Reviews of Mwamba Bushcamp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
160 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Mwamba Bushcamp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
100% success
96% success
49% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
98% success
98% success
92% success
91% success
32% success
15% success
3% success
0% success
0% success
"Mwamba Bushcamp review"
The wonderfully remote location in the middle of game-rich areas, combined with great personal service/guiding and a waterhole hide right in the camp made for days filled with plenty of excitement. The fun doesn't stop when arriving back in camp - there is plenty of rustling, grumbling, growling and hooting in and around camp to keep things interesting day and night.
Don't come here if you are after luxury with aircon and modcons - but if you are after an immersive bushcamp experience of a largely bygone era, you might just fall in love with it." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia; 5n in Malawi
"Our own, private bushcamp"
We had Elliot the leopard walking right next to us as he stalked a croc with his dinner." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 6n in Botswana
"Mwamba Bushcamp review"
The outside bathroom was brilliant - loved it, despite an elephant taking a very very close look one night!" See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
"Mwamba Bushcamp review"
We did not expect the 3 hour ride from the airport, but even though we were late landing, the camp provided the driver and a guide so that we could look for wildlife once we entered South Luangua Park. The staff held supper for us and we were able to meet the rest of the guests.
We were only there for a short time, but the staff made the arrangements for a great safari walk with guide and scout to get to the other Shenton camp in the park." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia; 4n in South Africa
"Mwamba Bushcamp review"
The outdoor bathroom was fun but the shower could have been better. Getting "trapped" in our tent by an elephant right outside the door of our chalet was a highlight. We also enjoyed spending time at the hide and being taken to the lagoon." See all these reviews: 15n in Zambia
"Mwamba experience"
Everything at Mwamba was excellent - like Kaingo, and we loved it. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. The accommodation was different but just as comfortable as the sister camp. However, it was more 'bushcamp' than Kaingo which was exactly the experience we wanted. Same high standards but slightly less formal. Of the two camps we preferred Mwamba.
The game drives were terrific and Ian went beyond the call of duty to make sure that we saw what we wanted. Endless enthusiasm and patience from him and Patrick. Many leopard sightings including the beautiful Kylie who didn't seem at all perturbed by our presence. We got some fantastic photos.
We had a wonderful time and we highly recommend Shenton safaris. Everything was well thought out and ran like clockwork. Both camps are a photographer's paradise and they cater for photographers by providing dust cloths and bean bags. It's these little things that make the overall experience so enjoyable.
We plan on returning!" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
"Mwamba - great bushcamp"
Mwamba is a lovely small camp, with a great atmosphere and combines perfectly with Kaingo. Although a bushcamp it is very comfortable and we loved the chalets which are cleverly located, private and immersed in the bush. We saw elephant, impala, puku, baboons etc from our veranda. The open bathroom is wonderful and the view of the stars through the chalet skylight as the lions roared will live long in our memory. The camp host Debs worked tirelessly to make our stay special and our guide Mayem was excellent, extremely knowledgeable and accommodating.
Being a smaller camp with a single guide and six guests the activities need to be agreed in advance, this was not a problem, but perhaps this might be explained to guests on arrival to avoid confusion. We had wonderful game viewing, delicious food and great company. Finally, we loved being woken by the drums at Mwamba and Kaingo and the top drummer Zimba followed us to Mwamba - wish I had asked for a lesson!" See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia; 4n in Malawi
"Mwamba Bushcamp review"
What's nice about the chalets is that they have open skylights in the roof that are covered with mesh giving you a view of the night sky from your bed. The front porch has two chairs with a view over a channel of water (generally dry).
The common areas include a chitenge with a bar where most of the meals are taken. There are also other sitting areas, including one near the channel and another on top of a very large termite mound. All-in-all, this is a very comfortable bush camp. The camp is on solar power, and they do offer to charge your electronic devices, like camera batteries. All you have to do is leave your charger with the camp manager, and she'll take care of it for you.
When I was there, there was a resident group of baboons that commute back and forth in front of the camp every day; as well as, a number of elephants that would come by on occasion. Also, there were plenty of other wildlife – impala, puku, mongoose, etc. about camp.
