Chongwe River House

Highlights

• Sole-use, two-storey house with four en-suite bedrooms for up to eight adults, reserved for one family or group
• Recently rebuilt by Time + Tide with earthy tones, curved lines and fresh, neutral interiors overlooking the Chongwe River
• Your own chef and culinary team, with an outdoor kitchen built around a pizza oven and open-flame barbecue
• A private guide for two activities a day, from game drives and walks to seasonal canoeing, boating and tiger fishing
• Large swimming pool, boma with fire pit, and indoor and outdoor lounges
• Children of all ages welcome, with extra beds and activities designed for young guests

Information

• Lodge type: Premier Safari Villa
• Location: Chongwe River, on the western boundary of Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 4 Bedroomed Private Villa
• Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes — the Lower Zambezi is a malaria area; take prophylaxis on medical advice
• Getting there: 35 minutes by light aircraft from Lusaka to Royal Airstrip, then a 20-minute drive to the house; private helicopter transfers land at a helipad just outside the house

Time + Tide Chongwe House: Private Luxury In The Heart Of The Zambezi Valley

Chongwe River House is Time + Tide's sole-use safari house in Zambia's Lower Zambezi, set on a peaceful stretch of the Chongwe River with mountains rising behind. Four en-suite bedrooms sleep eight adults, and the house, the private guide and the chef belong to a single family or group of friends for the entire stay.

The house has been rebuilt and redesigned from the ground up, and the result is superb: two storeys of earthy tones and curved lines, a large swimming pool, a boma with a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen made for long, sociable evenings. Elephants wade across the river in front of the deck, fish eagles call from the treetops, and a resident warthog family keeps an eye on the lawn.

Time + Tide Chongwe House is only 35 minutes by light aircraft from Lusaka, which makes it one of the most accessible private houses for a Zambia safari and an easy add-on to a longer Zambian journey.

Rooms and Suites

Chongwe River House has four en-suite bedrooms across two storeys, each with river views and each made up as a double or twin. The redesigned interiors are calm and neutral, letting the Chongwe River and the escarpment beyond take centre stage.

• Indoor and outdoor private showers, plus open-air baths
• Eco-friendly Evening Breeze cooling in every bedroom
• Extra beds available for children
• A 20-minute welcome massage for every guest

Cuisine and Wine

Chongwe River House has its own chef and culinary team cooking only for your party, serving fine dining in the wild built on local and seasonal ingredients. Menus and mealtimes are set around your day, not a camp schedule.

The outdoor kitchen, with its pizza oven and open-flame barbecue, is the social heart of the house. Meals can be served outdoors, around the boma fire or in the indoor dining room. Standard drinks are included: soft drinks, house wine, beer and spirits. Reserve spirits, wines and champagne can be arranged at extra cost.

Facilities

Chongwe River House is built for a private group to live outdoors, with shared spaces arranged around the pool, the boma and the river.

• Large private swimming pool
• Boma with fire pit
• Spacious outdoor lounge and dining areas
• Outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and open-flame barbecue
• Indoor lounge, bar and dining area
• Helipad just outside the house for private helicopter transfers
• Wi-Fi throughout (there is no mobile phone signal)
• Dedicated house staff, private guide and chef
• Laundry service

Activities

Chongwe River House includes two activities a day, all led by your own private guide on your group's timetable. The Lower Zambezi is home to lion, leopard, wild dog and big herds of elephant, with more than 370 bird species recorded in the area.

• Private game drives in the morning and afternoon
• Guided walking safaris
• Cultural visits, including a Time + Tide Foundation excursion
• Activities designed for children
• Time in a wildlife hide overlooking a waterhole
• Seasonal boat cruises and canoeing safaris
• Seasonal tiger fishing
• The Time + Tide Sleepout, a night under the stars in the bush (supplement applies)

The house also pairs beautifully with Time + Tide's camps in South Luangwa National Park for a two-park Zambia safari.

Chongwe River House FAQs

How do you get to Chongwe River House?

Time + Tide Chongwe House is reached by a 35-minute light-aircraft flight from Lusaka to Royal Airstrip in the Lower Zambezi, followed by a 20-minute drive to the house. Private helicopter transfers can land at a helipad just outside the property. Transfers between Royal Airstrip and the house are included in the rate; transfers from Jeki Airstrip and the meet-and-greet in Lusaka are not.

How many guests does Chongwe River House sleep?

Time + Tide Chongwe House sleeps eight adults in four en-suite bedrooms across two storeys, each made up as a double or twin, and extra beds can be added for children. The house is booked on a sole-use basis, so one family or group of friends has the house, the pool, the private guide and the chef to themselves for the whole stay.

Is Chongwe River House suitable for children?

Time + Tide Chongwe House welcomes children of all ages, unlike many Zambian safari camps that set minimum ages. Extra beds can be added to the four en-suite bedrooms, Time + Tide runs activities designed for young guests, and the private guide and chef work around the family's routine. Uyaphi.com confirms which activities suit each child's age when building the itinerary.

Is there malaria at Chongwe River House?

Time + Tide Chongwe House lies in the Lower Zambezi, which is a malaria area, so anti-malaria prophylaxis is recommended for every guest. See a travel clinic or doctor a few weeks before departure to agree the right medication, especially for children. Long sleeves and insect repellent at dusk add protection, and the risk is lowest in the dry winter months, when there is little standing water.

When is the best time to visit Chongwe River House?

Time + Tide Chongwe House is open from 1 April to 15 November and closes for the summer rains. The dry season from June to October is the classic Lower Zambezi game-viewing window, when animals concentrate along the Zambezi and Chongwe rivers. September and October bring the hottest days and the densest sightings, while April and May offer green landscapes and quieter roads.

What activities are included at Chongwe River House?

Time + Tide Chongwe House includes two activities a day, led by the house's own private guide. Choose from morning and afternoon game drives, guided walking safaris, cultural visits and activities for children, plus seasonal boat cruises, canoeing safaris and tiger fishing. A 20-minute welcome massage is included, and the Time + Tide Sleepout, a night under the stars in the bush, is available at a supplement.

In Conclusion

Chongwe River House is the right choice when you want the Lower Zambezi to yourselves: a freshly rebuilt private house on the Chongwe River, on the edge of Lower Zambezi National Park, with your own guide and chef, a large pool and elephants crossing the river in front of the deck. Families with children of any age, multi-generation groups and friends travelling together get the freedom of a home and the wildlife of one of Zambia's finest parks.

Time + Tide's house is 35 minutes by air from Lusaka, so it slots easily into any Zambia safari and pairs naturally with South Luangwa or Victoria Falls. It is open from April to mid-November: come between June and October for peak game viewing, or in April and May for green-season landscapes. Sole-use houses fill early for the dry season, so book well ahead.

Uyaphi.com has been arranging tailor-made African safaris since 1999, bringing 27 years of experience across the continent to every itinerary. We handle the flights, transfers and park logistics, and tell you which season and which combination will suit your group. Tell us who is travelling and when, and we'll build your Lower Zambezi safari around you.