Mukambi Safari Lodge

Highlights

• Riverside Villa and Family Chalet for families
• Luxury safari tents with open-air baths
• Game drives and walking safaris in Kafue National Park
• Sunset boat cruises on the Kafue River
• Wood-fired pizzas, day and night
• Fishing for bream, barbel and pike
• Birding in the summer months

Information

• Lodge type: Classic Safari Lodge
• Location: Kafue River, opposite central Kafue National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 14 units – 8 chalets, 1 Family Chalet, 1 Riverside Villa, 4 luxury safari tents
• Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes – Kafue National Park is a malaria area all year; anti-malaria prophylaxis is essential
• Getting there: About 300 km from Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, 2 km off the M9 tar road; 4 to 4.5 hours by road. Light-aircraft charters arranged on request

Discover The Wild Heart Of Zambia: A Safari Adventure At Mukambi Lodge

Mukambi Safari Lodge is a family-run classic safari lodge on the banks of the Kafue River, directly opposite central Kafue National Park in western Zambia and about 4.5 hours by road from Lusaka. Kafue National Park covers 22,400 km² – slightly larger than Wales – making it one of the largest national parks in Africa, and a short boat crossing puts guests straight into it. Mukambi Safari Lodge is open all year, with summer birding that ranks among the finest in Zambia.

Mukambi Safari Lodge offers 14 accommodation options and a superb spread of activities: game drives, walking safaris, sunset boat cruises, fishing and a visit to the lodge's community school. It suits couples, honeymooners and families equally well, and it is the easiest-to-reach lodge in the Kafue – a first-class way to begin a Zambian safari before heading deeper into the park.

Rooms and Suites

Mukambi Safari Lodge has 14 rooms across four types: eight thatched rondavel chalets, one Family Chalet, the Riverside Villa and four luxury safari tents.

• Chalets (8) – iconic rondavels flanking the main lodge, each sleeping two in a queen-size or twin four-poster bed, with en-suite bathroom and mosquito nets.
• Family Chalet (1) – two bedrooms (one double, one twin) sharing a bathroom, with a private lounge outside the bedroom doors. Sleeps four.
• Riverside Villa (1) – right on the riverbank, with two en-suite bedrooms (one queen, one twin), an indoor lounge and a private outdoor deck. Sleeps four.
• Luxury Safari Tents (4) – set in the treeline overlooking the river, with king-size beds, a spacious indoor shower and a private outdoor bath under the stars. The most romantic choice at Mukambi and the natural pick for honeymooners; in peak season (June to November) the tents are reserved for guests booking safari packages.

Cuisine and Wine

Mukambi Safari Lodge serves three meals a day – breakfast, lunch and a three-course dinner from a three-choice set menu – prepared from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The wood-fired pizza oven on the dining deck is a firm favourite with young and old, and pizzas are on offer day and night. All local drinks are included in the daily rate; top-shelf spirits and premium wines are charged separately.

Please advise any special dietary requirements at the time of booking, so the kitchen can plan around the lodge's remote supply lines.

Facilities

Mukambi Safari Lodge is built around a sprawling thatched central area with sweeping views across the river into the Kafue National Park. Under the thatch you'll find reception, a fully stocked bar, a dining room and a lounge with a crackling fire in the winter months. Outside, lower and upper viewing decks, a dining deck, a firepit and a shimmering infinity pool with a children's pool all look out over the Kafue River.

• WiFi in the common areas and on the dining decks
• In-room massages on request
• Laundry included

Activities

Mukambi Safari Lodge offers two guided activities a day, with game drives into Kafue National Park as the centrepiece. The lodge's safari vehicles are parked inside the park, reached by a short boat ride across the Kafue River – a wonderful way to start every drive. Lion, leopard and elephant all roam this stretch of the Kafue, and some of them stroll through camp too.

• Game drives – morning and afternoon drives through the park's varied habitats with highly qualified guides.
• Walking safaris – roughly three hours on foot with expert trackers, leaving after sunrise to beat the heat. Highly recommended and one of the standout Zambia safari experiences.
• Boat and sunset cruises – pods of hippo, basking crocodiles, elephants coming down to drink and exceptional birding along the riverbanks.
• Fishing – bream, silver and black barbel and the elusive pike on the Kafue River.
• Community school visit – a guided tour of the Mukambi Community School, a superb way to give back.

Mukambi Safari Lodge is also the gateway to two sister camps deeper in the park: Fig Tree Bush Camp, 1.5 hours away by road, and Busanga Plains Camp, about 4 hours north by game-drive vehicle and open from 1 July to 30 October.

Child Friendly

Mukambi Safari Lodge welcomes children of all ages, including on game drives, where parents remain responsible for their children's safety. The Family Chalet and Riverside Villa each sleep four, the children's pool and pizza oven keep younger guests very happy, and children aged 4 to 11 sharing with adults pay half the rate, while under-4s stay free. Mukambi Safari Lodge is in a malaria area, so speak to a travel doctor about child-safe prophylaxis before you go. Note that the sister camps, Fig Tree and Busanga Plains, accept only children aged 12 and older.

Mukambi Safari Lodge FAQs

Where is Mukambi Safari Lodge?

Mukambi Safari Lodge stands on the banks of the Kafue River in western Zambia, directly opposite central Kafue National Park, about 2 km off the M9 tar road between Lusaka and Mongu. Guests cross the river by boat to reach game-drive vehicles inside the park. Kafue National Park covers 22,400 km², slightly larger than Wales, which makes it one of the largest national parks in Africa.

How do you get to Mukambi Safari Lodge from Lusaka?

Mukambi Safari Lodge is about 300 km from Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, a road transfer of 4 to 4.5 hours, most of it on the tarred M9. The lodge runs its own road transfers from Lusaka on request. Light-aircraft charters can also be arranged through the lodge, with flight time depending on the aircraft used. Mukambi Safari Lodge is the most accessible lodge in the Kafue.

Is Mukambi Safari Lodge in a malaria area?

Yes. Mukambi Safari Lodge lies in the Kafue National Park area, which carries malaria risk all year, rising during the November to April rains. Every guest, children included, should take anti-malaria prophylaxis prescribed by a travel doctor. Guests should also use insect repellent, wear long sleeves at dusk and sleep under the mosquito nets fitted over every bed at the lodge.

Is Mukambi Safari Lodge good for families with children?

Mukambi Safari Lodge is one of the most family-friendly lodges in Zambia. Children of all ages are welcome, including on game drives, with parents responsible for their safety. The Family Chalet and the Riverside Villa each sleep four. There is a children's pool and a wood-fired pizza oven. Children aged 4 to 11 sharing with adults pay half rate, and under-4s stay free.

What accommodation does Mukambi Safari Lodge offer?

Mukambi Safari Lodge has 14 units: eight thatched rondavel chalets with queen or twin four-poster beds, a two-bedroom Family Chalet, the two-bedroom Riverside Villa with a private deck and lounge, and four luxury safari tents with private outdoor baths overlooking the Kafue River. In peak season, June to November, the four tents are reserved for guests booking safari packages.

When is the best time to visit Mukambi Safari Lodge?

Mukambi Safari Lodge is open all year. The dry season from July to October gives the best game viewing, as animals gather along the Kafue River and the bush thins out. 1 July–30 October is peak season. The green season, December to May, brings lush scenery, outstanding birding and lower low-season rates, though some park roads become harder to travel in the rains.

In Conclusion

Mukambi Safari Lodge is the gateway to Kafue National Park – the easiest place to start a Kafue safari, and one of the most rewarding. Few lodges in Zambia match its mix: a tarred road from Lusaka, a boat crossing straight into one of Africa's largest national parks, four very different ways to stay, and activities that run from walking safaris with expert trackers to sunset cruises among hippo and elephant. Families get a lodge that truly welcomes children, and couples get luxury tents with baths under the stars. Everyone gets pizza.

The best way to experience Mukambi Safari Lodge is as the first stop on a longer Kafue journey. Spend three nights on the river, then continue through the park to Fig Tree Bush Camp, or – between mid-July and October – north to the legendary Busanga Plains. Come from July to October for the finest game viewing, or in the green season for lush landscapes, spectacular birding and lower rates.

Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris since 1999 – 27 years of building Zambian itineraries, getting the logistics right and matching travellers to the right lodges. We are owner-run from Cape Town, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us your dates and who's travelling, and we'll put together your Mukambi Safari Lodge safari, transfers and all.