Luxury and authentic bush experience meet at Chiawa, the award-winning safari camp on the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park. Owned and run by the Cumings family since 1989, with a smaller sister camp at Old Mondoro, it has been built up over the years to the highest standards of comfort, hospitality and guiding. Shaded by a forest of mahogany the thatched buildings and tents look out over pristine river and lagoons where wildlife feed and drink, so that you can view hippos, elephant, warthogs, waterbuck and more from your private deck.
The heart of the camp is a thatched lounge and bar area with an upstairs viewing deck, ideal for lounging with a cocktail with a birds-eye view of the game activity on the river. Delicious Afro-European fusion food is served to the highest of standards in the comfortable dining area but there may also be romantic dinners under the stars, in the bush or floating on a river pontoon.
Nine luxurious tents with wood floors and spacious verandahs have all the creature comforts (including wifi) and appealing decor you’d expect from a first class safari without ever becoming pretentious. Bathrooms in all but the honeymoon suite are inside the tent with efficient showers, freestanding bath-tubs, a second outdoor shower and 24/7 hot and cold water. The honeymoon suite is set slightly apart for extra privacy on a lofty 20m platform which commands stunning views over the river and flood plains with its own dining area and outdoor bathroom with a view on the deck.
Chiawa is renowned for its excellent guides and the plethora of game-viewing activities to choose from. As well as the legendary game walks and 4×4 safaris, you might choose a canoe safari, sunset cruise, night game drive, tiger-fishing or fly-fishing, or even star-gazing . The wildlife viewing is superb here with lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, prolific bird life and many more animals in plenty.
The guides are flexible and spontaneous making opportunities for spectacular sightings that make a stay at Chia