Kulandila Camp

Highlights

• Just four tented suites on the Luangwa River, 6 km upstream from sister property Sungani Lodge
• One of the southernmost camps in South Luangwa National Park, around 70 km from the busy Mfuwe sector
• An inclusive 20-minute scenic flight from Mfuwe International Airport in the camp's own Cessna 206
• Outdoor slipper baths filled from wood-fired boilers, with the river in earshot
• Morning and afternoon game drives, the afternoon drive rolling on after dark under a spotlight
• Walking safaris of no more than six guests, led by a qualified guide and an armed national parks scout
• Photographic hides on the lagoon and at a riverside waterhole, plus a seasonal carmine bee-eater hide
• Family owned, hand-built with a local Zambian team, and powered by the sun

Information

• Lodge type: Luxury tented safari camp
• Location: Southern South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 4 tented suites
• Recommended stay: 2–3 nights, or 5 nights split with Sungani Lodge
• Malaria risk: Yes, high. South Luangwa is a malaria area; take prophylaxis on your doctor's advice
• Getting there: About 70 km from Mfuwe. A 20-minute light-aircraft flight from Mfuwe International Airport to the Sungani airstrip, then a 15-minute drive; by road, roughly 3 hours from Mfuwe Airport

Discover The Hidden Gem Of The South Luangwa's Luxurious Kulandila Camp

Kulandila Camp is a four-tent safari camp on the banks of the Luangwa River in the far south of Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, 6 km upstream from its sister property, Sungani Lodge. Open from mid-May to the end of October, it backs onto a lagoon beneath towering Lala palms, with the open-plan main area looking straight out over the river.

The name, pronounced koo-lann-deelah, means "to receive" or "to welcome", and the Davy family who own and run the camp take it at its word. Much of what you see was built by hand by the family and a local Zambian team, who reclaimed a neglected corner of the park and turned it into one of the most remote safari bases in the valley. Most South Luangwa camps cluster around Mfuwe; this one sits some 70 km south, which means fewer vehicles, unhurried sightings and game loops north of camp that you share with very few others.

Of the two Sungani properties, this is the smaller, simpler and more sociable: a traditional tented camp with ceiling fans instead of air-conditioning, dinners cooked over the fire and a genuine house-party feel. With a maximum of eight guests, it is a superb choice for couples, small groups of friends and families who want the place to themselves. It is also one of the finest bases from which to discover why South Luangwa National Park is known as the home of the walking safari.

Rooms And Suites

Each of the four tents offers around 460 square feet (about 43 m²) of indoor space, raised on a wooden platform with its own private veranda and linked to the main area by sandy pathways. The style is classic Zambian safari: crisp white linen, textured cushions, oiled teak furniture and brass detailing, with an indoor daybed for afternoon reading and outdoor seating for watching the river. Beds are two singles that zip together into a king or separate as twins, so friends travelling together are as well looked after as couples.

The star of every tent is the outdoor slipper bath, filled with water heated by an old-fashioned wood boiler and open to the sights and sounds of the bush. After a dusty afternoon drive, there is no better seat in the house. The tents stand 15 to 35 metres apart and roughly 20 metres from the main deck, close enough for an easy escorted stroll after dinner and far enough apart to hear nothing but the river.

• Indoor bathroom with shower, toilet and basins, plus the outdoor slipper bath
• Ceiling fan within the mosquito net (there is no air-conditioning)
• Tea and coffee station, in-room safe and a generous cupboard with hanging space
• 24-hour solar power with universal, square-pin and USB sockets
• Complimentary daily laundry, bathrobes, slippers and African Earth natural amenities

Cuisine And Wine

Meals at the camp are simple, generous and made with locally sourced produce wherever this remote corner allows, with menus drawn up in the Sungani Lodge kitchen. What sets Kulandila apart is the fire: dinners lean towards traditional on-the-coals cooking, and evenings have the easy, family-and-friends warmth of a really good bush house party.

• Breakfast: continental at first light, or something hot cooked to order
• Lunch: a buffet of fresh salads, homemade breads and cold meats
• Dinner: fireside cooking at your own table, unless you'd like to join other guests; private dinners can be set up at your tent
• Bar: open from mid-morning with a short cocktail and mocktail list, fine wines, beers and spirits; all drinks except top-shelf brands are included
• In the bush: every stay includes the offer of a bush brunch or lunch and a formal sundowner set-up

Dietary and nutritional requirements are catered for with advance notice, so tell us when you book and we will make sure the kitchen is ready for you.

Facilities

The heart of the camp is an open-plan main area that backs onto the lagoon and faces the Luangwa, with a swimming pool and viewing decks alongside. Large leather armchairs, colonial-style furniture and brass finishes set the tone, while the al-fresco dining area and cosy bar keep everyone within sight of the river.

• Swimming pool and river-view decks
• Starlink Wi-Fi in the main area only; the tents stay blissfully offline
• Solar power around the clock, with a back-up generator
• Borehole water filtered by reverse osmosis and safe to drink, with a refillable bottle for every guest
• Photographic equipment available for hire
• Gift shop for forgotten essentials at Sungani Lodge, 6 km away

Activities

Kulandila's activities are game drives, walking safaris, photographic hides, bush meals and sundowners, all led by qualified guides in an area with very few other vehicles. Drives and walks here usually cover different ground from Sungani Lodge, using game loops to the north of camp across old floodplains, open dambos and patches of riparian thicket.

