Lion Camp
LION CAMP OVERLOOKS AN OXBOW LAGOON IN THE REMOTE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK.
This stylish camp offers a very comfortable base in a prime wildlife viewing area of the park where there are few other visitors, combining high levels of accommodation with an exclusive game viewing experience. The views are lovely and wildlife can often be seen from camp. The immediate area around camp, including Lion Plains and Fish Eagle Lagoon, are superb places to find the park’s resident big cats. The Deluxe Suites are perfect for honeymooners (particularly the suite with a roof top star bed), while the Ebony Suite works well for older families and friends travelling together. This is a great option for anyone looking to combine incredible wildlife viewing, exclusivity and a little bit of luxury.
Rooms
Accommodation is provided for up to 20 guests in 10 comfortable elevated chalets linked by wooden walkways. The chalets are under thatch and have canvas walls with gauze windows to either side. Each is comfortably furnished with double/twin beds with ‘evening breeze’ cooling system, a sofa, luggage rack and bureau. The spacious en suite bathroom includes a shower, separate loo and double vanity. To the fore of each is a furnished verandah. Three of the chalets are classed as ‘Deluxe Suites’ and include a bathtub on the deck. The Sunset Deluxe Suite is the furthest from the main area and also has a rooftop deck with star bed, so perfect for those wanting a night under the stars (ideal for Honeymooners). Ebony Deluxe Suite has an outdoor shower as well as outdoor bathtub and also has an adjacent lounge area with a sleeper couch that can be converted into an extra bed for a child. The Ebony Deluxe Suite also connects with the adjacent chalet via a wooden walkway so is perfect for older families or friends travelling together.
Central Areas
The open sided central areas are under thatch and open sided comprise a bar and dining area, curio shop and reading space surrounding an open air sunken lounge with fireplace. A swimming pool is also incorporated into the decking. The original rondavels, built on the site in 1967, are still in use today and house a photographic studio, a reading room, a curio shop and a small gym. There is also a full-size snooker table in camp. All aspects of the lodge have wonderful views over the oxbow (which holds water throughout the year and attracts a lot of wildlife) and the open plain beyond. There is also a hide at water level providing great opportunities for close-up wildlife viewing.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Luangwa Valley is one of Africa’s most scenic and game-rich National Parks. Forming part of the southern end of the Great Rift Valley, the wide valley floor is about 1,000ft lower than the surrounding plateau and through the centre flows the Luangwa River which is fed by dozens of sand rivers during the rainy season, causing it to become a raging torrent. It frequently alters its course from season to season, causing many ox-bow lakes to form. These lakes are very important to the ecology of the valley and account for the high carrying capacity of the park.
Elephant, although slightly smaller than their southern African savannah counterparts, are plentiful, as are buffalo (in huge herds), kudu, waterbuck, puku, impala, bushbuck, and warthog. Thornicrofts giraffe (endemic to the region) are commonly seen and the Cookson’s wildebeest can be seen in the northern sector of the park. Along the river hippo can be seen in their hundreds, in the late dry season packed into ever decreasing water pools, whilst huge crocs laze on the many sand banks.
However, the park is perhaps best known for its predator populations, in particular lion and leopard, the latter of which are seen regularly by day and at night. Wild dogs have made a good comeback in the park in recent years and are often sighted. Night drives can also be very productive, with nocturnal species such as civet, genet, honey badger, white-tailed mongoose, spotted hyaena and porcupine regularly seen in addition to the many superb leopard sightings.
The birdlife of the Luangwa is equally exceptional, with over half of the total Zambia species (around 700) being recorded here. Commonly sighted species include crowned crane, carmine- and white-fronted bee-eaters (which nest in the banks of the river from late August onwards), Lilian’s lovebird, purple-crested turaco, paradise whydah, striped kingfisher and the impressive saddlebill storks. Pel’s fishing owl are also regularly seen.
Activities
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives by open four-wheel drive vehicles, and morning walks. Afternoon drives are normally extended after dark to afford viewing of the nocturnally active species under spotlight.
Seasons
Lion Camp is open from mid-May through to the end of October, though wildlife viewing conditions will be best from July to October.
Lion Camp does not accept children under the age of 10 years and the accommodation options are much better suited for families travelling with older children. Children must be 16 years to join walking safaris and families with children are required to book a private guide and vehicle. For families with older teenagers, Lion Camp provides an adventurous and very comfortable safari experience with the Ebony Suite providing plenty of space.
All guests staying at Lion Camp pay a Luangwa Conservation and Community Fund levy which supports local community and conservation projects. Lion Camp is also directly involved in the support community upliftment and wildlife conservation through a number of projects.
The camp is actively involved with the local Mkasanga school, in the community where most of the camp’s staff are from. Upliftment projects here include developing a computer facility at the school. They have also engaged with the Ministry of Health to embark on the rebuilding and upgrading of the local clinic, thus creating an effective medical facility for the Mkasanga community.
The camp also supports the work of Conservation South Luangwa which has a first detection dog unit and runs extensive human-wildlife conflict mitigation initiatives and law enforcement programmes in the area. They also support the Chipembele project which operates an educational programme teaching children the value of protecting and conserving local wildlife and the natural environment.
Lion Camp is also conscious of its eco-footprint. The camp itself has been designed to cause minimal damage to the vegetation with raised walkways and decks, and using fully sustainable timber. A water purifying plant has been installed to purify all the borehole water on site. Power is supplied to the suites and lodge by an inverter system, charged by solar panels with a back-up generator. Only bio-degradable laundry materials, cleaning materials and room amenities are used.
Vegetable and salad produce is all procured from a local farmer in Mfuwe, enabling fresh ingredients to be served at the camp as well as helping the farmer support his nine children with his thriving business.
