Chiawa Camp
Luxury
Overview
- Centrally positioned in the heart of the Lower Zambezi
- Carefully positioned viewing hide
- Wide range of activities on offer tailored to you
- Placed highly in a number of categories in the Best Safari Guide awards
Chiawa Camp, in the Lower Zambezi National Park of Zambia, has an expansive river setting on the Zambezi River under the shade of ancient mahogany trees. Here it’s all about the bush, the river, the wildlife and safari activities tailored to each guest. It is especially known for its excellent award-winning guiding and wonderful ambience. A strong conservation ethos, a commitment to the local community and personalized friendly service is evident at Chiawa Camp.
However the camp also now offers some of the best accommodation in the Lower Zambezi.
Activities
Chiawa Camp is one of the original camps in the Lower Zambezi and has been run by the Cummings family for years. Varied activities at this owner-run camp include day and night drives in open 4x4 vehicles, game-viewing by boat and nature walks with professional armed rangers. There is also fishing for the infamous tiger fish on a catch and release basis on Zambezi River, sunset boat cruises and, the highlight, canoeing on the river to view game at close quarters, particularly elephant (with half day & full day canoeing excursions on offer).
Chiawa Camp prides itself on its flexibility. Given their unmatched fleet of vehicles, walking guides and boats, they can tailormake activities to suit each guest which is not always the case with Lower Zambezi camps. They often combine two safari activities in one outing, perhaps starting with a late afternoon bush walk or a paddle downstream to a wonderful spot for sundowner drinks, continuing with a night drive afterwards.
Accommodation
Back at the lodge, Chiawa's thatched lounge & bar area blends seamlessly into its idyllic surroundings, shaded by a grove of evergreen mahogany trees. The upstairs observation deck offers one of the best views of the Zambezi – the perfect place to relax with a book and some binoculars for a couple of hours. Downstairs dining room and deck, also overlooking the Zambezi River is the setting for Chiawa’s well-known cuisine. Chiawa Camp has a carefully positioned viewing hide, overlooking the confluence of the Zambezi & Chongwe Rivers, affording excellent game-viewing as animals come down to the river to drink. Leopards, lions, elephants, hippos and a wonderful variety of birds are your neighbours at Chiawa Camp.
Eight huge shaded tented suites are a sanctuary of luxury and peace with timber floors, king sized beds under mosquito nets, pure cotton linen, Molton Brown products and 24/7 lighting and charging facilities. They are uniquely elevated on timber decks on two levels to make the most of the river views. Carefully designed, each tented suite has indoor and outdoor showers, a bath, and a flush loo, as well as the “Chiawa Bench Wallow” – a sunken lounge on the veranda that can be filled as a plunge pool in hot weather.
Chiawa Suite
Chiawa Suite is perfect for honeymooners and adventurous couples. It is elevated way off the ground and is the most private with a very outdoor remote feel. The “Safari Suite” is private, spacious and breathtaking. A sanctuary of almost 220 m², it comprises of a bedroom with a massive king size bed, a gorgeous ball & claw bath and his and hers washbasins, a loo, and shower. The separate lounge contains a sofa, arm chairs and daybeds (that convert if accommodating a family), a guest loo and washbasin. Each space opens onto a 16m wide deck with an outdoor shower, outdoor dining and lounge area, a private fireplace, and a plunge pool
Chiawa Camp has a sister camp, Old Mondoro Camp also in the Lower Zambezi National Park, with a lovely rustic ambience. If you have time we recommend combining the two camps for 5 or 7 nights with some special safari options on offer. Old Mondoro’s focus is more on walking safaris whilst Chiawa Camp offers a broader range of Zambia wildlife activities. Chiawa is one of our favourite camps in the Lower Zambezi...
Chiawa Camp gallery
Chiawa Camp on the map
Rooms
Tents I - VI
These 6 tents were demolished and are being completely rebuilt for 2020; they have been enlarged, reprinted and spread further apart by moving two rooms, T1 & T2, downstream below the swimming pool area. This has achieved much improved levels of privacy and luxury.
