Set around two lagoons, shaded by the a canopy of ebony and mahogany trees, award-winning Mfuwe Lodge is the perfect place to ease into Luangwa life. Enjoy excellent game viewing, recharge your batteries, or start and finish your journey to our Bushcamps.

The open plan reception, lounge, dining, and bar areas overlook two lagoons and the wallowing hippo and thirsty wildlife will keep you enthralled. 18 air-conditioned chalets are scattered around the gardens and secluded verandas outside each provide a lovely vantage point for the comings and goings.

Inside, each chalet has a comfortable sitting room, imperial King or twin beds, and a spacious en suite bathroom with walk-in shower. The suites have an additional seating area upstairs, and the family rooms have ample space for two children.

This region of the park is renowned for its prolific game, and giraffe, hippos, buffalo, antelope, and crocodile are constant visitors to Mfuwe Lodge’s lagoon. Walking safaris can be arranged on request, but the majority of outings are game drives. In November, the local elephants regularly wander right through the lobby, lured by a nearby wild mango tree.

THE PHIL BERRY CENTRE
Situated in the shady grounds of Mfuwe Lodge, the The Phil Berry Centre comprises a library and photographic studio. Our guests have full use of both spaces and the outside decks, to read and relax, connect with the outside world, or edit photos in a quiet, reflective environment.

The spaces also suit a variety of events, including meetings, seminars, workshops and functions. With sliding doors, opening onto a large deck, black-out curtains that are ideal for presentations, and a second viewing deck, the rooms can be configured to accommodate the needs of individual groups and events.

EXPERIENCES & ACTIVITIES
From game drives with expert guides and walking safaris in one of the top walking areas on the continent to community visits and specialised photographic safaris, our Bushcamps and lodges offer a variety of experiences for a totally unique safari.

WILDLIFE VIEWING
Explore the rich diversity and incredible wildlife of the South Luangwa on a game drive. On four wheels, you’ll cover as much of the region as possible and maximise your game-viewing. At night, a whole new cast of characters fills the landscape of the South Luangwa. With the help of a spotlight, take to the road and see what you can find…

WALKING SAFARI
The walking safari was born in the South Luangwa, so it’s only fitting that many of your outings will be on foot with the very finest guides. Make the most of your time with us with a private guide and vehicle and tailor your trip to exactly what you want, when you want to do it.

As the sun sinks below the horizon, there is nothing better than finding a spectacular spot in the heart of the bush for an ice-cold drink and something to nibble on. Each year at Mfuwe Lodge, whole families of elephants visit between late October and mid-December to feast on the fallen fruits from the large Wild Mango tree in the lodge grounds.

SPA & WELLNESS
Discover the true meaning of relaxation at Mfuwe Lodge’s BushSpa, a tranquil retreat in the heart of the wilderness, perfect for anyone seeking rejuvenation of mind, body and soul.

COMMUNITY VISITS
Spend some time with the local Mfuwe community and enjoy a game of football at the school and visit some of our current education, health and community projects.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI
Make use of our specially-modified photographic vehicle with no sides, custom seating arrangement and cushioned floor and take your photography to the next level.

Rooms: 18

Price: from 840 EUR per night

Source: www.bushcampcompany.com

For five months each year, before the rains return, watch a wildlife extravaganza play out in the infinite floodplains.

Witness hundreds of red lechwe, puku, and other plains game, often chased by predators, including the famous ‘flying lions’ leaping across the channels (Shumba’s named after the local lion prides, the camp’s show stealers). Boat through the channels seasonally, when the water is high, gliding past hippo pods.

Remote Shumba occupies its own little island in the midst of the Busanga Plains, 600-square km of savannah threaded with watery channels in the north of Zambia’s Kafue National Park – one of the wildest, most pristine places on Earth. For their abundance and diversity of wildlife, renowned as ‘the Plains of Plenty’.

You barely have to step off Shumba’s elegant, streamlined decks to encounter a vast diversity of creatures. The camp’s six spacious, luxury tented units, raised on wooden platforms, stand sentry over the endless plains.

Astounding vistas can be had from your bed, various seating areas in the unit, or even the indoor and outdoor showers. Zambian hospitality pervades the main area, whether you’re cooling off in the pool, dining under the stars, or sharing fireside tales with staff, a convivial nightly ritual.

Wildlife at Shumba
Shumba is situated in the middle of the Busanga Plains in the midst of various lion pride territories and is said to provide some of the best lion viewing in Africa. These lion are often seen in and around camp.

The area is also perfectly situated to see large numbers of plains game such as puku, red lechwe, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, oribi, buffalo and wildebeest.

Cheetah and wild dog may also be seen, while a special treat is the ‘resident’ herd of rare roan antelope. For birding enthusiasts, the park boasts 491 species, including the range restricted Fülleborn’s Longclaw.

Birding Paradise
Delight in birding as rosy-throated longclaw and grey crowned cranes became commonplace sightings on drives.

Game Drives
Catch sight of the famous lion prides, other predators and the scores of plains game.

Night-time meanderings
Explore the Busanga Plains’ nocturnal species on interpretive game drives under the stars.

Boating
Float through the channels at the beginning of the season when the floodplains are still filled with water.

Zambia from Above
From scenic flights to soaring silently on a hot air balloon over one of the most remote wildlife-rich areas on Earth, this seven-day adventure not only takes Africa in from the skies but also includes up close and personal wildlife experiences on foot, by vehicle and even boat.

Kafue’s Busanga Plains is known for its territorial lions roaming alongside other predators and a multitude of plains game while adventures on the Zambezi River yield sightings of elephant, buffalo, crocodile, hippo.

Here you can also choose a heli flip over Victoria Falls or even hurl yourself into the spectacular Batoka Gorge by bungee jump or gorge swing.

Diverse Zambia – Busanga and Zambezi
This seven-day safari offers you front row seats to some of the most spectacular wilderness and wildlife experiences in Zambia, if not the planet.

Your journey begins in the wild and exceptionally remote Busanga Plains of Kafue’s National Park that provide some of the best lion viewing in Africa alongside other predators and a multitude of prey species.

We continue our wildlife experience in a more relaxed format on the banks of mystical and evocative Zambezi River. Elephant, buffalo, crocodile, hippo and excellent birdlife can be seen from land and water while tracking rhino on foot is another thrilling adventure.

Website: www.wilderness-safaris.com

Rooms: 6

Price: from 2.200 EUR per night

The Tongabezi Lodge is a winning eco-lodge in Zambia leans into the tranquillity of its hidden location on the banks of the Zambezi River. Combine romance and luxury with a hint of adventure as you relax just 12km upstream of Victoria Falls.

Our joyous team welcome guests to a selection of Houses and Cottages, each embellished with interiors lovingly chosen from around Africa. Immerse yourself in nature and experience unique dining and river activities.

Tongabezi combines romance and exclusivity with warm and attentive service to make your love story with Africa come true on the Zambezi River.

COTTAGES & HOUSES
The four River Cottages and seven Houses are individually styled and cater for two to five guests. Unique touches and charming character are at the heart of the Tongabezi design aesthetic.

Indulge in lavish luxury at the Honeymoon House, wake up amongst the birds in the Tree House or enjoy an alfresco dinner from the private deck of your River Cottage.

Spend quality time together with family and friends high above the river at the Dog House or in your own private garden and plunge pool at the Garden House. Each house and cottage has its own valet who acts as a private concierge and takes care of you throughout your stay.

TANGALA PRIVATE HOUSE
Tangala Private House is a luxurious family home on the banks of the Zambezi River that has been tastefully designed and furnished in true Tongabezi style. It lies close to the main lodge at Tongabezi while still being secluded enough to ensure a private and safe environment for your family holiday.

Tangala comfortably sleeps six people in four bedrooms, three with en-suite bathrooms and raised king-sized beds, along with a lovely children’s playroom. The rooms are enclosed with wide windows that provide magnificent views across the Zambezi.

The living room has a large sofa and two armchairs and leads onto a ‘snuggery’ with satellite TV, video, hi-fi and fireplace. The kitchen and dining room are open plan and spacious to suit the comings and goings of all family members.

An open-thatch veranda easily seats 10 and steps lead out onto the garden that has 250m of private river frontage. The 13-metre swimming pool has a shallow area with bench seating for the little ones and the terrace has an eight-seat railway sleeper picnic table.

Tangala also has its own well-equipped gym with large glass windows for you to enjoy the peaceful river view while working out.

THE TREE HOUSE
Set against the basalt rock bed with a sustainable pine deck entwined amid the branches of three ebonies, the secluded Tree House offers effortless immersion into its riverfront surrounds.

A hidden path winds away from the main lodge and along the cliff face to the Tongabezi Tree House. From the Anatolian carpets to the Asian chests and West African artwork, the Tree House enchants the imagination and invokes colourful daydreams.

Stunning views of the Zambezi River roll out from every part of this airy, open plan space. The king size bed is enveloped in a large, canopied mosquito net and shares this extensive space with areas for private dining and lounging.

The bathroom’s crowning glory is the claw-footed bath complemented by riverfront views and the sounds of nature.

THE HONEYMOON HOUSE
A boho-chic retreat with all the indulgence and privacy needed to celebrate romance, the Honeymoon House is the original blueprint for laidback luxury Tongabezi accommodation. Blue and white textiles combine with wooden furnishings and a thatched roof to create an intimate space in which to unwind together.

The private wooden deck with plunge pool and dining area overlooks the river, making for unforgettable alfresco living. The en-suite bathroom has an indoor shower and open-air bathtub that is made utterly unforgettable by the canopy of stars above and the Zambezi lapping gently below.

ACTIVITIES
In keeping with our individual approach to hospitality, there is no set itinerary so you are free to do as much or as little as you wish. You can book every inclusive excursion at a time that fits perfectly with your idea of the ideal holiday. External activities will depend on availability.

A wide range of activities are on offer during your stay at Tongabezi. Marvel at the mighty Victoria Falls, take an early morning game drive around the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, drift down the Zambezi River on a sunset boat cruise, or indulge in a romantic sampan dinner floating out on the river.

SAMPAN DINNER
The sampan is another magical dining experience unique to Tongabezi. What better way to celebrate Zambezi living than to wine and dine on this magnificent river?

You can expect all senses to be tuned in – a delicious meal with a good bottle of wine, the sunset painting the sky oranges and purples, and the nocturnal sounds of the bush. The sampan dinner is available throughout the year, apart from during the highest river levels, which are usually from March to June.

SAND BAR
This is one of our signature Tongabezi experiences. It immerses you in the beauty of the Zambezi wilderness while you are treated to a delicious lunch spread or chilled drinks at sunset. One of our friendly team will be there to wait on you so can sit back, relax and enjoy each other’s company.

