Old Mondoro Bush Camp

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Highlights

• Especially good for walking safaris with open terrain
• Noted for its wild dog sightings
• No electricity
• Ideal combination with Chiawa Camp or Sausage Tree Camp

Old Mondoro Bushcamp, in the Lower Zambezi National Park, lies on the banks of the Zambezi river. The camp is in an area of vast open flood plains with beautiful old mature mopane woodland. Although 4x4 game drives, boating and canoeing are also available, Old Mondoro bush camp concentrates on exceptional walking opportunities.

The Lower Zambezi area is excellent for leopard, wild dog and serval, as well as for zebra and kudu. It doesn't have as many elephant or buffalo as further upstream but the regular sightings of lion & hyena more than make up for it, with occasional roan and eland sightings as well.Old Mondoro Bush Camp is also noted for its wild dog sightings as the dogs often den in the vicinity, and was the base for the African Wild Dog Conservation researcher for two years.

The Shona word for lion is Mondoro and the name Old Mondoro derives from the local legend of an old, white lion that used to frequent the area. Old Mondoro Bush Camp reflects the wild spirit that lives on in his descendants and deliberately offers a true bush camp ambience.

They aim to offer an authentic Zambian safari which concentrates on the wildlife and bush experience. Four beautifully simple, reed chalets have canvas roofs, with screens left open during the day and lowered for privacy and security at dusk. Each chalet faces the river and is built around an ancient winter Thorn tree, lit by paraffin lanterns at night. En suite bathrooms have flush loos, wash basins and showers with running cold water. Here the call of the hyena replaces the hum of a generator and harsh electric light is replaced by the soft glow of a lantern. Hot water is delivered on request in old-fashioned canvas buckets. The ‘mess tent’, which serves as a lounge and dining area, rests under a winter thorn tree with glorious Zambezi River views. The traditional bush kitchen serves good cooking and freshly baked bread daily. The entire experience is unpretentious and uncomplicated.

Old Mondoro is a joint venture between the owners of Sausage Tree Camp and Chiawa Camp and is sufficiently different from either as to make an ideal combination - spend 2-3 nights here followed by 2-3 nights at a more luxurious camp. The nearest airstrip to Old Mondoro is Jeki airstrip. From Jeki you are transferred to the camp by road.

This is often a game-viewing experience and takes 45 minutes or more depending on what you see! Private game-viewing vehicles with your own guide are available on a daily basis. Also there is a facility for recharging batteries at the main lodge, but not in your chalets.

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