Chongwe River Suites

Highlights

• Just two private suites at the Chongwe and Zambezi confluence: Cassia for two guests and Albida for four
• Each suite has its own plunge pool, open-air clawfoot bath, fire pit and canopied river-view lounge
• A dedicated butler, plus your own private vehicle and guide, included with both suites
• Morning, afternoon and night game drives into the Lower Zambezi National Park
• Guided walking safaris in Zambia through riverine forest and floodplain
• Seasonal canoeing and sunset boat cruises on the Zambezi among hippo and elephant
• Catch-and-release tiger fishing, at its best from mid-August to mid-November
• A wildlife hide beside a waterhole for close, quiet photography
• The Time + Tide Sleepout, a night under the stars in the bush (supplement applies)

Information

• Lodge type: Private safari suites
• Location: Chongwe and Zambezi confluence, Lower Zambezi, Zambia
• Lodge size: 2 private suites (6 guests)
• Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes. The Lower Zambezi is a malaria area, so take antimalarials
• Getting there: About 35 minutes by light aircraft from Lusaka to Royal Airstrip, then a 20-minute road transfer

Where Wilderness Meets Luxury: Discover Time + Tide Chongwe Suites

Chongwe River Suites is a pair of private Time + Tide safari suites at the point where the Chongwe River flows into the Zambezi, in Zambia's Lower Zambezi Valley. The Chongwe marks the western boundary of the Lower Zambezi National Park, so the park's floodplains, woodland and wildlife are only a short drive or walk away. The Zambezi escarpment rises to the north, and the broad Zambezi sweeps past towards Zimbabwe. With only two suites and a maximum of six guests, you get the privacy of your own safari home with the back-up of an established Time + Tide camp next door.

Time + Tide opens the suites from 1 April to 15 November each year, set beneath ancient trees on the riverbank. Each suite comes with its own butler, its own private vehicle and guide, and its own pace. Breakfast can be at dawn before a walk, lunch in your suite's dining area, and dinner on the riverbank after a sundowner cruise. It's a superb, unhurried way to experience one of Zambia's finest wildlife rivers.

Rooms and Suites

Chongwe Suites has two suites, both named after indigenous trees of the valley. The Cassia Suite has one bedroom and one bathroom for two guests. The Albida Suite has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and sleeps four. Both are effectively private villas, with living and dining areas furnished in traditional African décor and artwork. Beds are set up as doubles or twins and face the Chongwe River, so the sunrise comes to you.

Every suite also has a canopied open-air lounge and dining area, a fire pit, a plunge pool overlooking the river, and an open-air bathroom with a clawfoot bath. Bedrooms have fans, power comes from a generator with British three-pin plugs, and Wi-Fi is available, although phone signal is limited. The Cassia Suite is a wonderful honeymoon hideaway, and the Albida Suite suits families or friends travelling together.

Cuisine and Wine

Meals at Chongwe Suites are built around local, seasonal ingredients, and you choose where you eat. You can dine privately in your suite, in the main camp lounge on the riverbank, or out under the stars.

All meals and standard drinks are included in the rate: soft drinks, beer, house wines and spirits. Reserve wines, premium spirits and champagne are charged extra. Sundowners at the riverside bar, or out in the bush after an afternoon drive or cruise, are one of the great rituals of a Lower Zambezi stay.

Facilities

Guests at Chongwe Suites have their own private lounge, dining area, plunge pool, open-air bath and fire pit, plus access to the main camp lounge, bar and dining areas on the riverbank. Each suite has a dedicated butler, and every guest receives a 20-minute welcome massage. Laundry is included, and further spa treatments are available at extra cost.

Children of all ages are welcome, which is unusual at the top end of the Lower Zambezi market. Because a private vehicle and guide come with both suites, game drives can be shaped around younger travellers. Walking safaris and the Time + Tide Sleepout are for guests aged 12 and over, with walks at the guide's discretion. That makes the Albida Suite a superb family option in Zambia, particularly for families with children aged 12 and up.