POOL
Our long swimming pool, laidback bar and lounge will beckon you to kick off your shoes and unwind during the warmer hours of the day. The bustle of birds in the surrounding trees and call of African fish eagles above is the soundtrack to your holiday on the Zambezi River. Take a splash on the wild side!

GYM
There is no excuse to miss your daily workout as you have full access to our boutique gym. It is kitted out with an extensive range of gym equipment, including a spin bike, aerobic steps and mats. Large glass windows open onto a shady garden space, making your time spent at the gym so much more enjoyable.

BOAT CRUISE
A boat cruise at sunset or sunrise is a superb way to relax and enjoy the stunning beauty of the Zambezi River.

There are great photographic opportunities of the Zambian landscape and wildlife during the day’s golden hours. Flocks of birds skim the waterline to collect insects, hippos wallow about in the cool water and elephants come to drink along the riverbanks.

VICTORIA FALLS
Watching the Zambezi River plummet over the edge and into the Batoka Gorge is an amazing sight no matter the time of day.

The soft light at sunrise makes the early wake-up call absolutely worth it; a sundowner session is a different yet equally memorable experience as you marvel at the Zambezi plummeting over the edge. Watching a rainbow shift within the mist above Victoria Falls will remind you of the magic of nature.

MOSI-OA-TUNYA NATIONAL PARK
While Mosi-oa-Tunya might be Zambia’s smallest national park, it still makes for an exciting day in the bush. It is on an ancient migration route and river crossing point that is still frequented by elephants, especially during the drier months.

This is the only wildlife park in the area that provides refuge to white rhinos, which are closely protected by anti-poaching units. While on your game drive, keep an eye out for giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, impala, wildebeest, zebra and diverse bird life.

FISHING
The Zambezi River, around Victoria Falls, is an excellent spot for both pole and fly fishing. There are over 75 species of freshwater fish in these warm, nutrient-rich waters, although it is usually one specific species that draws fishermen here – the tiger.

Revered for their power and fierce set of teeth, landing a tiger fish is no easy task, even for a seasoned angler. Even an unsuccessful fishing outing on the Zambezi is still enjoyable if just for the beautiful scenery and tranquility.

MARAMBA & MUKUNI VILLAGE MARKETS
The Maramba and Mukuni markets are visited daily by hundreds of people from Livingstone and surrounding areas. They come to buy everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to chitenge, the bright patterned fabric characteristic of Southern and East African fashion.

One of our team will be there to guide you through the marketplace and will be there to help you with buying from vendors if you need.

LIVINGSTONE MUSEUM
During a tour of the museum, you will come across the most comprehensive memorabilia of Dr David Livingstone, including authentic maps, personal effects and journals. There is a fascinating collection of artefacts as well as stories to hear about the natural history, anthropological, African culture and Zambian biodiversity.

NON-INCLUSIVE
Along with our complementary activities, you can choose from a host of non-inclusive activities to add to your itinerary while staying at Tongabezi.

Want to know our favourite? The Livingstone Island Tour, which includes a swim in Devil’s or Angel’s Pool (depending on the Zambezi water levels), and is a captivating experience you won’t soon forget!

LIVINGSTONE ISLAND TOUR
A superb vantage point from which to witness Victoria Falls is from Livingstone Island. Tongabezi offers five trips a day to Livingstone Island. A twin-engine boat will take you on a thrilling journey through the fast-moving channels of the Zambezi River.

Once on the island, you will be given a guided tour, learning about its history from ancient times when it served as a sacrificial site to the present day and its UNESCO World Heritage status. Tuck into some teatime treats, which are made and served to you on the island by the Tongabezi team.

DEVIL’S & ANGEL’S POOL
Devil’s Pool is famous for attracting thrill-seekers from around the world, offering daring swimmers the chance of a life-changing adventure that is completely safe. It is just a short swim from Livingstone Island and one of our guides will be with you at all times.

It features as part of the Livingstone Island tour. Devil’s Pool is usually open between mid-August and mid-January when the Zambezi water levels are low enough for swimmers to take the plunge.

MICROLIGHT FLIGHTS
This is a breath-taking experience that opens up a different perspective of the Victoria Falls, Batoka Gorge and Zambezi River. Whether you choose the 15-minute or 30-minute flight, you can expect spectacular views from this completely open air aircraft that is able to fly fairly low over ‘The Smoke That Thunders’.

HELICOPTER FLIGHTS
The ‘Flight of Angels’ helicopter trip is the chance to see and appreciate the Zambian landscape in all its vast beauty.

The helicopter has specially designed bubble-shaped windows that allow for panoramic viewing and great photographic opportunities from all seats. It is an incredible angle from which to view the Victoria Falls and the winding Zambezi River.

WHITE WATER RAFTING
This one is for the daredevils! The incredible force of the Zambezi River crashing down Victoria Falls creates world-famous rapids in the gorge below.

With names like ‘Mother’s Revenge’ and ‘Devil’s Toilet Bowl’, you will understand why we say these rapids are not for the faint-hearted. If you get a kick out of extreme water sports, then these raging rapids will get your adrenaline pumping.

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Chobe National Park is home to Africa’s greatest concentration of elephants and it is amazing to see these iconic animals drinking, swimming and playing in the river while out on a boat safari.

It’s not just about elephants though, as hippo, buffalo, bushbuck and puku are regulars to the riverside as are various kingfisher species, saddle-billed stork and African darter. The park is on Botswana’s northern border with Zambia, which makes a day trip to see some amazing wildlife relatively easy.

ROYAL LIVINGSTONE EXPRESS
The Royal Livingstone Express is an exceptional nostalgic experience which combines the luxury and charm of five-star rail travel with the wild beauty of the Zambian bush.

The train is an all-inclusive leisurely journey starting just before sunset and taking you through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. You can do this activity with a happy heart knowing about their reforestation carbon-offset programme!

RHINO WALK
You are completely immersed in the bush during this walking safari in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, as your knowledgeable guide leads you to where the rhinos have been spotted that day.

Once you have located the rhinos, you may be able to get quite close and it is difficult to not be humbled while in the presence of these tragically endangered animals. Along the way, your guide will talk about the surrounding ecosystem and animal spoor you come across.

GET INVOLVED
Tourism can be a driving force for real, positive, sustainable change, and this is never truer than in Southern Africa.

We invite you to make your luxury safari that much more unforgettable by getting stuck into some of our community and conservation projects! Leave more than footprints behind when you head home, and experience the real soul of Zambia and Malawi.

TONGABEZI TRUST SCHOOL
The Tongabezi Trust School’s other name, Tujatane means ‘let us all hold hands together’ and this little school, born in 1996, would not have been possible without supportive hands reaching out from all over the world to help.

The school is run entirely on donations, mostly from Tongabezi guests. All guests are invited to visit, engage with, and learn from our 280 bright, talented students, all who receive a free education and nutritious meals at Tujatane.

In fact, if you are only going to do one happy thing during your stay at Tongabezi, we’d suggest it is a tour of this school.

HOW TO HELP NOW
The Tongabezi Trust School relies on the kindness of travellers. Head to their website if you want to know more about how to donate, and how to keep sending happier, more confident children to brighten Zambia’s future.

TWAABANE COMMUNITY CREATIVE CENTRE
The Twaabane Creative Centre is a brand-new project for the Tongabezi Trust School Team, and they’d love the chance to show you what it is all about. This colourful, happy space is designed to share creative, artisanal, and practical skills to not only the children but also the adults in our Simonga Community.

If you are new to sewing or sustainable farming, come and join a class! If you have skills of your own to impart, let us know in advance if you’d like to hold a lesson.

HOW TO HELP NOW
Get in touch with Emma, the school’s Fundraising and Administration Manager, if you would like to donate funds, art supplies, or your expertise to bringing creative productivity, and new employment opportunities, to our Simonga Village neighbours young and old.

MUKUNI ORGANIC COMMUNITY FARM
Come and explore some of our 1,200 hectares of sweetveld, which is rapidly becoming a fully sustainable, organic community-run farm.

Our team absolutely loves to teach travellers about their sustainable farming techniques, from alley cropping to grazing rotation and even to the home-made fertiliser and pesticide they use.

You can personally compare their farming techniques with nearby traditional farming methods. See as the community begins to adopt methods that are not only cheaper and better for the environment, but also provide more growth.

HOW TO HELP NOW
Donate via the Green Safaris Foundation Fund. If you want us to use the funds for something specific (seeds, gardening utensils, training days for the community) then be sure to mention this and we will keep you updated.

TONGABEZI REFORESTATION PROJECT
Reforestation is vital in Southern Africa where so many people depend on coal to cook, clean and keep warm. Whilst we are working to replace coal stoves with sustainable grass and stick-fuelled ones, our Green Team is also hard at work replacing the trees that have been cut down.

Come and visit our nursery and see all of the indigenous and fruit-bearing trees getting ready to create shade, nutrition, and be a wonderful carbon-offset for our community.

HOW TO HELP NOW
Donate via the Green Safaris Conservation Foundation. If you want us to use the funds for something specific, like seeds, plant food or fuel to drive the saplings to their new homes, then be sure to mention this and we will keep you updated.

SIMONGA VILLAGE
The tours within Simonga Village provide a joyous opportunity for guests to learn, engage and share stories with our wonderful community. One of our local team will lead the tour, which is conducted in a respectful manner, and will introduce you to people who they know are happy to chat with the group.

We encourage you to take the time to get to know the people you meet and to listen to the stories that they have to tell. This is an unforgettable way to experience a small slice of local Zambian life.

HOW TO HELP NOW
Sponsor our Tongabezi Trust School to continue to uplift this joyful but vulnerable community.

Rooms: 11

Price: from 1.310 EUR per night

Source: www.greensafaris.com

Voted as the 4th Best Resort in Africa and 9th Best Resort in the World in the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards, Royal Chundu sits on the banks of the Zambezi River which hugs the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Our tranquil hideaway celebrates romance and family, tranquility in a secluded setting, unique adventures and community empowerment. Further downstream is the roaring, thundering, smoking Victoria Falls, only 30km away.

Zambia’s first and only Relais & Châteaux property, Royal Chundu encompasses two lodges, River Lodge and Island Lodge, both with views of the Zambezi. 10 exclusive River Lodge suites, set among the trees are nests of seclusion and peace.

The charm and secrecy of the 4 spacious Island Lodge villas is accentuated by its location on the private Katombora island in the middle of the river, sheltered by rapids.

Delightful All Year Round
Royal Chundu is a superb year-round destination, with each season bringing something unique to the Zambezi and Victoria Falls experience. At 3,540km long, the Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa and the largest that flows into the Indian Ocean from the continent.

Its journey begins in Zambia, moves through eastern Angola, weaves along the eastern border of Namibia and the northern border of Botswana, onwards between Zambia and Zimbabwe, before eventually reaching Mozambique, where it finds its way into the Indian Ocean.

October is the hottest month while the chilliest time is in June. This month also welcomes shooting stars to the sky while July and August hold the promise of the Parrot Fish Run, an incredible natural spectacle to behold.

The Zambezi River is at its fullest between February and July, and peaks between March and April. The rise in water level creates a magnificent spray from Victoria Falls, with superior rainbows worth an ogle.

At the Zambezi’s lowest, between November and early December, there is little spray, but a better view of the Falls’ full geological form. This is also a superb time to take a dip in Devil’s Pool.

Temperatures on the Zambezi River are relatively mild, generally between 64° and 86° F (18° and 30° C).

Winter runs from May and is cool and dry, while from August to October temperatures rise excessively, often reaching 104° F (40° C). November to April is rainy season, with relief coming from occasional clear skies between downpours.

Getting to Royal Chundu
We are set some 30 kilometres upstream from the Victoria Falls and 50 kilometres from HMNIA – Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (formerly Livingstone International Airport), the closest airport. GPS Co-ordinates: 17°50’37.0″S 25°24’59.1″E

Arriving & Departing
A lodge representative meets all guests at HMNIA – Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport upon arrival to transfer them in a private, air-conditioned minibus to River Lodge (45 – 50 minutes).

Island Lodge is followed by a short boat trip (5 – 10 minutes). The transfer to HMNIA departs each lodge according to flight times. We can also collect guests from Kasane Airport (BBK) and Victoria Falls Aiport (VFA) at an additional transfer cost.

Flying
Daily flights run from Johannesburg to Livingstone International Airport on the following carriers: British Airways, Kulula, and South African Airways. Monday – Saturday (excl Thurs) direct flights run from Nelspruit (MQP/KMIA) to Livingstone on SA Airlink.

Transfers
A return transfer between Livingstone International Airport and the Lodge is included in the accommodation packaged rates. Any alternative transfer can be arranged with central reservations at an additional cost. A lodge representative will meet all guests at Livingstone International Airport.

What to Pack
The dress code for dinner is smart casual. It’s a good idea to pack a light jacket in summer and a thick jacket in winter.

A waterproof, light raincoat is recommended when visiting Victoria Falls during high water months. Sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended all year round. Binoculars and cameras for birding and game viewing are an added bonus.

Malaria Prevention
Zambia is a malaria area. It is advised that you use malaria prophylaxis and consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding recommended brands.

Insect repellent is provided in the Royal Chundu suites and public areas and all suites are furnished with mosquito nets. Herbal malaria prophylaxis, Demal 200, is a safe malaria treatment for children.

Climate
Temperatures on the Zambezi River are relatively mild, generally between 64° and 86° F (18° and 30° C). Winter runs from May to July and is cool and dry, with temperatures around 68° F (20° C).

August to October, temperatures rise excessively, with October being our hottest month, often reaching 104° F (40° C). November to April is rainy season with relief coming from occasional clear skies between downpours.

River Lodge
The larger of Royal Chundu’s two lodges, River Lodge scatters 10 suites along the riverfront with wooden decks ensuring intimate and serene views accompanied by uninterrupted privacy. These luxurious suites gaze across the Zambezi River, and peer into neighbouring Zimbabwe’s picturesque landscape.

Thatched roofing and interior furnishings echo the Zambezi hues and accentuate the surrounding natural beauty. An outdoor boma for dinners around the fire as well as a lounge and bar encompass the main area. In close proximity to a helicopter pad, River Lodge is easily accessed and welcomes children.

Island Lodge
Be transferred by boat to Katombora Island, wrapped in the watery embrace of the Zambezi. With only four spacious villas on the island, Royal Chundu’s Island Lodge illuminates tranquility, exclusivity and privacy.

The well-appointed suites, splashed with cobalt blue and earthy palettes, open up onto private decks overlooking the river rapids. Refresh in the infinity pool and in the evenings relax in a riverfront bathtub – the perfect romantic getaway.

The Art of Dining
Feeding the Soul
Food is intergral to Zambian culture. Our local gastronomy is full of distinct flavours, ingredients and customs. Dining at Royal Chundu takes you deeper into local life, into the terroir, into the history of the Zambezi.

Our chefs are all Zambian and imbue each meal with the unique qualitites of cuisine that they grew up with. Ours is a taste of Zambia that tells the stories of the land and people, but with a twist of international classics and techniques.

Local & Sustainable
Soon you’ll know just what we mean when we talk about delele leaves (‘Jew’s Mallow’ or wild jute), katapa (cassava leaves), impwa (African eggplants), chibwabwa (pumpkin leaves), chinshungwa (a wild vegetable only found in the rainy season) and mundambi (a species of Hibiscus)… You’ll know the delicious flavours of village chicken and kapenta (the Tanganyika sardine).

All of our fresh supplies are sourced from our own vegetable gardens or farms neighbouring Royal Chundu, not only to minimise our carbon footprint, but to provide income for our local community and ensure the greatest freshness and taste.

Our freshly-caught fish, namely bream, is bought from local fishermen, while our own free-range chickens provide our eggs. All water at Royal Chundu is recycled and purified on the premises and all biodegradable waste is disposed of sustainably via our wormery, which feeds our vegetable garden.

Sit Down to Something Delicious
Meandering teak walkways lead to the main dining room at River Lodge and Island Lodge, where pan-African and international cuisine is prepared by our chefs, including a traditional tasting menu, where every dish is paired with one of South Africa’s celebrated wines.

Both our lodges have indoor dining areas and viewing decks for outdoor meals beside the beauty of our private slice of the Zambezi River.

Bomas & Baobabs
Be a part of something special, with our traditional Zambian evening in the boma or dining under the great branches of an ancient baobab tree on the island.

Watch the flames of the campfire or dinner being prepared on the barbeque, while streams of lanterns, Zambian drumming and the masked Makishi dancers set the mood, and then sit down under the African stars to local dishes and drinks.

Private Dining
Enjoy the option of retreating to the privacy of your own suite with in-room dining for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Weather permitting, head out on a private dining experience on a boat cruise or picnic, complete with silver settings and Persian rugs. There are full bar facilities on the mainland and island for you to enjoy your favourite tipple at.

Whatever the occasion
There are so many moments in our lives, moments grand, moments almost missed, that are worthy of a little more time, a little more attention. The love between two people, the bonds of a family that grow with each passing year, the accomplishment of dreams… Give them the attention they deserve.

Our Wedding Package
With their majestic Zambezi River backdrop, Royal Chundu’s intimate lodges are magnificent locations for a romantic marriage ceremony, with or without guests. We cater for small and large parties from 2 to 40 guests.

Our wedding package provides everything you’ll need for a memorable, perfectly executed wedding, but feel free to talk to us about creating a personalised experience for your dream wedding.

Book 3 nights at the applicable rate and you will get a complimentary fourth night – as well as your wedding, free of charge. Includes:

• Your own dedicated wedding coordinator
• Wedding location at the lodge, decorated and styled to your chosen theme, with a separate room for the bride before the ceremony
• Wedding cake, music and a professional photographer; champagne and canapes after the service
• Individual Bride and Groom Spa treatments
• Romantically prepared room with luxury bath and celebration breakfast in bed
• Accommodation available: Island Lodge (4 Private Suites) and River Lodge (10 Private Suites)

Our Honeymoon Package
We also offer a romantic five-star honeymoon package, specially created to ensure that your honeymoon is as memorable as possible. Book this package at the fully-inclusive rate and the bride will receive a 50% discount for her first night. Includes:

• Accommodation
• All meals and drinks (excluding premium brands); tea and coffee (excluding speciality coffees)
• Return transfers to and from Livingstone International Airport (10% service charge)
• All internal activities
• On arrival Honeymooners receive a bottle of sparkling wine in your room
• A private dinner
• Romantic room turn down and luxury bubble bath (Island Lodge only)
• Spa Treatment Mwami (King) Experience for him; Dyango (Queen) Experience for her

Photography, a love affair with life
The Zambezi River is full of photographic potential, a magical, moving destination for photographers of all levels to lose themselves in.

While floating down the river on a boat cruise, raise your camera to the scenes lit by the sunrises or sunsets, the golden light cast over the river and its banks; to the elephant herds coming for a drink and the other wildlife in the reserve on the opposite side of the river; the otters, waterbuck, hippos and crocodiles wading in the water.

You can also practice your portraits, on friends, family, and other travel partners, with the Zambezi as your backdrop.

Our guides will be on-board to take care of everything else, pointing out different bird species and special subjects you might miss. They will make sure you’re at the right place at the right time and will be on hand with coffee and biscotti, or G&Ts…

For a different view, take to the river on a canoe and capture the rapids and riverine vegetation close-up. If your interest lies in food photography, there are plenty of opportunities to capture the art of dining and local foods and ingredients, as served by the Royal Chundu chefs.

This could be on a private picnic , a romantic deck dinner, a lunch river cruise, or while enjoying the different courses of our special Zambian tasting menu.

Consider adding a day trip to Victoria Falls onto your photographic adventure, for a chance to capture the Smoke That Thunders for yourself.

Bird’s eye view of Victoria Falls
What better way to watch the magically winding Zambezi River and its drop into Victoria Falls than from above in a helicopter?

Get up close to the Falls while flying over the gorge – an adventure that guests always return from renewed, with stories ad infinitum. This is no doubt one of the best ways to photograph the largest sheet of falling water in the world.

Royal Chundu offers guests riveting heli transfers from the airport that take you over the Falls before delivering you to our doorstep at Royal Chundu’s helipad. Venture a little further, if you wish, over the neighbouring game reserve, taking in the wild sights below.

Paddle into the Wild
Explore the lifeblood of Victoria Falls by canoe, going boldly into the waters of the upper Zambezi River, where hippo and crocodile roam. Travel downstream in our inflatable canoes, with one of our local guides to accompany you.

Each journey down our waters is a chance to measure yourself against the power of the river and its animals, a chance to find stillness, to get up close and intimate with nature, and to see and hear more than you could ever imagine.

Your journey starts at the Katombora rapids and continues through the channels of the Zambezi’s islands. Let your guide take the reigns or feel free to join in… the choice is yours.

As you make your way to a secret picnic spot beneath jackalberry trees on an island riverbank, look out for the hundreds of different bird species that call this region home and the wildlife that frequent this essential water source. You can also explore our stretch of river by cruise boat or motorised inflatable canoe.