The food was good. They do things a bit differently than the other camps I stayed at. They do tea at 6:00 a.m. (basically just beverages plus cookies), and then do a full breakfast (English) at 9:30 a.m., then a lunch after the noon activity, and then afternoon tea, and then a late dinner. All of the food was good and they certainly feed you enough.
The guiding was very good – and geared towards photographers. More than any other camp, the guides are sensitive to the needs of a photographer. They take care in positioning the vehicle, pay attention to the light, and have a pretty good sense of photographic opportunities. For example, we were driving around during the afternoon game drive, and the sun was setting and I was looking for a good setting for a sunset photo. Before I could say anything, the guide asked if we wanted to stop to get the setting sun behind some trees and had recognized a good spot for that. The guide was also able to recognize when a particular sighting was a bit static (e.g. a bunch of wildebeest just standing around not doing much of anything), and could tell when it was probably time to move on.
With other guides, I had to give quite a bit more guidance in terms of what I wanted photographically, but I rarely had to with the guide at Mwamba. He was also used to photographers who wanted to get our early and stay late, so he was always ready to go.
The game drive vehicles were good – standard Toyota Landcruisers with 3 rows of seats. They have a shelf in front of each seat to hold your belongings, as well as, bean bags for your camera. They also have dust covers for your lenses or camera. They also provided a step-ladder for entry or exit from the vehicle, though I tended to eschew it as I just used the standard step up points on the vehicle.
The two noon-time activities offered here were either the hide near camp or a visit to a nearby lagoon. The hide wasn't very interesting – hot, sweaty and not much action going on. I think it'll be better later in the season when animals come by for water, but nothing was happening on my visit. The lagoon was largely about birds, but again, I think June isn't the best time for this waterhole.
The camp was fairly quiet, and I basically had private game drives until the last drive where two other guests joined me in the vehicle.
The hosting was also very good. Debbie was very accommodating and was trying to anticipate any needs and checking in how my stay was going. She also was fairly good at hosting during meal times and keeping the table conversation interesting and flowing.
This was probably my favorite camp mainly due to the photographic orientation of the guiding." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia; 2n in Zimbabwe
"Manager"
"Mwamba Bushcamp review"
Small is surely beautiful !!
A very very dedicated and efficient camp manager ( Debbie )
Kennedy didn't leave a stone unturned to make our drives & walks a special experience." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
"The real Africa at Mwamba"
Whilst the camp had only opened for the season the previous day, we could not have expected any better service or company. Debbie was a gem - we left after just two nights feeling we had made a real friend. Not only did she provide everything we needed and help us enjoy our surroundings to the full, but she adapted quickly to Richard's sense of humour (which can be an acquired taste!).
The chef and kitchen staff worked wonders to produce delicious food on the most basic of equipment - and the afternoon cakes were the lightest we have ever tasted!
Patrick, our guide,was such a mine of information about all the birds and animals - we learnt a huge amount and could really appreciate what we were seeing thanks to his amazing skills, knowledge and enthusiasm. Thank you Patrick for making our game drives better than we could ever have expected. Also thanks to Gideon, our scout, who reassured us when out on our walking safari and expertly wielded the spotlight during the night drives.
Our only comment would be that we would like to have been advised more on arrival about the inevitability of large animals in the camp at night. On our second night a male elephant came within feet of our chalet, and sounded as though he was going to munch his way right through the reed walls - which was quite a heart-stopping experience, and we were not sure quite when to panic and use the whistle - or run ! We did feel a little isolated in our chalet at this time, although assured next morning that had we needed to use the whistle our call would have been answered. We wanted to be in the midst of the wildlife, and the bushcamp was certainly the best experience we could have had, but having just arrived direct from UK and not being used to the behaviour of the animals, we feel a more detailed briefing might have been useful!
Otherwise, a phenomenal experience and one we would love to repeat in the future." See all these reviews: 5n in Zambia
Holiday styles & special interests in Zambia
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Zambia.
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.
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.
Chinzombo
Opened in early June 2013, Chinzombo offers luxurious and stylish accommodation with very high levels of service and excellent guiding.
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.
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.
