we saw a stand-off between a rather large crocodile and a male lion (the lion won), and numerous leopard sightings.
Although this central area of the park is excellent for game viewing, it is also near the main entrance of the park where there is a high concentration of lodges. So although you can get some great sightings, such as the pride of lions who had brought down a zebra that we were lucky enough to see on our last visit, you will probably have to share such sightings with a number of other vehicles. For this reason, we normally suggest staying in a camp in this area at the start of a trip, before moving on to the less busy areas of the park further north. However, if you have your first stop in this, the most luxurious camp in the park, you'll need to prepare yourself not to be disappointed when your second camp in the park is much, much simpler.
In addition to safari activities, Chinzombo offers in-camp spa treatments in the privacy of your own villa. Ladies from the local community are trained in a range of options, from manicures and massages to body treatments and facials. A complimentary half-hour foot massage is included for all guests at Chinzombo, with other treatments available at additional cost, payable locally. This, combined with the already high levels of comfort and luxury at Chinzombo, make for a very relaxing camp. It's a perfect place to take it easy for a few nights after a safari in more remote areas; you just need to be sure that moving to an area where there are more vehicles won't spoil your safari experience.
Better still, if this is your first taste of a Zambian safari, perhaps come to Chinzombo for a 4–6 night stand-alone section of your trip. If you've been used to high-end safaris in Botswana and want to dip your toe into another area, this could be just the right camp for you.
Our view
However you look at it, Chinzombo is not a typical Zambian camp. It's a step more luxurious and more contemporary than any of the other camps in South Luangwa, and at least a little more costly, too. However, its food and guides are very good indeed – at the top end of Zambia's normally high standards – so if luxury is your priority, then it's perhaps worth the extra cost.
Zambia expert
Geographics
- Location
- South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
- Ideal length of stay
- Chinzombo makes a good start or end to a longer stay - we’d recommend a stay of 2–3 nights, or a longer stay combining with its sister camps within the park: Luwi Bushcamp, Nsolo Bushcamp, Kakuli Bushcamp and Mchenja Camp.
- Directions
- Chinzombo is located about 45 minutes' drive from Mfuwe Airport.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- On our most recent visit to Chinzombo in September 2017, the food was of an excellent standard and variety. With advance notice, the camp’s kitchen can cater for a variety of dietary requirements, and there was always a vegetarian option available.
Before heading out on the morning's activity, the camp serves a substantial breakfast of toast, cereal, fresh fruit, freshly baked pastries, porridge (in the cooler months) and eggs cooked to order, along with tea, coffee and juice.
Lunch is usually a buffet, served around midday. We particularly enjoyed the chicken and vegetable skewers with homemade tree tomato chutney, although the vegetable quiche, selection of green salads, and freshly baked bread were also delicious. We could also have sampled homemade garlic, rosemary or even chilli infused oils, as well as a chilli or sweet caramelised onion salsa. The coconut ice cream worked well as a dessert, not being too heavy after a large lunch.
Afternoon tea – tea and coffee - both hot and iced, and often a freshly baked cake – are served at around 3.30pm before the afternoon activity. Beautifully presented cucumber and tomato pesto sandwiches and a light chocolate and cherry cake were on offer during our last visit.
At dinner there is a choice of two dishes per course. We opted for the butternut soup with spiced pumpkin seeds to start, followed by grilled tilapia with a mustard sauce, served with a maple potato puree and assorted vegetables. Dessert was a white chocolate and granadilla cheesecake, but for those with a more savoury tooth, the alternative was a cheese platter. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- There is no room service as such, but with enough notice meals can be arranged in the villas at the usual mealtimes.
- Drinks included
- Filtered or bottled water are included, as are all other drinks, apart from champagne and specially imported wines and spirits.
Special interests
- Honeymoons
- For an extremely luxurious, stylish and very well-run safari honeymoon to Zambia, Chinzombo is a great choice. Designed by top safari camp architects, Chinzombo is highly contemporary and very elegant. Enjoy excellent guiding, delicious food and a lovely bath big enough for two.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Zambia
- Wellbeing
- The villas at Chinzombo all have their own private plunge pool, and a range of quality spa treatments is available in the privacy of your own room. Offering massages, manicures and facials, the spa employs local people but is run to international standards.
- See ideas for Wellbeing in Zambia
- Luxury
- Certainly the most ‘designed’ camp in Zambia, Chinzombo’s architects created crisp lines and an uncluttered layout, catering to those seeking high levels of comfort and style. Indulge in the spa; relax in your private pool; and perhaps take in a game drive or walk whilst you’re here.
