Chiawa Camp, Lower Zambezi, Zambia

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 offers some of the best accommodation in the Lower Zambezi as well.

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.

Nine huge shaded safari tents 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 en suite bathroom has a ball and claw bath with a glorious private view over the Zambezi river, as well as both indoor and outdoor showers. Tent nine 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. It has an outdoor bathroom under the thatch and on the deck with ball and claw bath, shower and double basins.

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...

In Pictures

Chiawa Camp on the map

Rooms

Tents I - VI

These 6 tents were demolished and were 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.

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.

Superior Safari Tents

The Superior Safari Tents at Chiawa Camp are the newest tents in the Lower Zambezi National Park, completed in 2020. It's built in Chiawa Camp’s classic style but much upgraded in size, features and spacing to provide the ultimate safari tent – appropriate to the location and purpose but with high levels of comfort and features, where that rare, perfect blend of form and function is artfully enhanced by light and space aplenty. Each room naturally blends in with its sensational surroundings while providing guests with the ideal retreat, from which they can enjoy all that Chiawa Camp has to offer. The furniture was made by local craftsmen with local materials, including the hanging lampshades. The tents open via a massive, easy-running sliding door onto the shaded veranda. The veranda features an outdoor “waterfall” shower, a dining table for two, comfy leather reclining safari chairs and the piece de resistance – Chiawa Camp’s very own “bench wallow”, which in cool weather is a sunken lounge area and in hot weather, a plunge pool on demand that fills after just a couple of minutes at the turn of a tap and empties at the push of a button.

Star Bed Tower

Chiawa Camp's Star Bed Tower is a newly built luxurious sleep out, taking luxury and romance to new heights. The star bed tower has a sumptuous Queen-size bed under mosquito netting, a bath tub, loo, wash basin and mirror. The side tables have red-filtered flashlights to see what's around at night and a 2-way radio just for in case.