• Game drives: morning and afternoon, with the afternoon drive pausing for sundowners and continuing after dark with a spotlight in search of big cats, mongooses and the charismatic scrub hare
• Safari vehicles: custom-built with individual seats, Manfrotto camera rests and a removable canopy, and a window seat guaranteed; a private vehicle can be arranged at extra cost, subject to availability
• Walking safaris: morning or afternoon, a maximum of six guests, led by a qualified walking guide and an armed DNPW scout; minimum age 16, with 12- to 15-year-olds at the guide's discretion
• Photographic hides: a viewing platform at the end of the Sungani lagoon, a sunken hide at a riverside waterhole, and a mobile hide at the carmine bee-eater colonies when they nest (seasonal)
• Full-day drives: on request, with cool boxes packed by the kitchen
• Bush meals: brunch or lunch laid out on the banks of the Luangwa

September and October bring the richest game viewing of the year, as the bush dries and animals crowd the river and its lagoons. From the lagoon platform, hippos and crocodiles are constant company, and patient guests may be rewarded with the elusive roan antelope. For birders, the mosaic of river, lagoon and floodplain is outstanding throughout the season, with the carmine bee-eater colonies a spectacular highlight when they are nesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kulandila Camp and how do you get there?

Kulandila Camp is in the far south of South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, 6 km upstream from Sungani Lodge and about 70 km from Mfuwe. Guests fly into Mfuwe International Airport, usually via Lusaka, then take the camp's inclusive 20-minute light-aircraft transfer to the Sungani airstrip, followed by a 15-minute drive. A road transfer takes around three hours. Book a morning flight into Mfuwe so the transfer lands before dark.

When is Kulandila Camp open, and when is the best time to visit?

South Luangwa's Kulandila Camp is open from 15 May to 31 October and closes for the green season. Peak season runs from 16 June to 15 October, and the shoulder months are mid-May to mid-June and the second half of October. June to August is cool and dry, while September and October are hot but deliver the best game viewing, as animals concentrate along the Luangwa River and its lagoons.

Can children stay at Kulandila Camp?

Children aged 12 and over are welcome at Kulandila Camp in Zambia's South Luangwa; younger children can stay only on an exclusive-use booking of the whole camp. Walking safaris carry a minimum age of 16, although 12- to 15-year-olds may walk at the guide's discretion, depending on maturity, height and time of year. With just four tents, taking the camp outright is an excellent option for families.

What activities are offered at Kulandila Camp?

Kulandila, in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, offers morning and afternoon game drives, the afternoon drive continuing after dark under a spotlight. It also runs walking safaris for up to six guests, escorted by an armed national parks scout. Guests can use photographic hides on the Sungani lagoon and at a riverside waterhole, plus a seasonal carmine bee-eater hide. Bush brunches, sundowners and full-day drives on request round out the programme; boat cruises are not offered.

Is Kulandila Camp in a malaria area?

Yes. Kulandila Camp lies in South Luangwa National Park, and the Luangwa Valley is a malaria area, so anti-malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended. Speak to your doctor or a travel clinic before departure about the right medication for you. In camp, beds have mosquito nets and insect repellent is provided in every tent, and long sleeves and trousers at dusk add a further layer of protection.

How is Kulandila Camp different from Sungani Lodge?

Kulandila is the smaller, more rustic and more sociable of the Davy family's two South Luangwa properties, with four 460-square-foot tents, ceiling fans and fireside dinners. Sungani Lodge, 6 km downstream, has seven far larger tents of over 1,000 square feet, each with air-conditioning and a private plunge pool. The two camps drive and walk different areas, so staying at both for about five nights in total works superbly.

In Conclusion

Kulandila Camp is South Luangwa for travellers who would rather share the bush with an elephant than with another vehicle. Four tents, a fireside dinner, a slipper bath with the river in earshot, and guides who walk you onto the floodplains with an armed scout at your shoulder: this is classic Zambian safari, done properly and kept wonderfully small.

When to go: The camp is open from 15 May to 31 October. June to August brings cool, dry, comfortable days, and September and October deliver the most dramatic game viewing as the bush dries and wildlife crowds the river. Mid-May to mid-June and the second half of October are shoulder season.

How to get there: Fly into Lusaka and take the scheduled domestic flight to Mfuwe. From there the camp's own aircraft takes over, with 20 minutes over the Luangwa to the Sungani airstrip. Plan a morning arrival in Mfuwe, as the transfer must land before dark, and pack soft bags only: 15 kg plus 5 kg of hand luggage.

How to stay: Two or three nights here followed by three at Sungani Lodge makes a superb five-night southern Luangwa stay. The camp also slots neatly into a longer Zambia safari alongside the Lower Zambezi or Victoria Falls.

Uyaphi.com has been planning tailor-made African safaris since 1999. That's almost three decades of matching travellers to the right camps and getting flights, transfers and seasons right first time. Tell us when you'd like to travel and who's coming, and we'll build your South Luangwa safari around you, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges.