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Chiawa Camp

Our rating

9/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Beautiful riverside setting
- Excellent guiding
- Day and night game drives

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Overview

Chiawa is a family run, high-end safari camp situated in the prime wildlife region of Lower Zambezi National Park, southern Zambia. Occupying a beautiful woodland setting on the banks of the Zambezi River, the camp is renowned for its quality hosting, superb guiding and exciting mix of land and water based activities. The scenic wilderness of the Lower Zambezi is home to an impressive range of wildlife including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, crocodile, and hippo.

The camp's main area is a two-storey wood and thatched building with panoramic river views. There's a spacious lounge and bar area with comfortable seating, a library area, and a first floor viewing deck with telescope. Outside is a decked terrace and lovely swimming pool, plus a peaceful campfire area, perfect for sundowners. The camp has a well-equipped fitness facility with riverside views, and two viewing hides for observing and photographing the resident wildlife. An al fresco dining area with both individual and communal tables overlooks the water, and the cuisine is high quality, seasonal and delicious. Guests enjoy generous, buffet style breakfasts, whilst the evening meal, usually served by candlelight, includes several courses, and special diets can be accommodated.

One of the camp's highlights is its wide range of contrasting activities, including day and night game drives, guided walks, canoeing excursions, day and evening river safaris on the Zambezi, and catch and release fishing.

The accommodation comprises nine well-appointed tents, built on raised decking, with spectacular riverside views and complimentary Wi-Fi. Spacious and extremely comfortable, the tents have ensuite bathrooms with freestanding claw-foot baths, twin washbasins, and both indoor and outdoor showers. Each unit comprises one king or two large single four-poster beds, draped with mosquito nets. Outside is a private decked veranda with comfortable sofas and a day bed, perfect for enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Families with children over the age of 8 years are welcome at Chiawa Camp, although there is no child specific itinerary at present. One of the tents is currently undergoing refurbishment to provide a larger, two bedroom unit, perfect for families. Due to open in June 2017, facilities will include an ensuite bathroom with freestanding bath, twin washbasins, flush toilet, and both indoor and outdoor showers. Outside will be a large, private veranda with a pool, and alfresco lounge and dining areas. Note that there is a minimum age restriction of 12 years for guided walks and canoe excursions. As the camp is unfenced, and wild animals do wander through, parents are reminded that children should be supervised at all times.

Chiawa Camp provides a welcoming and authentic safari experience in an idyllic waterside setting.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 536 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!

    Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.

    Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!

    All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.

    Thanks you once again!

    MissingHardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

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