Chiawa Camp

Highlights

• Established in 1989 and opened to its first paying guests in 1991, the first safari camp in Lower Zambezi National Park, still run by the Cumings family
• Eight Meru-style safari tents of about 100 m² each, plus the hilltop Chiawa Safari Suite with its own plunge pool, all facing the Zambezi or Chowe rivers
• Day and night game drives, guided walking safaris, boat safaris and catch-and-release tigerfishing
• A Star Bed tower for a night under open sky, with a photographic hide at its base
• An elevated viewing platform over the confluence of the Chowe and Zambezi rivers
• Swimming pool, spa treatments and a library in a main area that was rebuilt in 2018
• Founder member of Conservation Lower Zambezi, the park's leading conservation NGO

Information

• Lodge type: Luxury Safari Camp
• Location: Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 9 Tented Suites (8 Meru-style tents and 1 Safari Suite)
• Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes. Lower Zambezi National Park is a malaria area, and antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended
• Getting there: About 40 minutes by light aircraft from Lusaka to Jeki Airstrip, then a 15-minute drive and a 40-minute boat transfer, or a 75-minute game drive, to camp

Discover Luxury Amidst The Wild: A Journey To Chiawa Camp In The Heart Of Africa

Chiawa Camp is a nine-suite luxury tented camp on the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park. The Cumings family established it in 1989 and welcomed the first paying guests in 1991, which makes it the very first camp in the park. More than three decades on, it remains one of the finest riverside safari camps in Southern Africa.

The camp sits under a canopy of mahogany and winterthorn trees where the Chowe River meets the Zambezi. Across the water rise the hills of Zimbabwe's Mana Pools. Elephant, hippo and leopard move through camp as a matter of routine, so guests are escorted after dark.

That front-row seat on one of Africa's great rivers comes with exceptional guiding. Guests explore by vehicle, on foot and by boat, which makes Chiawa one of the most varied safari experiences in Zambia.

Rooms and Suites

Chiawa accommodates guests in eight Meru-style safari tents and the Chiawa Safari Suite, with a Star Bed tower for nights under the stars. The tents were remodelled in late 2020, each measures about 100 m², every unit looks out over water, and WiFi is available in the guest tents.

Tents 1 to 6 stand on raised wooden decks facing the main channel of the Zambezi. Each has an en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, a deep bath and a private viewing deck, which is the ideal spot for watching elephants wade across to the islands.

Tents 7 and 8 share the same generous footprint as the other tents but sit under thatched roofs. Tent 7 overlooks both the Zambezi and the Chowe. Tent 8 faces the seasonal Chowe River, where leopard and elephant regularly come down to drink.

The Chiawa Safari Suite opened in 2017 on a hilltop above the Chowe River. It has a four-poster bed, a private plunge pool and a lounge that converts into a second bedroom with two daybeds. That makes the suite the outstanding choice for honeymooners who want privacy and for families of up to four.

The Star Bed is a four-metre tower a short way downstream from the main camp. It holds a queen-size bed under a mosquito net, its own bathroom, and a day-use photographic hide at its base. A night up here, falling asleep to hippo grunts and lion calls, is one of the most memorable experiences in the Lower Zambezi. It comes at an additional cost.

Cuisine and Wine

Meals at Chiawa are full board, and all beverages, house wines and local spirits are included in the rate. The kitchen cooks a fusion of local and international dishes, built around seasonal produce and fresh river fish.

The day starts with a light early breakfast before the morning activity, followed by a hearty brunch on return and afternoon tea before heading out again. Lunch is sometimes served on the camp's motorised pontoon, drifting slowly along the Zambezi between pods of hippo.

Evenings bring the best settings: candlelit dinners on the riverbank, bush dinners, and sandbank dinners lit by lanterns on the Zambezi itself. The guides join guests at the table, so the day's sightings are replayed course by course.

Facilities

Chiawa's main guest area was completely rebuilt in 2018. It includes a thatched lounge and library, a dining deck, a swimming pool and spa treatments, all set along the bank of the Zambezi.

An elevated viewing platform over the confluence of the Chowe and Zambezi rivers is the best seat in camp for sundowners and birding. A hide at the base of the Star Bed tower adds ground-level photographic opportunities.

Chiawa Safaris is a founder member of Conservation Lower Zambezi, which supports anti-poaching patrols and environmental education across the park. Guests staying here contribute directly to protecting the wilderness they come to see.

Activities

Activities at Chiawa include day and night game drives, guided walking safaris, boat safaris and catch-and-release tigerfishing, which together cover land and water on one of the most rewarding Zambian safari itineraries.

• Game drives: Morning, afternoon and night drives in open 4x4 vehicles. After dark, the spotlight turns up leopard, hyena, civet and honey badger.
• Walking safaris: Guided walks on the valley floor with a professional guide and an armed scout. Walkers must be 12 or older.
• Boat safaris: Motorboat trips along the Zambezi for close views of elephant, buffalo and hippo, plus excellent birding.
• Tigerfishing: Catch-and-release fishing for the Zambezi's famous tigerfish. A park angling permit is required and is charged separately.
• Star Bed and hide: An overnight in the Star Bed tower and photography sessions from the hide, both at extra cost.

Each guest's day is tailored, so a keen photographer, a walker and a fisherman travelling together can each follow their own pace.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiawa

Where is Chiawa Camp?

The camp is on the northern bank of the Zambezi River inside Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia, at the confluence of the Chowe and Zambezi rivers. Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park lies directly across the river. The Cumings family established Chiawa in 1989 and welcomed the first paying guests in 1991, making it the first safari camp in the park.

How do you get to Chiawa Camp?

Guests fly from Lusaka by light aircraft to Jeki Airstrip in Lower Zambezi National Park, a flight of about 40 minutes. From Jeki, the transfer to camp is a 15-minute drive and a 40-minute boat ride, or a 75-minute game drive. Transfers between Jeki Airstrip and Chiawa are included in the rate.

Is Chiawa Camp in a malaria area?

Yes. Lower Zambezi National Park lies in Zambia's low-lying Zambezi Valley, and antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended for every guest at the camp. Consult a travel clinic before departure. Pack long sleeves and insect repellent for evenings, and sleep under the nets provided. Chiawa does not suit travellers who need a malaria-free safari.

What activities are offered at Chiawa Camp?

The camp offers day and night game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, guided walking safaris, motorboat safaris on the Zambezi and catch-and-release tigerfishing. Guests can also spend a night in the Star Bed tower and use a photographic hide, both at extra cost. Walking safaris require guests to be 12 or older. Combining land and water activities from one riverbank camp is what sets Chiawa apart.

Does Chiawa Camp accept children?

Children aged eight and older are accepted, although the camp is best suited to children of 12 and up. Walking safaris have a minimum age of 12. The Chiawa Safari Suite has a lounge that converts into a second bedroom, making it the most practical choice for families. Wild animals move freely through the unfenced camp, so children must be supervised at all times.

When is the best time to visit Chiawa Camp?

The camp opens for the dry season, roughly from late April or May to mid-November. Game viewing peaks from August to October, when animals gather along the Zambezi to drink. May to July is greener, cooler and quieter. October is the hottest month but brings some of the most concentrated wildlife sightings of the year in Lower Zambezi National Park.

In Conclusion

Chiawa Camp is the place to experience the Lower Zambezi at its finest. It was established in 1989 as the first camp in the park, it is still run by the family who founded it, and it sits on a river that delivers elephant, leopard and lion against one of the most beautiful backdrops in Africa. Few camps anywhere let you track game on foot in the morning, cruise past hippo by boat in the afternoon and fall asleep on a Star Bed under the Milky Way, all from the same riverbank.

Three to four nights here work best within a wider Zambian safari. Combine the camp with South Luangwa for walking and leopard, or with Victoria Falls for a spectacular finale. Plan for August to October if peak game viewing is the priority, or May to July for green landscapes and fewer vehicles. With only nine suites, the best dates go a year or more in advance.

Uyaphi.com has been arranging tailor-made African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. That is 27 years of matching travellers to the right camp, the right season and the right flight connections. We'll build your Chiawa stay into an itinerary designed around you, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll take care of the rest.