- See ideas for Luxury in Zambia
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children of all ages are welcome by prior arrangement, although private activities will usually need to be booked at extra cost. Note that children under the age of 12 may not do walking safaris in the South Luangwa National Park.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None.
- Special activities & services
- Chinzombo offers a children's programme, which includes the option to visit a local village, an 'art safari' to Tribal Textiles at nearby Mfuwe, and short walks with a guide and scout in the area around the camp.
- Equipment
- Available on request.
- Generally recommended for children
- Chinzombo has a comfortable two-bedroom villa that would work well for families with older children, who will respect the sophisticated and slightly adult atmosphere of the camp.
- Notes
- The camp is unfenced and wild animals can wander through camp - children must be supervised at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Chinzombo
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Chinzombo have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
80% success
75% success
60% success
50% success
50% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- Power is available at all times and there are multi-charging points in the villas.
- Communications
- Complimentary WiFi is available in the villas and the main area at Chinzombo, and there is good cellphone coverage all around the camp.
- TV & radio
- No
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- The rooms have hot and cold running water for showers, sinks and baths, and flush toilets.
Sustainability
Award-winning design using responsible materials
As a pioneer of luxury accommodation previously unseen around the Luangwa Valley, award-winning architects took a responsible approach in using sustainable materials to build the six villas which make up Chinzombo Safari Camp.
Blending the authentic bush feel with modern comfort and elegance, the camp lacks concrete and bricks, and instead uses simple, natural materials such as locally produced leather and reed work. The décor is kept simple and minimal, using raw linen, timber, copper and hand-made crockery that pays respect to Chinzombo’s cultural history. Grass and canvas walls further help the camp blend into the natural landscape. When it comes to building the camp, ‘minimalism for the bush’ was the leading technique. Organic geometry obtained through indigenous Zambian building methods was used to obtain a structure which matches the wild surroundings, yet contains all the necessary luxuries for a first-class experience. Each villa has a plunge pool and a private deck offering panoramic views of the Luangwa River and the wildlife present on its banks.
The eco-friendly design using responsibly-sourced materials have brought Chinzombo the prize for Best New Property in Africa in 2014 and 2015.
See more great sustainability projects in Zambia
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There is a doctor in Mfuwe who can be called out if necessary. The guides at the camp are first-aid trained and there is a first-aid kit for minor injuries. Chinzombo has links to flying doctors for serious medical emergencies.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- There are security guards on site as well as an armed ZAWA scout. At night, you will be escorted to and from your tent.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers outside each chalet, and dotted around the camp and the staff are trained in their use.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included at Chinzombo. It is machine washed, line dried and ironed.
- Money
- There are safes in each villa.
- Accepted payment on location
- Guests can settle their bills in cash in US dollars, Zambian kwacha, UK pounds or euros, or by using a Visa or Mastercard, for which there is a 4.5% charge.
Other lodges in South Luangwa National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Tafika
One of the best camps in Zambia, Tafika is naturally built, combining excellent service and food with top guiding skills for a superb wildlife experience.
Nkwali
On the banks of the Luangwa River, with its own access to the national park, the intimate Nkwali is open year round.
Kaingo Camp
Small and owner-run, the riverside Kaingo occupies a a quiet but excellent game area, with a series of wildlife hides and a focus on photography.
Nsefu
One of the Luangwa's oldest camps, Nsefu is a great safari camp in a remote, beautiful and game-rich location with top-rate guiding.
Mwamba Bushcamp
Small, remote and owner-run, Mwamba offers first-class walking, 4WD safari drives and superb hides, with excellent guides and a real bush feel.
Tena Tena
One of the Luangwa's best camps, in a beautiful, remote bush location, Tena Tena is very small, exceedingly well-run and has top-rate guiding.
Chikoko Tree Camp
Chikoko Tree Camp is an excellent small, rustic bushcamp that concentrates on walking safaris, and is run by a top-quality operation.
Big Lagoon Camp
Big Lagoon Camp is a great little rustic bushcamp built to high standards that focuses on excellent walking safaris, with the emphasis on top wildlife guides.
Luangwa River Camp
Luangwa River Lodge is a small and consciously stylish lodge in the Mfuwe area, overlooking the Luangwa River and the South Luangwa National Park beyond – an area renowned for great game.
Flatdogs Camp
A relatively big safari camp, Flatdogs offers value for money with great guiding and good food in a comfortable, relaxed setting.
