Mwamba Bushcamp
Mwamba Bushcamp is a comfortable and authentic camp overlooking the Mwamba River channel in the heart of the South Luangwa National Park.
Mwamba offers a wonderful bush experience in a very productive game viewing area. Originally a walking camp, Mwamba offers access to some core game viewing regions as well as some very remote areas that are seldom visited by other tourists. These days most guests seem to want to drive more than walk, but it is still a super camp for walking and there is always a walking guide on hand. The camp has evolved from being a seasonal bush camp to now offering more sophisticated and very comfortable accommodation, while still managing to retain a bush ethos with wildlife regularly encountered in camp. Food is good quality and wholesome, guests are very well looked after and the guiding is excellent. The ‘last waterhole’ hide on the edge of camp is brilliant in the late dry season (September/ October) for sightings and photography. Mwamba is a camp for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, walkers and those looking for a quiet and comfortable bush experience.
Rooms
Mwamba caters for a maximum of eight guests in four safari chalets constructed from bamboo and thatch. Each chalet has twin or double beds under a mosquito net, a writing desk and handmade timber storage areas provide plenty of space for luggage. Sliding doors lead out on to a comfortably furnished verandah with views over the Mwamba River. A timber door leads out to a spacious open air en suite bathroom with double vanity, plumbed shower and separate flush toilet which is under cover.
Central Areas
The central bar area is a focal point of the camp being built under the shade of a towering tree and provides a meeting place after evening game drives. Dining is generally al fresco. A deck under thatch provides a comfortable lounge area and afternoon tea is also generally served here.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for charging – Yes
Swimming pool – No
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, warthog, and reedbuck. 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, African wild cat, 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, white-fronted bee-eaters, carmine 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 are also regularly seen.
Activities
Activities at Mwamba include both walking (the original focus of the camp, especially in the mornings), and game drives by day and by night. There is also the possibility of a basic ‘camp-out’ under the stars either around the camp fire (sleeping under a mosquito net) or on a sleep out platform overlooking the bush (both sleep-out options are extra cost and pre-booking is advised). There is a hide in camp (the ‘last waterhole’ hide), available exclusively for Mwamba guests, overlooking a particularly active water source that you can use at any point in the day. From Mwamba, you can also visit the Carmine bee-eater hide (usually operational from mid-August onwards) run by Shenton Safaris.
Seasons
Mwamba Bush Camp is open from June to October, though game viewing conditions will be best from July onwards.
Mwamba caters for children 12 years and older, and is most suitable for active and adventurous families with older children who can take their own room and are keen to explore.
Derek Shenton, owner of Mwamba, is a third-generation conservationist and guide and he runs the operations of Shenton Safaris with his wife, Juliet, who is a zoologist and wildlife photographer. Conservation tourism is very much a part of the ethos and operation of the camp.
Derek is on the board of Conservation South Luangwa, an organisation that works with community and conservation partners and is dedicated to protecting South Luangwa, it’s wildlife and habitat through a combination of law enforcement support (anti-poaching), human-wildlife conflict mitigation, veterinary work and community outreach.
Juliet is one of the founding members of Project Luangwa, a charitable organisation formed by a group of safari operators in South Luangwa who use a portion of the proceeds from each guest to help local communities improve their economic prospects whilst at the same time ensuring positive impact on the environment and wildlife. Juliet also began Art for Conservation which sees Shenton Safaris work with local artists to sell their work. A donation 20% of each sale goes into a conservation or community project chosen by the purchaser.
Guests staying at Mwamba Camp contribute to conservation and community projects supported by Shenton Safaris through a nightly levy.
Shenton Safaris also partners with Pack for a Purpose, a non-profit organisation that encourages travellers to use space in their luggage to bring much needed supplies for community projects.
A substantial part of Shenton Safaris’ operation involves road grading. This serves as fire breakers and aids rapid delivery of anti-poaching teams throughout the northern area of the South Luangwa National Park, as well as providing smooth roads for guests to enjoy on game drives.
The camp is run 100% on solar power and around 80% of the fresh produce consumed in camp is produced by the company’s own organic vegetable plot.
