Chongwe River Camp
Enjoy the best views in the Lower Zambezi at this family- and elephant-friendly camp!
Venture to the edge of a mighty river in the shadow of a mountain escarpment, where you'll feel right at home under a shady grove of tress. Wake up from a peaceful nap to the sound of an elephant rubbing against the side of your tent as it lumbers past.
Dotted along the riverbank, Time + Tide Chongwe is a nine tent camp set at the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers which wind through the forested valley, creating a haven for wildlife like lions, leopards and wild dog.
Every day our team serves up satisfying meals, your favourite drinks and big smiles in the relaxed main lounge. The wildlife hide is great for photography, and for spotting rare nocturnal creatures.
The small number of camps in Lower Zambezi National Park keep it free from overcrowding. The area is best known for its impressive variety of safari activities—enjoy game drives and walking safaris on land, take to the rivers on a boat cruise or canoeing safari, or to try your hand at tiger fishing.
Safari Tents
The nine tents feature comfortable beds, ceiling fans, charging points and spacious, open air bathrooms. Cotton linens, local textiles and handcrafted furniture blend seamlessly with organic fixtures, all designed to make the most of what Mother Nature has provided.
Game Drives
Driving safaris are all conducted in open 4X4 vehicles (Land Cruiser or Land Rover) with either two or three 'rows' of seats. We generally have 4, with no more than 6, people on a vehicle ensuring everyone has a 'window' seat.
Night drives are generally an extension of your afternoon game drive, canoe or walking safari. As the sun begins to set we stop to watch the day come to a close and as dusk falls set off to explore as the nocturnal animals start to emerge.
The best chance of seeing genets, civets, elephant shrew, porcupine and the fierce honey-badger is after sunset and the large predators, with the exception of wild dog, are most active at night. Night time birding can be very rewarding with nightjars, owls great and small, dikkop, bat hawk and coursers are all abundant.
The Africa night sky is simply magnificent and it’s worth coming all this way just to experience its vastness and splendor. The Milky Way seems 100 times brighter in the Luangwa Valley where there is no light pollution. We’re watched over by the Southern Cross, Orion and Scorpio amongst an infinite number of others and memories of sitting in awed silence listening to the distant call of lions, cicadas and a million tree frogs under the crescent of an African moon will live with you forever.
Walking Safaris
There is little to compare to the thrill of a walking safari, and we are fortunate to have some of the best terrain for exploring on foot in the Lower Zambezi valley right on our doorstep. Walking is the only way you really become intimate with Africa, learning about the small, seemingly irrelevant plants and animals which are often overlooked on a game drive.
We walk accompanied by an armed scout, and your safari guide will show you an amazing secret world of tiny wonders as he leads you slowly through the bush along ancient animal pathways, examining plants, trees and insects along the way.
Canoeing
One of the most leisurely ways to experience the sights and sounds of the Lower Zambezi valley is on a canoe safari. Our canoes seat two guests and a guide in comfort, with ample room for cameras and binoculars.
Canoeing offers you a completely different perspective as you glide gently along either the Zambezi and its beautiful channels or the Chongwe River, allowing you to fully appreciate the magical beauty of this incredible area and the creatures and plants that inhabit it.
It truly is a special experience for the nature lover using only the safest of routes where previous canoeing experience is not necessary, and lifejackets are provided. All you need to do is sit back, relax and watch Africa slip by!
Fishing
Chongwe is tiger country! The Lower Zambezi is home to the tiger fish, nicknamed the “water dog,” whose sharp teeth are matched only by its fighting spirit and reputation as one of the world’s top game fish.
At Chongwe River Camp we offer our guests the chance to head out onto the river in search of this formidable combatant, operating a strict catch-and-release policy in order to preserve stocks of this incredible fish. You can fish with both fly and popper.
Alternatively, you can try your hand at bream fishing on the Chongwe river itself, where a limited catch can be brought back to camp and served up with a delicious lemon butter sauce!
Cultural Village Visit
The Chiawa Cultural Village was born of a partnership between conservation organizations (with Africa Wildlife Foundation as a key strategic partner), Lower Zambezi Lodges and the Goba people of Chiawa, championing a cultural tourism enterprise prototype that empowers local people to benefit directly from the tourism trade generated by the profusion of wildlife in the region. It is owned by the Chiawa community through the Tsika Development Company.
At the Chiawa Cultural Village, visitors will embark on a guided tour where they will learn about the lives of the Goba people, their traditions, trades, tools, edifices and arts including dance, song and handiwork of local craftspeople.
Boat Cruises
The Zambezi River offers a variety of additional activities that few, if any, other destinations can offer. One such activity is a river safari which offers both morning and afternoon opportunities to view game from the comfort of a luxury boat.
Sit back and relax as your guide leisurely navigates the islands and main channels of the mighty Zambezi. Cruise the river looking at game, birds and enjoy some of the most spectacular sunsets you are ever likely to see. All without the bumps and dust of game drives.
Morning coffee or evening sundowners can be enjoyed from either the boat or from your own island in the middle of the Zambezi River!
For more information about Chongwe River Camp click HERE.
To view videos of Chongwe River Camp click HERE.