Kapani Lodge
Kapani Lodge is now the main office base for Norman Carr Safaris, one of the Luangwa's oldest safari operations.
Mchenja Bushcamp
Set in a shady ebony grove on the banks of the Luangwa, Mchenja is a smart tented bushcamp. It combines well with Kakuli and Nsolo – its sister camps with a focus on walking safaris.
Kakuli Bushcamp
Beside the Luangwa River, Kakuli is a comfortable tented bushcamp offering 4WD safaris and walking safaris – the best of which are camp-to-camp walks linking Kakuli with its nearby sister camps.
Nsolo Bushcamp
Nsolo is a small, comfortable bushcamp overlooking one or two pools in the usually dry Luwi riverbed. It concentrates on walking safaris in an interesting and diverse area, led by a knowledgeable guide.
Kafunta River Lodge
Kafunta is a laid-back, friendly and good-value lodge on the outskirts of South Luangwa National Park.
Luwi Bushcamp
In a remote part of the South Luangwa National Park, Luwi is a rustic bushcamp whose emphasis is on walking safaris with great guiding and a chance of seeing some rarely seen and elusive antelope.
Lion Camp
Lion Camp is an established and comfortable camp with a swimming pool, located near to the game-rich Lion Plain in the northern part of South Luangwa National Park.
Robin Pope mobile
RPS mobile safari camps are at the heart of their set-itinerary walking safaris in South Luangwa National Park, which start and finish at a permanent camp.
Puku Ridge
Puku Ridge is a luxurious designer camp set in a stunning location, high on a hill overlooking a floodplain within South Luangwa. Explore from here on 4WD safaris and walks.
Kapamba Bushcamp
In the remote far south of South Luangwa National Park, Kapamba is a small and very comfortable bushcamp offering good walks and game drives.
Mfuwe Lodge
In a game-rich area close to the South Luangwa’s main Mfuwe Gate, Mfuwe Lodge is relatively large by park standards, but it’s stylish, modern and family friendly.
Kuyenda Bushcamp
Kuyenda Bushcamp is a classic bushcamp with particularly delightful hosts and offers top-class walking safaris in South Luangwa National Park.
Luangwa Safari House
Luangwa Safari House is a vast and very smart four-bedroom house specifically designed for families and small groups, and offering an exclusive and flexible safari experience.
Three Rivers Camp
In the remote far south of South Luangwa National Park, Three Rivers Lodge sits at the confluence of three of the valleys rivers.
Island Bush Camp
Island Bushcamp is a good-value, rustic, walking-only camp, in arguably one of the most remote parts of the South Luangwa, well away from all other camps.
Bilimungwe Bushcamp
A smart bushcamp with four very spacious chalets, Bilimungwe offers interesting walking safaris in pretty riverine woodland, as well as day and night safari drives.
Chindeni
Chindeni Bushcamp is a very modern and minimalist camp, which is a far cry from your traditional bushcamp and unlike most of the other camps in South Luangwa.
Robin's House
With your own expert guide, private vehicle, chef and valet, the two-bedroom Robin's House offers an exclusive, flexible safari experience – and is open year round.
Kawaza Village
Kawaza Village – beside the South Luangwa National Park, offers guests the rare opportunity to appreciate local village life. Visit for a few hours or stay overnight.
Chamilandu Bushcamp
A comfortable little bushcamp, Chamilandu has a picturesque setting by the Luangwa River, in an area with a range of habitats to explore on foot and by 4WD.
Mwamba Camp-out
The Mwamba-Camp Out allows you to have an incredibly adventurous night in the bush, sleeping under mosquito nets with activities led by some of the best guides in Zambia.
Zungulila
Zungulila is a small, comfortable tented bushcamp with an emphasis on walking safaris, in the remote southern section of the South Luangwa.
Shawa Luangwa
Opened in June 2021, Shawa Luangwa Camp is a small, intimate and rustic camp, with a good location in a remote section of the South Luangwa National Park.
Luwi Riverbed Sleepout
For an adventurous night in South Luangwa National Park, come and sleep out in the bush, around a campfire, with an experienced guide and game scout.
Chichele Lodge
Currently in the final stages of an extensive rebuild, Chichele Presidential Lodge stands high within the park, with superb views, and is due to reopen in early 2025.
Nkonzi Camp
A simple and rustic bush camp, Nkonzi has a strong focus on walking safaris in this remote section of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
Chikunto
Chikunto Safari Lodge is a more traditional property in the South Luangwa National Park, sitting on a peninsula of land created by the meandering Luangwa River.