New images will follow.
The tents all face the Zambezi River directly and are exceptionally well laid out, they have now been increased in side, have been turned sideways and now have the bathrooms on the side; and a new "bench-wallow" which serves as a refreshing plunge pool in the hotter months and a relaxing area in the cooler months. Each has a super king bed that can be split into two x large singles, all under mosquito nets. They have loo, shower, ball & claw bath and his & hers washbasins, plus a veranda with day bed, arm chairs and outdoor waterfall shower.
Tents VII & TVIII
These two tents were rebuilt in 2016 & 2015 respectively, are identical in layout and interior although the design of their outdoor bathrooms differ, TVII's being made of cement and stone at ground level and TVIII's made of timber at deck level.
Both feature king size beds with loo, bath and shower on the side, behind the bed is a changing and luggage area plus his & hers washbasins with through-room views looking at fantastic views.
These tents share similar size and luxe as Tents I-VI however TVII & VIII are further away from the social area of camp making them more private and quiet. For guests with limited mobility or children we recommend TI-VI.
T IX "Safari Suite"
With the most commanding & expansive views of any room in the Lower Zambezi, Chiawa Camp's gorgeous 220 sq meter Safari Suite is for those guests looking for more luxury, space and exclusivity. It has a thatched roof, canvas walls with screen windows (similar in design to our new T7 & T8), a king bedroom, a lounge area (with guest bathroom for families and dinner guests) which will convert easily and attractively into a second bedroom for families, an inter-leading bathroom with indoor shower, indoor loo, his & hers washbasins and bath all with stunning views. These three rooms all open onto a shaded, timber veranda via folding/sliding screen doors to an 18 sq meter swimming pool, outdoor lounge, outdoor dining, gazebo, outdoor shower and private fireplace. The Safari Suite has its own minibar, tea/coffee facilities and of course free wifi. It will be off-grid in that it will be powered entirely by solar although it will have genset back up if needs be. The Safari Suite is available at a 15% supplement although for existing bookings there will be no additional charge. It will also have its own road access, convenient for privately guided game drives. Please note that the minimum age for the Safari Suite has been reduced to 5 years old although, because the minimum age for children at Chiawa Camp remains at 8 years, children younger than 8 years will kindly be refrained from the social areas of camp except when camp is booked on an exclusive use basis.
Special offers
Long Stay or Combo Offer
Stay 5 nights, pay for 4 OR Stay 7 nights, pay for 5
Stay 5 nights, pay for only 4, or Stay 7 nights and pay for only 5. Valid at Chiawa, Old Mondoro or Puku Ridge (one camp per stay) OR <strong>Best of Both Worlds</strong> - Stay 7 nights at a mix of Chiawa Camp & Old Mondoro Camp, and pay for only 5 Also available: <strong>Ultimate of Both Parks</strong> Stay 9 nights (3 nights at each camp) and pay for only 6 nights (park and conservation fees excluded)
Terms & Conditions: One camp per stay unless doing a mix of Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro
Combo Offer
Stay 7 nights at a mix of Chiawa Camp & Puku Ridge Camp, and pay for only 5
Stay 7 nights at a mix of Chiawa Camp & Puku Ridge Camp, and pay for only 5 (park and conservation fees excluded) Also available: <strong>Ultimate of Both Parks</strong> Stay 9 nights (3 nights at each camp) and pay for only 6 nights (park and conservation fees excluded)
Pay Stay Offers
Stay 3 & Pay 2
Stay 3 & Pay 2 One camp per pay/stay but multiple pay/stay can be bought for 1,2 or 3 camps Shoulder season only - May & June & 15 Oct to 15 Nov
Excludes: Park & Conservations fees
Terms & Conditions: May & June, 15 Oct to 15 November