A unique community tour
We invite you to meet the people who call the riverbanks around Royal Chundu home, the faces we interact with daily, the hearts who remind us just what makes this part of the world so special. We exist in unison with the surrounding villages of Mushekwa and Muluka.

We exist because they do. Discover more about our community on a walk through the villages. Learn more about the ways of Zambia, and by extension, Royal Chundu.

We will escort you to and from the village by boat, slipping along the Zambezi River to the welcoming wave of your guide from the village – one of the mothers of Mushekwa. Discover more in our blog, The Ubuntu of the Upper Zambezi.

You will gain insight into the local traditions and customs as well as on the plants and herbs used for traditional medicine and to make cooking oil, soap, and other necessities. Feel free to talk to the guide about adding a donation to the village fund.

One of the biggest celebrations in Africa
Most people are familiar with the Great Migration through the Serengeti and Masai Mara, and they’re familiar with the salmon run as they migrate from the ocean to river, but have you heard about the annual Parrotfish Run?

Every year, from June to August, the Parrotfish Run takes over the Zambezi River, upstream from Victoria Falls. After the heavy rains, millions of fish from the floodplains are pulled downstream by the main river current.

Once they hit the smaller rapids, they make for an easy catch for fishermen perched and waiting with their handwoven fishing baskets, made of reeds and palm tree leaves.

Families set up camp along the riverbanks to take advantage of this annual event and the amount of fish caught over the event provides enough sustenance to last the local villages an entire year.

From Royal Chundu, guests can take part in the run – whether spectating on the sidelines or attempting this unique angling style themselves.

Greet the day or night by boat
The Zambezi is truly at its best when lit up at sunrise and sunset, with those fiery golds and reds, hot pinks and deep purples. The colours of dawn and dusk create the most sensational of backdrops on your guided river cruise.

Board our spacious, pontoon boat and relax while our guides whisk you down one of Africa’s grandest rivers, a river of myth and romance. Watch crocodiles slip off the banks and into the mysterious waters and listen to the chorus of snorting hippos, while you enjoy a morning coffee or a sundowner G&T.

In drier months, when the sandbanks are exposed, the skipper will anchor near “Ellie Corner”, where you can spot herds of elephants as they drink, play, and bathe nearby. Other wildlife to be spotted and photographed include baboon, impala, ottter, warthog, waterbuck, giraffe, and even buffalo and the odd elusive leopard.

At sunset, watch the African skimmers return to nest on the water’s edge with their tell-tale red beaks, listen to the call of the fish eagles and see how many of the Zambezi’s kingfishers you can spy through our binoculars.

Marvel at the miracle that is Mother Nature
These words of acclaimed poet, Sylvia Plath, perfectly echo our own sentiments when it comes to Katombora, our private island in the middle of the Zambezi. Step off the boat onto our wild islet downstream from River Lodge and discover this untamed microcosm of nature in the Zambezi for yourself.

Join us for a guided walk through the island, adorned with python creepers, knob thorns, fever trees, waterberry trees, 23 baobabs, and 200-year-old jackalberry trees.

Our experienced guides will share their knowledge with you about the traditional and medicinal uses of the flora you will come across on the island. Untainted by development, this area represents the perfect ecosystem at play.

The trees that can be spotted along the Zambezi River and on our island have very interesting tricks of their own that help them to survive in a wild world.

Trees are our protectors. In their living forms they provide homes and shelter to millions of living creatures and by absorbing carbon dioxide they are major protagonists in the war on climate change. Even when dead, they continue to warm, feed and house us.

Royal Chundu’s Spa
Invigorate body, mind, and spirit with the serenity of the Zambezi
A journey in Africa brings a sense of calm to the mind, whether enjoying the continent’s wild and rugged expanses or its remote and peaceful corners.

Discover this peace with natural and holistic treatments through the healing hands of our local massage therapists. Treatments are enjoyed in the privacy of your own suite, indoors or out, with the gentle sounds of the Zambezi River playing a song of serenity throughout your spa experience.

Royal Chundu’s therapists all possess an understanding of the pressures and demands placed on our guests by modern life.

In keeping with our holistic approach and our commitment to organic health, the treatments are specifically designed with attention to natural plant technology while our therapists hail from nearby villages where they grew up learning about the surrounding flora’s medicinal and healing properties.

Discover more in our Spa Menu – with information on the natural, local products used and the range of enticing treatments offered.

Private Picnics
Romance and relaxation, just what lazy river days are for
Our family have a long history of picnicking on the banks of the Zambezi. In homage to them, we invite our guests to take part in this Royal Chundu tradition, complete with the same bells and whistles of yesteryear and a few new treats.

Imagine Persian carpets, hammocks between the trees, chilled Pimms served on arrival, a picnic table adorned in silverware and the chitenge colours, a roaring pizza oven and that riverside breakfast or lunch… Whatever your family traditions may be, perhaps it’s time to create new ones.

Here, with us. Spend your time outdoors relaxing while listening to the rapids coursing past you; romance your loved one in a hammock built for two; or roam about the riverbank under the trees after your meal and soak up the magical surroundings.

Fishing
Meet the predators of the Zambezi
Royal Chundu is renowned among the professional angling fraternity for its superb tiger-fishing location. It is the choice of serious fisherman and offers an exciting introduction for the novice.

Our unstressed waters vary from virgin island eddies and shallow rapids to deep flowing channels which boast the powerful tigerfish, bream, and the prized Upper Zambezi yellowfish.

Cost includes boat hire, fuel, and an experienced skipper and fishing guide. Feel free to use your own fishing equipment or the lodge’s gear which is available for hire.

Birding Safari
Birdwatcher’s Guide To Zambia
Our guides have grown up on the banks of the Zambezi. They know the river’s depths and inhabitants like the path that winds from their homes to the water itself. The calls of the African fish eagle and the sounds of the bleating-warbler have formed the background music of their childhoods.

On a birding cruise down the Zambezi, our guides will impart their knowledge of nature with you, pointing out the range of birdlife waiting to be sought out.

Spot the finchlarks and flufftails tempting birdwatchers from the riverbank trees or the jacanas and kingfishers normally found beside hippos and crocodiles in the shallower reaches.

Choose from a morning (sunrise), late afternoon (sunset), nighttime, or full-day birding safari, tailored to your individual requirements. The shorter safaris last approximately two-and-a-half hours.

Catering specifically for birding specialists, the full-day safari includes guided vehicle transfers to the plains, other indigenous forest areas, and/or the Zambezi’s islands. With binoculars and our extensive birder’s checklist in hand, tick off all the species you manage to glimpse.

Steam Train Dining
Romantic 5-star dining on the tracks
Board the Royal Livingstone Express for a 15-kilometre journey starting in Livingstone and venturing through the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, along one of the most historic railway lines on the African continent.

During the journey, you can disembark to take in the sunset and enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the lounge or observation cars before your six-course meal, prepared and served by Sun International’s Royal Livingstone, in the dining carriage.

Chobe National Park Day Tour
Home to some of the largest concentrations of game in Africa
This full day-tour into Chobe National Park in neighbouring Botswana offers exciting game-viewing on 4X4 game drives and boat cruises down the immense Chobe River.

This trip is a superb safari add-on to any Victoria Falls and Royal Chundu itinerary, guaranteeing sightings of elephant and other game, with strong chances of lion and predator spotting, too. This full day tour departs from Royan Chundu at 8AM and sees guests returning at 5PM. Includes:

• Transfer from Royal Chundu to the border ferry and boat transport
• The opportunity to view four countries simultaneously from the river – Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe
• Guided game and/or photographic cruise on the Chobe River in the park (includes boat, park, and guiding fees)
• Lunch at Chobe Marina Lodge
• Game drive in the park (transport, guide and park fees included)
• Return transfer to Zambian border and transfer back to the lodge

Livingstone Island
Trace the steps of a great explorer
Discover the island from which Dr David Livingstone first witnessed the Victoria Falls – Livingstone Island, situated towards the roar and rising cloud of mist suspended above a cliff over which the Zambezi River plunges.

On 16 November 1855, Makololo paddlers landed the great explorer here on ‘Goat Island’ (now Livingstone Island) on the lip of the chasm.

A few steps through the small rainforest later, he gazed upon one of the most spectacular sights in the world – ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (The Smoke that Thunders) which he named after his Queen as The Victoria Falls. It is here that you will witness the most thrilling natural infinity pool in the world – Devil’s Pool .

Today visitors are picked up in a twin-engine boat with powerful motors and a skilled skipper retraces Livingstone’s approach to the island to witness the very best view of the Falls there is.

All visits to the island are during the ‘low water’ season, which usually begins in mid July and goes through to the end of January. High water visits are not possible as the island is continuously covered in the spray/downpour from the Falls.

Pick up is from the wooden jetty adjacent to the Royal Livingstone River Deck by an aluminum boat launch with twin water jet propelled engines which then transfers guests on a 5 to 10 minute ride to the island.

Drop off is again at the Royal Livingstone the trip. The trip includes a short-guided tour of the island and a view of the Falls as well as a light snack depending on the time of the visit.

Microlighting
The Flight of Angels
Abandon all inhibitions on a microlighting trip over Victoria Falls and the spectacular gorge the river has carved out for itself over millenia.

Opt for a 15-minute flight and soar over the islands on the Zambian side of the Falls, or for the 30-minute tour over, not only the Falls, but upstream over Kalai Island for a low swoop over Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Cruising over this UNESCO World Heritage Site makes for some unique game viewing while the micro-light’s open cockpit and unique, wing-mounted camera captures the event for you to experience again later.

Please note: flights are restricted to individuals over the age of six and with a maximum weight of 100 kilograms.

Victoria Falls Walking Tour
Let us show you Victoria Falls
Discover Victoria Falls on a day tour, choosing one of the tours below or custom-designing your own one to suit your own interests. Road transfers are available from Livingstone, Kasane, and Victoria Falls airports but our helicopter transfers by air are guest favourites.

Walking Tour – Half Day
This guided walking tour of the Falls and its rainforest includes a visit to the local African market, a tour of the Livingstone Museum and the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Game Park, and tea and coffee at a local café.

Amendments can be made if you’d like to visit other sights, such as the Steam Railway Museum. Our rates include park entrance fees, guided tours, and transfers.

Walking Tour – En Route
Visit Victoria Falls en-route to or from Royal Chundu. This makes for a great introduction to the area or last goodbye before heading home. Our package includes park entrance fees, guided tours, and transfers. Guests can also opt for a helicopter pickup for their Victoria Falls Tour at an additional charge.

Devil’s Pool
A wellspring of wonder
On the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, next to Livingstone Island, you’ll find Africa’s most dangerous infinity pool. Despite the danger, Devil’s Pool has been luring curious travellers for centuries thanks to its beauty and unusual location.

