Puku Ridge: Our full report
Set on the side of a rocky ridge, the smart, luxurious Puku Ridge is almost unique in the Luangwa Valley ...
... in having a little elevation, which gives its main areas and suites a stunning view from its vantage point over a vast grassy plain, often frequented by plentiful wildlife. To the north lies the relatively busy areas around Mfuwe, where the game is habituated and relaxed, but visitors more numerous; whilst to its south, the quieter roads are a little ‘less travelled’.Away from the escarpment which lines the Luangwa Valley, there are few hills – and very few in what are now the prime game-viewing areas at the centre of the park, most likely accounting for the reason Zambia’s founding President, Kenneth Kaunda, chose the Chichele Hill for the location of his ‘Chichele Presidential Lodge’ in the early 1970s.
Built on the slopes of the opposite hills from the ‘Presidential Lodge’, Puku Ridge overlooks a large grassy plain which is usually frequented by scattered groups of the eponymous puku antelope and, between the two, they have some of the best views of any camp in the Luangwa Valley.
The camp underwent an impressive rebuild and renovation, and re-opened in late 2019 under new ownership, in part by the Cumings family, owners of Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro Camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Eight tented suites, all with either a super king bed or large twin beds, sit along the ridgeline of the hills, overlooking the plains.
The suites are elegantly designed, with beautiful attention to detail, like the contour lines of the local area etched into the headboards, and stunning black and white photos adorning the walls. With the style comes practicality: there’s an overhead fan inside the four-poster mosquito net, and air conditioning as well for the hotter months. USB sockets and reading lights are each side of the bed, and bedside tables with lamps, mosquito spray and insect repellent too.
A small seating area and drinks cabinet are to one side of the suite, with a tea and coffee station and well-stocked minibar.
Ensuite bathrooms each have a large bath, double sinks and both indoor and outdoor showers.
Screened sliding doors lead out to a multi-level outdoor deck has comfortable seating area and a private plunge pool, looking out across the vast flood plains. Each tented suite also has its own private star bed; an outdoor staircase winds up to the top of a small observation tower where a large bed is located, draped under a dark mosquito net, all the better to see the night sky above – though your bedroom is always made up and ready inside, in case of a change of heart!
The expansive main area stretches across split level decks, with a covered dining area, outdoor lounge areas, a lower ‘breakfast deck’ and a fire pit surrounded with comfortable directors’ chairs. Telescopes are available for viewing both stars and wildlife, and there’s a small library area with some informative wildlife books.
A gift shop sits to one side, and down some steps to the other end of the decking you’ll find a sunken viewing hide, looking out to the waterhole in front of camp.
Activities from Puku Ridge focus on day and night safari drives, with guided walking safaris also on offer.
The camp is situated on the southern edge of Luangwa's main all-weather road network, which means it can open and close much closer to the rainy season than other camps in the area, allowing guests to see the park at different times of the year. The game drive areas are varied in this section of the park, with a mix of open plains and riverine grasslands, wooded with evergreen sausage trees, winterthorn, tamarind and dotted with baobab.
Our view
The accent at the old Puku Ridge was always firmly on the 'luxury' part of safari and while the camp is changed in many aspects, this element is still very much the same, but combined now with more respect for nature and a better game-viewing experience. Meanwhile every time we visit, we're reminded that looking over the Kakumbi Floodplain from camp gives Puku one of the best views in the valley.
Zambia expert
Geographics
- Location
- South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
- Ideal length of stay
- We recommend a two or three night stay at Puku Ridge. Consider combining this with its sister camps in the Lower Zambezi National Park – Old Mondoro or Chiawa.
- Directions
- From Mfuwe Airport, it is around a 90-minute drive through Mfuwe Village into the South Luangwa National Park and to Puku Ridge.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- On our last stay in October 2022, as on previous occasions, the food was very good and the portions sensible, but not excessive. The team can also cater for a variety of dietary requirements, with advance notice.
A light breakfast is served around the campfire before the morning activity, which usually consists of toast, muffins, pancakes or pastries, cereal, yoghurt and porridge, along with tea, coffee and fresh fruit juice, plus the morning ‘special’ – on our last visit, we enjoyed French toast with bacon and banana.
Though we didn’t have the chance to experience brunch during our last visits, it’s usually a buffet along with an optional full English breakfast, served around midday once you've had some time to freshen up after your morning activity.
Afternoon tea is served before the afternoon activity, and usually involves a freshly baked sweet dish along with a savoury option.
Dinner is generally a four-course meal, with wine pairings. We enjoyed baked cheese and focaccia, then a delicious beef fillet served simply with grilled vegetables, though a vegetarian curry option was also on offer. We had a light fruit plater for dessert, though other guests enjoyed what looked to be a rather good chocolate mousse! - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Drinks included
- Tea, coffee, soft drinks and a selection of spirits and wines are included. Premium brand liqueurs and spirits incur an additional charge, and may need to be requested in advance.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children over the age of 12 are welcome at Puku Ridge.
- Property’s age restrictions
- The minimum age at Puku Ridge is 12 years.
- Special activities & services
- A pack is available for all guests, including children, which contains several useful spotting guides and a pair of binoculars. It’s possible for children to take part in short walks around camp, on request, but there are no specific activities for children.
- Generally recommended for children
- We recommend this camp for mature, well-behaved children over the age of 12.
- Notes
- Puku Ridge is an unfenced lodge, and dangerous wildlife often wanders through. The plunge pool are also not fenced. Children must be closely supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Puku Ridge
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Puku Ridge 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
100% success
100% success
92% success
79% success
60% success
11% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- The camp is on mains electricity, and multiple international charging points are available in the rooms for charging 24 hours a day. There are limited 3-pin 240V plug sockets and USB charging points in the game drive vehicles. The camp also has a generator in case of power outage.
- Communications
- There is some cell phone reception at the camp, and complimentary WiFi is available in the suites and the main area, though the speed can be slow at times.
- TV & radio
- The camp is in the bush so there are no TVs or radios here.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- All of the bathrooms are plumbed in with flushing toilets and showers with hot water always available. Water from the borehole that has been filtered is provided as drinking water in all of the rooms, and each guests is given a personal water bottle for use during their stay, although bottled water is readily available if you prefer.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Management staff are first-aid trained. The closest clinic is located in Mfuwe, a drive of a couple of hours. There is also a visiting doctor who is usually based at one of the safari lodges in the Mfuwe area.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- As animals sometimes pass though the camp, guests will be escorted to their chalets and around camp after dark. There is a radio located in each suite in case of emergency.
- Fire safety
- Each of the suites has a fire extinguisher in case of fire, and further extinguishers are located throughout the camp and main area.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- A full laundry service is included at Puku Ridge, and washing powder is provided in the bathroom to wash any delicate items.
- Money
- There is a small safe in each suite. No money-exchange facilities are offered.
- Accepted payment on location
- Payments for curios, spa treatments and any additional items can be made in cash using US dollars, and Zambia kwacha. Mastercard and Visa are also accepted for card payments, though not American Express.
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.
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.