Activities

Two privately guided activities a day are included at Chongwe Suites, chosen from game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits and, in season, boat cruises, canoeing and fishing. Morning and afternoon drives explore the Lower Zambezi National Park, and night drives search the bush by spotlight for nocturnal species. The Lower Zambezi is renowned for elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard, and for the hippo and crocodile that crowd its rivers.

Walking safaris are the best way to read the bush up close, from tracks in the river sand to the birdlife overhead. On the water, seasonal canoe trips slip quietly past grazing elephants and wallowing hippos, while boat cruises carry you into the sunset with a drink in hand. Tiger fishing on the Zambezi is catch-and-release, with all equipment provided, and is at its best from mid-August to mid-November. A wildlife hide beside a waterhole offers close, patient viewing.

Time + Tide also offers the Sleepout, a night under the stars in the bush, at a supplementary charge. Walking safaris and the Sleepout both have a minimum age of 12, and walks are at the guide's discretion.

Chongwe River Suites FAQs

Where is Chongwe River Suites?

Time + Tide's Chongwe Suites sit beneath ancient trees at the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers in Zambia's Lower Zambezi Valley. The Chongwe River marks the western boundary of Lower Zambezi National Park, so game drives, walks and river trips lead straight into the park. The Zambezi escarpment rises to the north, and the Zambezi River forms the border with Zimbabwe to the south.

How do you get to Chongwe River Suites?

Guests reach Time + Tide's Chongwe Suites by light aircraft from Lusaka to Royal Airstrip, a flight of around 35 minutes, followed by a 20-minute road transfer to the suites. The Royal Airstrip transfer is included in the rate; transfers from Jeki Airstrip are charged separately. Most guests fly in as part of a wider Zambia safari itinerary, often combined with South Luangwa or Victoria Falls.

Is Chongwe River Suites in a malaria area?

Yes. Chongwe Suites lie in the Lower Zambezi Valley, which is low-lying, hot and riverine, and malaria is present there. Guests should consult a travel clinic about antimalarial medication before departure, pack insect repellent, and cover arms and legs at dusk. The suites' open-air lounges and bathrooms make long sleeves and repellent in the evenings a sensible habit.

When is the best time to visit Chongwe River Suites?

Time + Tide's Chongwe Suites open from 1 April to 15 November each year and close for the summer rains. July to October is peak safari season, when the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates along the Zambezi and Chongwe Rivers. April to June and November are quieter and greener, with lower rates. Tiger fishing on the Zambezi is at its best from mid-August to mid-November.

Is Chongwe River Suites suitable for families?

Chongwe Suites welcome children of all ages, and the two-bedroom Albida Suite sleeps four, with two bathrooms, a plunge pool and a dedicated butler. A private vehicle and guide come with both suites, so game drives can be paced around younger travellers. Walking safaris and the Time + Tide Sleepout have a minimum age of 12, with walks at the guide's discretion, so families with teenagers get the full range of activities.

What activities are included at Chongwe River Suites?

Time + Tide's Chongwe Suites include two activities a day, all privately guided with your own vehicle: morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits, and seasonal boat cruises, canoeing and catch-and-release fishing. All meals, standard drinks, laundry, a 20-minute welcome massage and Royal Airstrip transfers are also included. The Time + Tide Sleepout under the stars carries a supplementary charge.

In Conclusion

Chongwe River Suites is the Lower Zambezi stay to choose when privacy matters as much as wildlife. Only two suites stand at the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers, each with your own butler, private vehicle and guide, and plunge pool, with the Lower Zambezi National Park on your doorstep. Walking, canoeing, night drives and tiger fishing all happen in one stay, at your own pace. Time + Tide has created a superb choice for honeymooners in the Cassia Suite and for families or friends sharing the Albida Suite.

Book three to five nights between July and October for peak game viewing, or from mid-August if tiger fishing is on your list. April to June and November bring quieter, greener days and lower rates. The suites slot naturally into a wider Zambia journey with South Luangwa, Kafue or Victoria Falls. Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. Twenty-seven years of Zambia flights, seasons and lodge knowledge go into getting your route, timing and suite right. With only six guests at a time, the suites fill early for peak season, so tell us your dates and we'll build your Lower Zambezi safari around them.