Each year, for a short period of time and when the Zambezi’s water levels are at their lowest, it becomes safe enough for visitors to swim right up to the edge of the Falls and take a frightening look over the cliff.

While this time varies every year, it is usually from around late August to early January, but be sure to contact us when planning your visit to Royal Chundu to find out closer to the time.

Experience the thrill of the Zambezi River rushing past you as it tumbles 120 metres over the edge, and, if you’re bold enough, take a wild somersault in and frolic in the cool waters in one of the most beautiful corners of Africa.

The Lunar Rainbow
Let the light shine in
“Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight,” Livingstone proclaimed when talking about Victoria Falls. These scenes are all the more lovely when the rare moonbow appears.

While rainbows usually appear through direct sunlight, the Lunar Rainbow is a rare event that occurs at full moon as a result of the light reflected from the moon’s surface.

You can experience this phenomena for three days during full moon, between March to July, from the vantage point of Victoria Falls as the spray from the water tumbling over the edge casts a moonbow over the chasm. Chat to us about organising this nighttime tour during your stay with us.

White-Water Rafting
Ride the Raging Zambezi
With names like “Stairway to Heaven”, “Washing Machine”, and “Oblivion”, you can imagine what the white water rapids of the Zambezi River have in store for you. Daredevils will be guided through the rapids by an experienced guide who will help manoeuvre your boat down the fourth largest river in Africa.

Be warned: you will get wet, but a photographer will be chasing the rapids with you to capture it all on film when you do. Visitors can opt for a half day or full day trip.

The dry season offers a much bumpier ride, while the months following rainy season are just as exciting, as the whirlpools and boils present a few of their own surprises, too. End your adventure with a magnificent hike up the gorge and enjoy lunch overlooking one of the most magnificent rivers in the world.

Bungee Jumping
111 metres of pure adrenaline
If you’re a thrill-seeker or ever fancied trying to fly, why not take the leap off the Victoria Falls Bridge? If you dare, you can join the ranks of the 50 000 brave souls who have made the jump before you.

Challenge the limits of the mind and test the edge of fear as you soar like an African fish eagle with the Falls behind you, the great Zambezi River below, and the Batoka Gorge directly ahead. You can tandem or go solo, do a standard head first dive, or jazz it up with flips, backflips, and inward tucks.

Horse Riding
Experience this part of Africa on horseback
Whether you’re a novice or a natural, there are a variety of horseback riding opportunities on offer.

From half-day rides to full and multi-day adventures that venture into the splendid Teak forests and mopane woodlands, all travellers with an equestrian flair will be catered for. Explore the riverine woodlands found along the Zambezi or marvel at the dramatic scenery above Batoka Gorge.

Abseiling
The High Life
If Into The Wild stirred the adventurer in you, as it did us, with its call to “begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt”, perhaps this is the answer. Or at least the beginning.

Sail over or down Batoka gorge on a high wire, whether horizontally on the flying fox, at an angle, or swinging across the gorge.

If the rockface is more appealing, abseiling provides fun for the whole family as you meander down a 120-metre cliff face. True thrill-seekers can attempt rapp jumping. Whichever way you choose to fly, the high wire activities are some of the greatest at the Falls.

Golfing
Fancy a round?
It is the follow through that makes the difference, but a good view doesn’t hurt. During your time with us, try a round of golf on either side of Victoria Falls.

We recommend two top-class golf courses: the first is set in the historical town of Livingstone in Zambia – the Livingstone Royal Golf & Country Club, a beautiful 100-year-old 18-hole golf course boasting a historical clubhouse with a veranda, restaurant, and bar.

The second is Zimbabwe’s Elephant Hills Golf Course. Designed by PGA-great, Gary Player, the course provides more than enough of a challenge in tts 18-holes (and the odd warthog or waterbuck to compete with, too).

Jetboating on the Zambezi
The high-speed gondola of Batoka Gorge
A jetboating adventure on the Zambezi River requires your daring spirit to take a stand because things are about to get bumpy. Speed through the dramatic Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls aboard a powerful jet boat.

Race over rapids, past the gorge’s basalt rock walls, and feel your heart race while enduring the “Hamilton Spins” – the jet boat goes from full-speed into a spectacular 360-degree spin on flat water.

The entire adventure takes about three-and-a-half hours while the jet boat ride itself lasts around 30 minutes. Your captain is a professional of his craft, with thousands of trips on the river under his belt.

You’ll be collected by 4X4 and taken for a scenic drive to the base station at the top of the gorge before beginning your spectacular descent into the gorge itself. Helicopter transfers to and from Royal Chundu are also available.

Victoria Falls Bridge Tour
A hundred-year journey
Join us for a voyage on Victoria Falls Bridge, a journey that goes back a hundred years to the time when Cecil John Rhodes laid out his plans for a Cape to Cairo Railway.

On this tour, travellers will discover how the bridge was constructed and how a full locomotive was transported across the gorge before the actual completion of the bridge. Our highly knowledgable and experienced guides will ensure a safe and informative two hours on and around the bridge.

Stop to peer over the edge at the incredible valley below, so-called no man’s land, where Zambia and Zimbabwe meet. It is from here that the brave launch themselves into the depths below during a bunjee-jumping experience.

Experience Victoria Falls & Beyond
At Victoria Falls, Yeats’ world of magic lies in wait more than ever – from a rainbow’s dance at full moon to the cascade of one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders.

We invite you to discover just why this marvel, 30 kilometres downstream from our setting on the Zambezi River, is considered the Adventure Capital of Africa.

There are so many ways to experience the largest curtain of falling water in the world – a title granted due to the Falls’ width (a hefty 1,708 metres) and height (towering above at 108 metres).

Slip through the Zambezi’s ravine on a white-water rafting cruise or fly overhead in a microlight or helicopter – a chopper ride you can continue to our private helipad at Royal Chundu.

Test your nerves in nature’s infinity pool at Devil’s Pool and feel the Falls’ spray on your cheeks on Zambian soil or a border hop away in Zimbabwe. Make it a full day adventure on a tour that combines several unique aspects of Mosi-oa-Tunya, so named by the Toka Leya tribe, meaning ‘The Smoke that Thunders’.

Kenya & Victoria Falls
Experience the wildlife of Kenya and Victoria Falls on this spectacular tour taking you to some of the best wildlife spots on the continent.

Home to some of the highest concentrations of predator and prey on the planet as well as the greatest wildlife show on earth, the Great Migration, Kenya has to be the quintessential safari destination.

Experience it for yourself before joining us at Royal Chundu to continue your adventure a few kilometres upstream from Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ultimate bush adventure will ensure travellers are properly introduced to the beauty of Africa’s wild spaces.

An African Voyage
Savour the Journey
Go on an African voyage aboard one of the world’s most luxurious passenger trains, travelling between Victoria Falls and South Africa. From Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, the Rovos Rail will play escort as you head to the Victoria Falls.

Aboard your carriage, dine in style and get to know South Africa a little better, not only through the scenes passing you through the window but through some of the country’s finest wines.

Experience the roar of the Falls before arriving at your final home, with us at Royal Chundu, for more adventure or some rest and relaxation on the banks of the Zambezi River. Alternatively start with Victoria Falls and enjoy a spectacular helicopter transfer through the gorge to the lodge and then head out with Rovos Rail.

Zambia & Malawi
The route less travelled
There’s far more to Zambia than just Victoria Falls, but let’s start there, shall we? After a few days with us on the Zambezi River, head off in the direction of the remote South Luangwa valley for a riverside safari.

Explore this region brimming with wildlife from Chinzombo Lodge, your base. End your journey in Malawi, a destination that has yet to attract scores of travellers – a quality making it all the more special. You’ll be staying just across the border at the luxury beachside lodge of Kaya Mawa, found on Lake Malawi’s Likoma Island.

The Wild Three
Kruger, Victoria Falls & Botswana
In whichever order you choose combine these three highlights, this is the ultimate African experience.

We recommend starting with the Kruger Park in South Africa, where you’ll be tracking the Big 5 in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve – which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park and is without a doubt the world’s best place to see leopard and the Big 5.

From there, move on to ogling the Victoria Falls in Zambia, where you’ll call Royal Chundu home, before heading off to Botswana, to meander through the Okavango Delta and Selinda Reserve.

Cape Town, Kruger & Victoria Falls
Endlessly changing horizons
This tour showcases Southern Africa’s three top attractions spread across three corners of the region. Climb Table Mountain, embark on a wine tour in the Cape Winelands, and explore every aspect of the ‘Mother City’ before flying to the Kruger National Park for a spectacular Big 5 safari.

The final leg of your trip takes you upstream from Victoria Falls and to us at Royal Chundu, our private stretch along the Zambezi.

Building Zambia’s Future
Help Us Build a School
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela

We are thrilled to announce some big plans for The Royal Chundu Foundation School, at Royal Chundu in Zambia, in our hopes to offer and create quality education, close to home, to even more people in the local area around us.

We are building a new and bigger school to hold more students, and aim to school around 500 kids a year, from early education to 12th grade, with an adult literacy programme, online hospitality programme and a culinary school, linked to the chefs at Royal Chundu.

We hope to provide even more students with tablets loaded with the Zambian curriculum, as we do currently. Our students will also be provided with a healthy breakfast and lunch each day.

To raise funds for this project, we are appealing to you, our guests, suppliers, partners, travellers, companies, individuals around the globe, to play a part.

The Royal Chundu Foundation School
We started the school for the young children of our staff members, so that their kids would be close by and still receive a high level of education. The school slowly grew to include the children from our neighbouring villages , which we work greatly with in the running of Royal Chundu.

Soon our teachers, together with Headmistress Luckie Siamoonga, were educating up to three grades of children, from four to six years and doing so using the educational benefits of modern technology. We began with a mere 10 children two years ago and today have over 50 students. Help us educate up to 500!

Chundu’s Children’s Club
A family-friendly getaway
Children of all ages are welcome at Royal Chundu and specifically catered for in our unique Children’s Club with an exciting daily programme. Both River Lodge and Island Lodge suites can sleep two adults sharing with two children.

Upon arrival, your guide will discuss activity options with you, considering family size, age and weather. Each of your young ones will receive a special River Safari Adventure Pack.

A welcoming treasure hunt will help familiarise them with our staff and surroundings, allowing you peace of mind throughout your stay. Parents are welcome to join their children in the activities or to relax while our River Guides or Child Minders take over the supervising.

Before, during or after your visit, or even as a faraway friend and follower, you can join in on our Zambezi lessons in our online school, The Royal Chundu Homeschool, through our blog and social media!

