Kuyenda Bushcamp

Highlights

• One of the original South Luangwa bushcamps, founded by veteran guide Phil Berry and now run by The Bushcamp Company
• Just six reed-and-thatch rondavels on the banks of the seasonal Manzi River
• Walking safaris are the heart of the camp, led by some of the finest guides in the Luangwa Valley
• Morning and afternoon game drives, with the evening drive running on after dark by spotlight
• Open-air en-suite bathrooms with hand-carved stone basins and hot running water
• Solar-powered and low-impact, with wildlife coming down to the Manzi riverbed in front of camp
• Combine with other Bushcamp Company camps on one of our Zambia safaris

Information

• Lodge type: Traditional Bush Camp
• Location: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 6 Thatched Rondavels
• Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes — South Luangwa is a malaria area and antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended
• Getting there: 70–80 minute scheduled flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe, then about two hours by open safari vehicle: 45 minutes to Mfuwe Lodge and a 75-minute game drive on to camp

Explore The Wild Beauty Of Kuyenda Bushcamp In The South Luangwa National Park

Kuyenda Bushcamp is a six-rondavel walking safari camp on the banks of the seasonal Manzi River in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, run by The Bushcamp Company and founded by legendary Luangwa guide Phil Berry. It is one of the original bushcamps of the southern Luangwa, and it still runs on the same simple idea: a handful of guests, a superb guide and the African bush explored on foot.

The camp sits in the shade of tall trees, looking over the sandy Manzi riverbed. For most of the dry season the river is a dry channel, and that is the point — it works as a natural corridor, and elephant, buffalo and the occasional leopard wander along it in full view of camp. This is classic Zambian bushcamp safari at its most authentic, with nothing between you and the wilderness but a reed wall and a mosquito net.

Rooms And Suites

The six rondavels are built from reed and thatch and raised on teak platforms, each with a private deck, a pair of chairs and a view into the bush. Inside, you'll find king or twin beds under mosquito nets, bedside tables and solar lighting — simple, comfortable and beautifully in keeping with the setting.

Each rondavel has its own open-air en-suite bathroom, and showering under the sky with a hornbill watching from the branches is one of the great small pleasures of a Luangwa safari. Bathrooms include:

• A shower with solar-heated hot and cold running water
• Hand-carved stone washbasins in a double vanity
• A flush toilet

Cuisine And Wine

All meals and bar drinks are included at Kuyenda, so once you arrive there is nothing to sign for and nothing to think about beyond the next sighting. Meals follow the rhythm of the safari day — something hearty before the early walk, a long lunch in the heat of the day and dinner under the stars after the evening drive. The kitchen cooks with care for a small group, and the bar covers house wines, beers and soft drinks; premium wines are charged separately.

Facilities

The main area is an open-sided lounge, dining room and bar overlooking the Manzi riverbed, and it is where the camp gathers between activities to swap stories and watch the river for passing game. In the evening the camp is lit by solar lights and lanterns, and the sky above the Luangwa is as dark and star-filled as anywhere in Zambia.

Power comes from solar, so charging is available but limited — bring a power bank and charge cameras when you can. The Bushcamp Company does offer Wi-Fi at its bushcamps but asks guests to keep it switched off where possible, and most people find that a few days offline is the best part of the stay. Laundry is included in the rate.

Activities

Walking safaris come first at Kuyenda, and South Luangwa is the park where the African walking safari was born. Most mornings start with a guided walk, usually setting out at first light while the bush is cool and the tracks from the night are still fresh. On foot you notice everything: a fresh lion track in the sand, the alarm call of an impala, the crunch of dry leaves underfoot.

Game drives balance the walks, and each day typically includes:

• A morning walking safari or game drive
• An afternoon game drive that runs on after sunset as a spotlit night drive
• Birding along the Manzi and the open dambos, in a park with more than 400 recorded species

Four of the Big Five live here — elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo — and South Luangwa is famous for its leopard sightings at night. Look out too for Thornicroft's giraffe and Crawshay's zebra, two local species you won't see in other African parks.

FAQs

Where is Kuyenda Bushcamp and how do you get there?

Kuyenda is a six-rondavel bushcamp on the Manzi River in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, run by The Bushcamp Company. Guests fly from Lusaka to Mfuwe on a scheduled 70–80 minute flight, then transfer by open safari vehicle: around 45 minutes to Mfuwe Lodge and a further 75-minute game drive through the park to camp, so the road journey is a safari in itself.

Is Kuyenda Bushcamp in a malaria area?

Yes. Kuyenda lies in South Luangwa National Park, which is a malaria area, and antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended for all guests. See a doctor or travel clinic six to eight weeks before you travel, pack insect repellent, and wear long sleeves and trousers in the evenings. Rooms at the camp have mosquito nets, and repellent is provided.

What safari activities are offered at Kuyenda Bushcamp?

Kuyenda is a walking-focused camp in South Luangwa National Park, the park credited with pioneering the African walking safari. Guests choose a guided morning walk or game drive, followed by an afternoon game drive that continues after dark as a spotlit night drive. Birding is excellent, with more than 400 species recorded in the park, and leopard, lion, elephant and buffalo are all present.

What are the rooms like at Kuyenda Bushcamp?

Kuyenda, The Bushcamp Company's camp on the Manzi River in South Luangwa, has six reed-and-thatch rondavels raised on teak platforms. Each has king or twin beds under mosquito nets, solar lighting and a private deck. Bathrooms are open-air en-suites with a hot and cold shower, hand-carved stone basins and a flush toilet. The camp is classic and simple rather than lavish.

When is the best time to visit Kuyenda Bushcamp?

Kuyenda opens for the dry season, roughly from June to early November, with exact dates varying slightly each year. June and July are cool and green-gold, ideal for walking. August to October is peak season, when water dries up, wildlife concentrates along the Luangwa's rivers and lagoons, and game viewing in South Luangwa is at its finest — though October is very hot.

Can children stay at Kuyenda Bushcamp?

Children aged 12 and older are welcome at Kuyenda and at The Bushcamp Company's other South Luangwa bushcamps, including on walking safaris. Families with younger children are better suited to Mfuwe Lodge or the Villas at KuKaya, the company's properties near the park entrance, which can be combined with a bushcamp stay once the children are old enough.

In Conclusion

Kuyenda Bushcamp is the camp to choose if you want South Luangwa the way it was meant to be seen — on foot, in a small group, with a guide who reads the bush like a book. Six rondavels, a dry riverbed full of wildlife and the heritage of Phil Berry's original camp make it one of the most authentic walking safari experiences in Zambia.

Come between June and October, when the bush thins out and the game gathers along the rivers. Pair three or four nights here with another of The Bushcamp Company's camps, or add Victoria Falls or the Lower Zambezi to round off a classic Zambia journey.

Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris since 1999 — 27 years of matching travellers with the right camp, the right season and the right connections. We'll handle every flight, transfer and night of your Kuyenda stay, at no booking fee and no credit card surcharge. Tell us when you'd like to travel, and we'll build your Luangwa safari around you.