8 days from £4570pp plus international flights.
The Bushcamp company was set up in South Luangwa National Park in 1999. They have 6 bushcamps in the south of the park, as well as Mfuwe Lodge in the central area. Mfuwe Lodge is known for a small family of elephants who love to come walking through reception at certain times of the year to get to a particularly tasty wild mango tree!
The guiding and accommodation you'll get staying at these camps and lodge is just excellent. South Luangwa is a special place and a superb wildlife watching spot no matter where you stay, but Bushcamp Company is one of the companies we love recommending.
The camps are open all year except February and March, making some of these 6 bushcamps the only ones open in the green season months of December and January.
Emerald Season Safari
This is an excellent emerald season safari (ie in the rainy season) which is available at a time when no other bushcamps in South Luangwa are open. You really do have the place to yourself when you're at Zungalila and Kapamba (open April-January) and Bilimungwe to Chindeni (open May to December).
As the name suggests, green season is a time of lush growth due to the rains which mostly come between about November and March. It is also the time for newborns, and many migratory birds are in the park at this time. It is a beautiful time to travel here, and whilst it doesn't tend to rain constantly, you need to be prepared for the wet weather. Most often the rain comes in huge downpours, often at night or in the afternoon. The rest of the time, the weather is pleasant and hot. A trip to South Luangwa in the green season is also very good value as this is low season in terms of prices. So come and enjoy the wildlife, wilderness, rivers and rainbows of Zambia.
Shoulder Season
In June and October you can still get good value at these camps. Whilst it's not peak season, the wildlife in this months is still very good indeed, so grab yourself a bargain with any of the 6 bushcamps being open at this time. Be aware though, that October is extremely hot, and the wildlife is usually struggling for water by this time which can be hard to watch at times.
Peak season
July to September is probably the very best time to come to South Luangwa if you want the strongest chances to see wildlife.
From Lusaka you fly north to Mfuwe Airport where a guide from the Bushcamp Company will meet you and drive you to Mfuwe Lodge for your first night in South Luangwa National Park. In the afternoon there will be a game drive. The following itinerary is just one suggestion, but you could choose different camps, depending on the time of year you travel. Lunch, dinner.
Guide price from (pp sharing): £4570 (ex. international flights) Price notes: 2020 guide price pp based on 2 sharing:
01 Jan – 31 May & 01 Nov – 31 Dec 2020 from £4570 This holiday does not operate February & March annually due to seasonal factors. Includes: Full board accommodation based on twin share; airport transfers at Mfuwe; flights Lusaka-Mfuwe-Lusaka; wildlife activities; park fees; local drinks at bushcamps only; laundry. Excludes: International flights and taxes; domestic flight taxes; visa; tips; personal expenses. Getting there: You need to fly into and out of Lusaka for this trip. Flights will cost from about £900 pp. Departure dates: This is a private tailor made trip which can be taken subject to availability at any time of year that the camps are open. Please ask for further details of when you'd like to travel. |
A small bush camp in the heart of the southern part of Luangwa in great walking country.
Chamilandu camp enjoys a pristine riverside location in the Luangwa Valley, with views across to the Nchindeni Hills in great walking country.
A small, secluded camp by a lagoon in South Luangwa. Walking safaris, day and night drives.
Kapamba is a luxurious bush camp set on the banks of the Kapamba River in South Luangwa National Park
5/5 from 58 reviews
Find the best time to visit Zambia
Time: GMT +2 hours
Flight time: Flights from Europe to Lusaka take about 10 hours. Lusaka International Airport is about 25km from the city centre (about 30 minutes transfer).
Language: Zambia's official language is English, but outside of the cities few people speak it.
Visas: Visas are required for most nationalities, although a waiver can normally be organized in advance for British citizens.
Health: This is a malarial country.