Community
The Faces of the Zambezi
At Royal Chundu, the village provides, but it also runs, supports, drives and benefits from the lodge. We are a community-run lodge, one of very few of its kind in Africa. It’s a model that we believe can create massive positive change across Africa, and that can help build a stronger, more equal Zambia.

Starting with our people… 99% of our team are Zambian, including our managers. Most of us come from or live in one of the two villages right next door to the lodge – the agricultural Malambo village and the fishing-centric Muluka village.

Providing training at the lodge, we’re able to give our team significant opportunities for growth. We offer training to anyone in our community through online hospitality courses and then practical experience at the lodge to back the online course, in order for villagers to obtain certification.

All of our food is sourced from Zambia, mostly supplied by local fishermen and village gardens – whether it’s our own lodge chicken coop and herb and vegetable garden, or the lettuce and mangoes brought in by staff from their home gardens, or Edith and the women of Malambo, with their impressive beds of mielies, chilies, impwa, tomatoes and spinach, and their village chicken and free-range eggs.

We support the village gardeners through a Seed Project, donating seeds to anyone who wishes to grow crops for our kitchens, which we then purchase at market cost.

We support local fishermen by buying fresh bream or parrot fish – often from mekoro arriving at River or Island Lodge. This enables us to give our guests a true taste of Zambia and ensure that sustainable fishing measures and regulations are adhered to.

As much as possible, we look to our own sphere for suppliers – such as seamstress work, for our chitenge uniforms, cushion covers, doormats and dish covers, woodwork for our wooden doorbells and mini-mekoro for the Tasting Menu and boutique, for artwork on the walls.

Our own staff have created spin-off businesses from the lodge, such as transfer services for our guests, between the airport and our front door, and courier services (such as Best, our Head of Security, who delivers firewood and fertiliser to us by a cattle-drawn cart).

The impact of this is the immediate upliftment of the people who live right beside us – and the families that rely on them. The impact of this is that everyone is invested in the lodge and rather than being work, the lodge is something we are entwined with, in heart and soul.

The impact is a uniquely, proudly and distinctive Zambian flavour, look, sound and feel. In our food, in our colours and patterns, in our words and smiles, in our stories and music and dance.

Guests walk away having experienced real Zambia, having connected with the people born from its land, having tasted the ingredients and cooking styles of the nation.

Guests leave having helped to support not simply a lodge in Zambia, but countless families, school children at the Royal Chundu Foundation School, women empowerment initiatives and local entrepreneurship.

Your support shines a light on our communities and makes each member proud of the beauty of what is theirs, of our culture and customs. We need to share our own stories, and have them told by our own people.

We need to not only give local communities a piece of the pie, but empower them to bake and serve the pie themselves.

Website: www.royalchundu.com

Rooms: 14

Price: from 1.778 EUR per night

Royal Zambezi Lodge was designed by a family with in-depth knowledge and love of Africa, its heritage and its wildlife. Our vision is to help people, from anywhere across the globe, enjoy the best that Africa has to offer with no compromises in either comfort or well-being.

Set against the breathtaking mountain backdrop of the Zambezi Valley Escarpment, our two-hundred-hectare domain, located within the Chiawa Game Management Area, has three and a half kilometres of unspoiled river frontage on the northern bank of the Zambezi River.

We are situated directly across the river from Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the Zimbabwe side and just minutes from the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Your 5-star accommodation has been painstakingly constructed to retain and enhance the lodge’s unique bush setting while taking advantage of our prime positioning on the mighty Zambezi River and ensuring we capture every glimmer of sunrise from your room.

The lodge offers the perfect combination of contemporary, simplistic style and extreme comfort while providing a pure wilderness experience.

With lions roaring in the distance and hippos snorting in the river, the luxurious thatched suites, elegant design and gourmet cuisine of Royal Zambezi Lodge furnish a perfect base from which to explore this wild and beautiful area.

There are no fences around the lodge, and our regular guests include elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion, leopard and a myriad of bird species coming to visit. Gap, the elephant, is just one of the residents, like Dave the crocodile and Jonathina the Giant Kingfisher, whom we hope you will meet!

Zambia
Zambia, a landlocked country that lies between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator, measures 752, 610 square kilometres in size (about 467,650 square miles).

Our large and diverse country is a land that not only inspired the birth of the famous African walking safari but also rejoices in an abundance of natural wonders, from a vast array of wildlife to huge lakes, mountain ranges and cascading waterfalls.

The largest and most impressive of these waterfalls is Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Very few places on earth offer the absolute freedom and untouched wilderness to be found in the National Parks of Zambia.

The enormous open spaces provide healing elements of serenity and escape from an increasingly obtrusive and multiplying worldwide population. Zambia has been acknowledged as one of the safest countries on earth to visit.

Our people originate from a multitude of cultural backgrounds, and as a result, there is an extensive range of knowledge to be gained from the blend of spiritual traditions and heritage of the more than 70 different tribes who call these lands home.

Other remarkable wildlife phenomena that unfold each year within our borders include the World’s Biggest Mammal Migration, a bat migration in Kasanka National Park in Northern Zambia, the second biggest Wildebeest Migration in Africa in Liuwa National Park, all taking place in the ambit of the mighty Zambezi River, the fourth longest in Africa.

This river is where our story began, and it is the lifeblood of the Lower Zambezi National Park.

The Lower Zambezi National Park
Formed in 1983 and covering an area of 4,092 square kilometres, the Lower Zambezi National Park is Zambia’s first Verified Carbon Standard REDD+ project and pioneered the protection of 40,126 hectares of forest in the Lower Zambezi ecosystem.

Having achieved ‘gold’ level validation against all three categories of the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard for its exceptional climate change impacts and community and biodiversity benefits, the Lower Zambezi REDD+ project is now rated the most significantly effective of its kind in the world.

Before being declared a National Park, this wildlife area was reserved as a private park exclusively for the President of Zambia. Situated in the South Eastern part of Zambia, this area provides a natural wildlife corridor running between the Zambezi Escarpment, the northern border of The Great Rift Valley, and one of the world’s most intriguing rivers.

An unspoiled sanctuary sculpted by Mother Nature which displays a vast diversity of wildlife and natural wonders.

Offering a combination of land and water based encounters, the Lower Zambezi is famous for big game from large herds of Elephant and Buffalo, to Lion, Leopard and the African Wild Dog, to large pods of wallowing Hippos, the Nile Crocodile, the legendary Tiger Fish, the African Fish Eagle and many other creatures, big and small.

The entire area is a true wilderness sanctuary with the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mana Pools National Park, situated directly opposite Royal Zambezi Lodge and stretching eastwards for fifty kilometres along the Zambezi shoreline.

Royal Zambezi Lodge offers the discerning traveller a front row seat at these unique wilderness experiences, all the while welcoming you ‘home’ to our luxury tented and thatched lodges overlooking the Zambezi River.

Your stay with us will give you an enduring love of Africa and leave you yearning for your return to a place that has stolen a piece of your heart. An exciting African adventure awaits in the Lower Zambezi National Park, and we look forward to welcoming you to the “Royal” family.

SUITES
The 15 airy canopied tents nestle under mature trees, each one carefully positioned to ensure maximum enjoyment of the surrounding views while retaining complete privacy. The tents are impeccably finished with a contemporary, understated elegance.

Natural tones, luxurious textures and comfortable armchairs create a secluded retreat. Extra length sprung mattresses, with pure cotton bedding and fine down pillows, ensure a perfect night’s rest.

Presidential Suites
Our 7 Presidential and honeymoon suites epitomise the luxury safari experience. With outside showers, copper baths, private plunge pools, shaded day-beds, the suites provide the ultimate in opulence while allowing guests to immerse themselves in the surrounding wilderness.

Offering luxury at a higher level, our Presidential suites are ideal for honeymoon couples, special occasion getaways, or for those who merely want to experience Zambia’s finest safari accommodation.

Welcome Area, Dining & Lounge
The classic architectural lines and lofty thatched roofs of our open plan reception area, dining room and lounge offer a welcome refuge and a place to relax among comfortable sofas, enormous fireplaces, well-stocked bookcase and most important of all our cheerful personalised service.

The spacious veranda provides shade from the midday sun and the wide timber decks, which extend over the shallows of the Zambezi, are perfect for fine dining under the endless starry skies, while you revel in the sounds of the African night.

The Infinity Pool
After a long day fishing or tracking wildlife the infinity pool, overlooking the river is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Chill out on the sun loungers with a long, cold drink or take a dip in the pool to cool down.

If you are feeling active and want to burn off some of the delicious culinary treats provided by our chefs, there is a rowing machine for anyone to use.

The Bar
The remarkable Sausage Tree bar is situated downstream from the main building, on a deck suspended above the river, where a large Sausage Tree is the centrepiece of this favourite meeting place.

As the sun sets behind the distant escarpment, guests gather for drinks and aperitifs while enjoying lively exchanges about the day’s adventures, listening to the guides recount their stories of memorable encounters or just taking time to sit quietly and experience the magic of sunset in the Lower Zambezi Valley with the soothing murmur of the water below.

ROYAL BUSH SPA
Winners 3 years in a row for the World Luxury Spa Awards, the Royal Bush Spa is classed as one of the top spa destinations in the world!

The Royal Zambezi Bush Spa draws its inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding the lodge and is one of Zambia’s only bush spa’s. Its minimalist design exudes an air of complete balance, peace and tranquillity offering the ultimate refuge to restore the mind, body and spirit.

We pride ourselves on our attentive qualified therapist who is at hand to provide you with a wide variety of massages and a host of other therapeutic, beauty and skin care treatments. Many of these use local indigenous ingredients from the African bush further emphasising its beauty and enchantment.

The spa is also the Zambian flagship of the famous and world-leading Dermalogica brand of skin care products. Our spa, proudly positioned on a high vantage point, offers stunning views over the Zambezi River.

The inviting aroma of burning scented candles fills the air from the open-air massage area or private treatment room. A beautifully appointed lounge area invites you to relax and unwind while taking in the remarkable sights and sounds of the resident flora and fauna.

With snorting hippos in the river and the sharp cries of the African Fish Eagle overhead to lull you into relaxation, what more could you ask for during a soothing massage in our award-winning Bush Spa?

CUISINE
Royal Zambezi Lodge prides itself on serving the highest level of cuisine crafted using locally sourced ingredients and will happily tailor menus to various dietary requirements. To ensure you can enjoy your holiday at your pace, we offer flexibility in meal times, and you will be seated at a private table, so there is no rush.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast overlooking the Lower Zambezi River, with the option of continental or a full cooked breakfast to get you ready for the day ahead. Our team of expert chefs will prepare dishes to order or whizz up a healthy smoothie.

Lunch can either be taken under the veranda at the lodge or arranged so that it will not interrupt a good day’s fishing or game drive. With the option of a gourmet picnic lunch or a full outdoor buffet in the National Park, complete with white linen tableware, the concept of outdoor dining takes on a whole new dimension.

Tea will be served in the afternoon before you head out for an activity, and you will be able to relax on the comfy sofas in the lounge with a cup of tea or ice coffee accompanied by freshly baked confectionery.

Dinner is served at private tables under the stars, or by a roaring fire on a cooler night. Alternatively, you may relax in your suite and have dinner brought to your private deck. To celebrate special occasions, you may enjoy drinks by a campfire or candlelit private dinner or a chance to dine in the wilderness.

Would you like to treat a loved one by organising a surprise before your arrival at Royal? Meet Kelvin, our Surprise Supervisor, whose job is solely to focus on planning surprises for our guest to enjoy. Get in touch and start planning that surprise!

Honeymoons

A honeymoon is something that will be etched into your memory forever, and we look forward to working with you to make this special occasion at Royal perfect.

Allow us to transport you over the magnificent Zambezi Valley escarpment and river below in comfort and style from a private charter plane or helicopter. For the more adventurous land dwellers, we would be happy to arrange a boat cruise meandering down the Zambezi River to and from Royal.

Our Presidential Suites provide the perfect haven for your honeymoon and ensure absolute privacy for you both with private plunge pools, outdoor day beds, copper bathtubs, and spacious lounges.

How about we spoil you with chilled champagne on ice to enjoy on your shady veranda overlooking the river after the exciting Zambezi adventure you have just shared?

Dine under the stars in the main building at a table for two, or on the privacy of your suite deck. For this special occasion, we can add in an extra element of romance by organising bush or island sun-downers, lunches in the bush, or meals under the stars to surprise your partner.

We will liaise with you each day to arrange activities to best suit you, from sunset boat cruises to a private game drive, or a tranquil canoe trip just for two.

For the more active and competitive couples, you might like to compete to catch the biggest tiger fish which our experienced fishing guides would be more than happy to plan for you!

For those looking to relax you can just do nothing at all (DNA), watch the wildlife at play around camp whilst the Zambezi flows on by and enjoy the Royal Bush Spa where our expert therapist is on hand to provide massages and other treatments.

Weddings
Royal Zambezi Lodge provides the perfect setting for a smaller intimate wedding enjoyed at one with surrounding nature and the various sounds of Lower Zambezi wilderness.

To create your perfect big day the lodge can be booked in its entirety for absolute privacy and will allow you to sleep and seat a maximum of 30 guests. We can arrange transport to the lodge, either by private charter planes or by river cruise.

In the run-up to the wedding, the Royal Bush Spa can provide massages and other beauty treatments to help you relax, and the presidential suites offer spacious accommodation for the bridal party’s preparations.

The islands in the middle of the Zambezi provide the perfect location for you to share your wedding vows, where your guests will not only consist of friends and family but resident wildlife such as elephants and hippos too!

After the ceremony, you will be whisked off for a romantic river cruise while your guests are taken, by boat, to the venue to await your arrival.

Arrive back at the lodge to a canapé and champagne reception and your wedding meal presented and served on the veranda. Our team of chefs will provide delicious menu options from which you can select your celebration meal, and finish up with a Royal wedding cake.

After dinner, you can dance under the stars to the Royal choir or acoustic ballads and enjoy the famous Sausage Tree bar. The presidential suites are the perfect location for your first night as a married couple with absolute privacy, plunge pools, spacious lounges and shady verandas overlooking the river.

The following day we can organise activities for you and your guests – from river cruises, fishing on the Zambezi, to game drives and bush lunches or merely arrange your transfers onwards.

Conferences
Are you tired of having meetings in an enclosed room or a high-rise building with noise and distraction all around? Why not surround yourselves with inspiring African wilderness where you can mix business with pleasure?

At Royal, we are able to offer conference facilities with a difference by turning our dining room into a meeting area. Complete with a projector and screen, a large table to seat 30 participants, a refreshing breeze and the most spectacular room with a view!

Situated on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, the lodge offers a magnificent backdrop for corporate events. Fifteen luxury suites accommodate a party of up to 15 people in single suites or 30 in twins with plenty of communal space in the reception area and veranda for socialising and dining. For larger groups, we can organise further accommodation at a nearby lodge.

We will work with you to prepare a tailored itinerary to suit your group, with room for flexibility depending on what activities you desire. The range of activities on offer includes game drives, canoeing, boat cruises, fishing, bush walks and cultural trips to the village.

More relaxing pastimes may be enjoyed in the tranquil Royal Bush Spa, with our attentive therapist on hand to provide massages and other therapeutic beauty treatments.

Fun team-building activities can be organised, including touch rugby on the sand bars by the river, or perhaps a fishing competition to run throughout the duration of your trip. For the evening, your group might enjoy a movie night with a cinema, complete with popcorn, set up outdoors on the veranda.

Perhaps a game drive ending in a fantastic location where surprise sundowners will be laid on, followed by a night safari on the way back to the lodge.

The trip can be rounded off with drinks around a campfire – an excellent opportunity to bond over stories from the last few days, a prize-giving ceremony and farewell dinner under the stars.

We Love Kids!
We have various accommodation combinations to cater to families – if the children are young and you would like them in with you, we can create a family suite in one of the presidential suites.

If they are slightly older and you would like them in their own suites, we have two Deluxe suites with a shared family area in between them and close to the main area. The small family lounge provides a perfect space for children to play while you relax and put your feet up!

If young children need to go to bed early, we have security guards available to guard the suites while you have a romantic dinner on the main deck and they will alert you if required. However, please note that we are unable to provide nannies and childcare.

We will happily cater for children’s dietary requirements – whether it be an early dinner in your suite, or a packed lunch or dinner while enjoying activities, we will always ensure you have food when it’s needed!

Activities can also be tailored to cater for children – whether it be stopping off on a boat trip to play boule on a sand bar, fishing for bream and chessa rather than enormous tiger fish or tailoring a game drive to keep children entertained.

A Royal Day

Safaris are planned very carefully to coincide with the times when you are most likely to see wildlife. This means early, late afternoon, or even night game drives are essential for better chances of seeing animals at their most active. Here’s how a typical day may unfold:

Early Morning
An early start means an equally early wake-up call. We serve a continental breakfast from about 6 am and at sunrise, you head off on your selected early morning activity.

These early starts are generally the best times to spot the wildlife as the temperature is fresh and the animals are still very active, especially the big cats who will be returning from their night’s hunting.

Late Morning
Around late morning, you will return to the lodge maybe for brunch or relax before lunch. If you opt to stay out all day, we will furnish you with a bush lunch to make the most of your time outdoors.

Lunch & Afternoon
Particularly in the hot season, it is usually much hotter in the middle of the day, and so most of our guests opt to have lunch in the lodge then either relax in their suites, have a dip in the pool or a treatment in the bush spa. Tea and cake are available from 3.30pm before you then head out for an afternoon activity.

Evening
As with early morning, the evening game drive is often the best time to see the wildlife. The predatory animals begin to stir from their heat-of-the-day slumber, and similarly, their prey becomes ever more active and alert as darkness falls.

Vehicles and boats usually return just before dark giving time for a shower, pre-dinner drinks and then dinner. The evenings are often rounded off with a few drinks around the bar or campfire swapping safari stories.

Night
At times, you will have the opportunity of going on a night game drive. Vehicles are equipped with powerful spotlights, and our expert trackers will generally spot any wildlife well before you will.

The night is often the best time to spot the elusive leopard, which more often than not will be high up in a tree. A game drive at night gives you a completely different perspective of the bush and is an unforgettable experience.

Game Drivers
Forty or so years ago nobody was permitted to enter a game park in Africa unless they were in a fully enclosed vehicle. Walking safaris were unheard of, and the first instances of both were pioneered in Zambia by the late Norman Carr.

Others were quick to follow, and now the open vehicle concept is commonplace, and for many, it’s the way to go, particularly if time is limited. An open vehicle offers all-around views, and this elevated viewpoint helps considerably when searching far afield for wildlife.

It also means you can move reasonably quickly to new sites, especially if, for example, lions sighted in another location are reported over the onboard radio. A vehicle trip is often considered as a supplement to a boat trip and vice versa.

Our vehicles are maintained as new and offer comfort and security and the ability to take you to places where lesser vehicles would founder. They are purpose built and equipped with both sun shade roofs and warm ponchos for late trips back to the lodge in the evenings.

In addition, they have hand-held spotlights for night viewing. Night drives can be extremely exciting when the nocturnal creatures such as leopards, civets, porcupines, genets and aardvarks, to mention but a few, come out to hunt and forage for food.

Our game viewing trips by vehicle usually involve a break at an appropriate point for drinks and snacks. Here you can disembark, stretch your legs and enjoy the ambience and sounds so often missed while travelling.

This is usually a good time to chat to your guide and ask all the questions about the bush that have accumulated on the drive. It’s also an excellent time to let creatures come to you, which can often happen if you remain relatively quiet, close to the vehicle and non-threatening.

A special night trip to look for leopard is not an unusual request. At Royal, we always ensure you are spoiled for choice in activities. You only have to ask; flexibility is the backbone of our approach.

Bush Walks
People argue that the best way to see the bush is to walk in it. In many ways, we feel they are correct as this intimate form of mixing with nature permits a close study of the various plants, animals, spoor, lairs, burrows, nests and other ground level features.

All the sounds and scents are there, unsullied and there’s time to study everything properly without having to move on. In most instances, our guides have been born and raised in the bush, and you will be astonished at their ability to spot the abnormal.

You will also be amazed at how quickly you adapt to the surroundings and start to notice unusual movements, colours, and so forth. Real bushcraft takes time to develop and whether you’ve “been here before” or it’s your first time in Africa there will be something of interest.

For some, it’s the sounds that are the most interesting and it’s exciting to track down that tiny Pearl Spotted Owlet just from its call. Is that a hippo or a lion calling? Is that hyena far away?

Snakes can sometimes be found, but success requires some fairly specialist experience. There are plenty around, but contrary to popular belief they don’t spend their time attacking people!

They tend to be shy and will often remain completely unmoving making them difficult to see. Look for them sunning themselves on branches or rocks, perhaps dangling motionless from a branch awaiting a careless bird passing by.

A good snake sighting is often one of the highlights of a walking safari, and a live study and understanding of their behaviour will cure even the most acute ophidiophobia.

Your guide will be accompanied by an armed scout and the perceived ‘dangers’ will soon be forgotten as you blend into the wilderness and become part of it.

Clothing in natural colours is best mainly when stalking or avoiding that elusive antelope or even lion, buffalo or elephant and of course comfortable shoes are essential. A few hours walking in the bush soon creates an appetite for that delicious brunch, lunch or a cold beer!

Hiking
Please note: Due to the hot climate during summer months in the Lower Zambezi, this is a seasonal activity and only on offer from June-August each year.

The backdrop to Lower Zambezi National Park and indeed our Lodge is an impressive mountainous escarpment with many peaks and a variety of walks and climbs, some of which will put you to the test and others which will provide a mild cardiac stimulus. The choice is yours, and those who are interested should discuss their preferences with the guides.

The warm weather makes for a trip which doesn’t involve heavy clothing, and the primary consideration is comfortable shoes and clothing while not forgetting water, cameras and binoculars. Porters can be provided to help carry your kit when necessary.

The trip will first take you through the riverine bush and as you move higher the vegetation changes, then thins out, and the most fantastic panoramic view of the Zambezi valley emerges. You begin to imagine how the first explorers must have felt.

An armed scout accompanies you and of course one of our experienced guides who will point out all sorts of interesting features in addition to the wild animals and birds encountered. That said the prime aim of reaching the top or at least some way up is not forgotten.

As your party is always in radio contact with the Lodge, vehicles can be arranged to speed up your return with some mobile game viewing thrown in. It’s entirely up to you. On returning to camp a swim in the infinity pool, immersion in your private plunge pool or a cold beer will be well-earned.

CANOEING

A Royal canoe trip is something that shouldn’t be missed. You will first enjoy a boat trip down-river to where the canoes await you, each one carrying one or two passengers and a guide. Previous canoeing experience is not a pre-requisite while an ability to sit still helps considerably!

The trip usually involves about two or three hours paddling, being paddled or just drifting downstream on an offshoot from the main Zambezi which has formed a relatively narrow channel around what is effectively a large island.

Most of the channel is reasonably shallow affording a view from water level over the lower banks of pristine bush and grassy flood plains with heavier bush as a close backdrop.

The canoeing experience involves peace and tranquillity punctuated by animal magic in all its forms. Everyone keeps a wary eye open for crocs and hippos while the guides know how to avoid “surprising” them.

Game viewing from water level is entirely different and quite wonderful. The wildlife don’t seem to care about these floating objects and go about their business quite uninterrupted. The higher river banks provide burrow type nesting sites for bee-eaters and kingfishers in abundance.

Our recommendation is for you to partake in this activity in the afternoon when the sun is behind you and the light assists photography. Lions have been seen stalking and killing an impala. Leopard have been spotted on a branch watching the world go by.

Elephant cross the water to and from the island where the vegetation provides plentiful browsing. Cape buffalo graze on the floodplains on both banks.

At the end of the trip refreshments of your choice await you on the river bank at the confluence with the main river, providing an unforgettable blend of action and serenity and an experience for which many return.

ANGLING
Fishing on the Lower Zambezi offers one of the most exceptional freshwater angling experiences in the world, the highlight being the presence of the world’s premier game fish, the Tiger. The variety in the Zambezi, Hydrocynus vittatus, can grow up to 10 -12 Kg and is a superb fighter.

The best time for Tiger Fish is during our hot months of September to November. Expert resident guides take fishing excursions on new, fully-fitted aluminium boats. For guests who are new to fishing or fly-fishing, our guides provide expert instruction and assistance.

There are plenty of bream and chessa to catch or use as bait, as well as many varieties of catfish. You will certainly have a fight on your hands if you hook a Vundu (Bagrus Catfish), which can grow up to almost 100 lbs!

Other species of interest are the Three Spot Bream, Red Breasted Bream, Nile Bream, Chessa, Nkupi, Bottlenose and the Cornish Jack. The waters of the Lower Zambezi are free from netting and therefore are your best bet for lots of big fish. We enforce a strict catch & release policy at Royal.

As we have the privilege of being situated just outside the National Park, we are not restricted in the number of boats we can operate. This means that we can have up to eight on the river at any one time.

Guides, fuel and tackle are provided. However, we recommend that serious sport fishermen/woman bring their own gear – see below for suggestions. Medium-heavy action 20lb spinning or baitcasting rods/reels work best. Wire leader is essential, as are good quality sharp hooks attached to bright, shiny spinners and spoons.

Our experienced guides will take you to all the best fishing spots and guide you through the whole process. Whether you are a complete beginner or a professional angler we can guarantee that catching one of these mighty fish is an experience you will never forget!

BIRDING
The Lower Zambezi National Park is an IBA (Important Bird Area) and therefore of global conservation significance. Over 300 species of birds are found here. The African fish eagle, Zambia’s national bird, is commonly seen and heard.

For birding enthusiasts, you need to be here for those birding sensations – the African Pitta and Narina Trogon. The African Pitta arrives for the summer rains Dec – Jan, and we offer you the advantage of spotting them as a result of the lodge staying open year-round.

These phenomenal birds are extremely rare, but at Royal Zambezi Lodge we have been lucky enough to see them every year since 2016.

The Narina Trogon also spotted during the early rainy season, is a beautiful species seen here waiting, perched on a branch looking for a wide range of insect prey.

RIVER CRUISE
A cruise in one of our outboard powered boats will be a rewarding experience any time from early morning to evening. The choice is yours, and our guides will make the appropriate recommendation depending on prevailing conditions. Photographers may not want the sun in their eyes or backlit waters.

There’s always something happening on the river, and the breeze out there is delightfully refreshing, particularly on a bright, cloudless sunny day.

The river is continually changing and varies in width, speed and depth, perpetuating the ill-defined Zambia border which follows the original river course. Wildlife knows no such boundaries, and downstream there are national parks on both sides.

There is a rich variety of birdlife on its banks, reedbeds, backwaters and sandy shores mainly when the Palearctic migrants are around.

You will see the ubiquitous fish eagle or an osprey often taking larger fish from the river, and there are myriad kingfishers of all shapes, colours and sizes who are partial to the smaller ones. With a vast variety of waders, storks and herons it’s a twitcher’s paradise with a host of interesting distractions.

One is always on the lookout for crocodiles, and the boatman or guide will make sure you can get that close-up of the big one before it enters the water.

The hippos, of course, are always around, and your guide will know just how close you can safely go. They will always seek the deepest water, so it’s wise not to be blocking their way!

Recently there have been sightings of a cape clawless otter which we hope is managing the crayfish population that we understand are possibly on the increase. The Malawi Blue Crab has recently been seen in the water. There is often something new to consider, and our guides’ and boatmen’s enthusiasm is infectious.

All the large mammals come to the river to drink and in the case of elephants to frolic in the water. They let you come close enough to get some amusing pictures of their antics.

You will often see lion, buffalo, kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck and many other larger animals on the river bank as, unlike the elephant, they have a healthy respect for crocodiles.

Cruises are well stocked with refreshments of your choice, and it’s pleasant to enjoy a sundowner on a sandy island with elephant nearby. Perhaps have a game of boule before returning to the lodge, using the spotlight to search for those bright eyes in the water and the riverbank.

For additional interest, a trip further upriver will allow you to see the riverside villagers happily fishing, bathing and washing their clothes in the river in the same way as they have for centuries. They seem to know when the crocodiles are around!

Website: www.royalzambezilodge.com

Rooms: 15

Price: from 464 EUR per night

Enjoy a luxury safari experience in untouched wilderness set along the iconic Luangwa River.

Chikunto Safari Lodge is located within the South Luangwa National Park less than an hour’s drive from the National Park’s Mfuwe gate. Flanked by rolling plains, plateaus, river banks and miombo vegetation our lodge is located in an area of distinctive natural beauty.

Since opening in April 2018 the property has become renowned for its prolific wildlife and spectacular game viewing.

A great wildlife sanctuary

The countryside in the Luangwa Valley is remarkable. The vegetation is characterized by riverine forest which is wonderfully green all year round. The South Luangwa National Park offers spectacular wildlife viewing and is recognized as one of the best parks in Africa to encounter the elusive leopard. Elephants abound and expansive herds of buffalo are often seen. The Luangwa River is home to crocodile and sizeable pods of hippo.

One of the most well-known endemic species in the Luangwa Valley is the Thorneycroft’s Giraffe. Their distinctive pattern consists of large, irregular shaped brown to black patches separated by white to yellow bands.

Zambia, especially the Luangwa Valley, is famous for its incredible walking safaris. Here, guests discover the environment on foot, enjoying eyeopening and exciting sightings.

Experts have dubbed the South Luangwa one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons is among the most productive in Africa.

ACCOMMODATION
Our small-scale lodge enjoys sweeping views of the Luangwa River and accommodates just 12 people. We welcome couples, families and parties of friends seeking a distinctive safari experience. The lodge can also be booked as an exclusive-use bush retreat.

We have four luxury tents and one family tent each built on raised decking. Tents are appointed with king or twin beds, mosquito net, comfortable seating area, wardrobe and en-suite bathroom. Adjoining each tent is a covered outdoor seating area.

The main lodge area is under thatch housing a cosy bar and dining area. The salt water swimming pool offers cool respite; a perfect vantage from which to take in the beautiful setting.

The inviting fire pit is a popular meeting place before safari activities and around dinner time.

Chikunto Activities
Chikunto Safari Lodge offers a range of unforgettable safari experiences and activities tailored to suit your time and interests. From game drives to walking safaris, our well trained safari guides will will take you on a memorable journey of discovery.

Game drives
We offer day and night drives as part of your stay at Chikunto Safari Lodge. From our special location in the South Luangwa National Park we traverse the hidden world of the Luangwa valley. Our safari drives provide wonderful opportunities for you to experience this feted safari destination.

Thrilling night drives offer a rare insight into the unique behaviour of the resident nocturnal species. This time of day belongs to the predators; we may see lions hunting, leopards stalking or hyenas scavenging.

Walking safaris
South Luangwa National Park is the birthplace of the walking safari.

Our walks can start in camp or, alternatively, let us take you on a safari drive into the bushveld to seek out a more remote area to explore on foot.

Walking safaris offer you a peaceful encounter with the bush allowing you to appreciate the full scale of the ecosystem and your place within it.

Engage your senses by taking in the range of sights, sounds and smells along the mighty Luangwa river.

Emerald Season and River Safari Activities
November through March is known as ’emerald season’ in the South Luangwa National Park. This is when most of the annual rainfall is received and is a particularly beautiful time of year.

February through April we like to explore the Luangwa River by boat. The lush, green landscape supports specific fauna and flora; birders flock to the Luangwa Valley during these months.

Discover the delicate relationship between the ecosystem of the Luangwa valley and its surrounding communities.

Website: www.chikunto.com

Rooms: 6

Price: from 1.350 EUR per night