Lion Camp

Highlights

• Ten canvas-and-thatch suites on stilts, each with a private deck over the oxbow lagoon and floodplain
• Remote northern sector of South Luangwa, well away from the busy Mfuwe Gate and its vehicle traffic
• Built on the site Norman Carr chose in the late 1960s, which became the park's first permanent safari accommodation
• Walking safaris with a professional guide and a park game scout, in the valley where the walking safari was born
• Two guided game drives a day, morning and afternoon, rolling into sundowners
• On-site ground-level hide where wildlife drinks at eye height
• Private photographic and cinematography safaris with resident filmmaker Darren Britz, on request
• Infinity pool, snooker table, gym, fire pit and complimentary Wi-Fi

Information

• Lodge type: Seasonal, unfenced safari lodge
• Location: Northern sector, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 10 suites (7 Luxury Suites and 3 Deluxe Suites: Lagoon, Sunset and the Ebony Family Suite)
• Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes. South Luangwa is a malaria area, so take antimalarials on medical advice
• Getting there: Lusaka to Mfuwe International Airport is about 1 hour by scheduled flight, then about 3 hours by road through the national park

Discover An Amazing Safari Experience At Lion Camp In The South Luangwa National Park!

Lion Camp is a ten-suite, canvas-and-thatch safari lodge on an oxbow lagoon in the remote northern reaches of South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. It is open each dry season from late May to the end of October. It stands on the site Norman Carr chose in the late 1960s as a base for walking safaris and anti-poaching scouts. Its three rondavels became the park's first permanent accommodation. Private owners turned the site into a lodge in 2004, and a full rebuild in 2017 added the raised timber walkways and the suites guests stay in today.

The location does the heavy lifting. The camp sits beside one of the last water sources to hold through the dry season, so as the bush turns from green to gold, game is drawn in rather than scattered. Lion and leopard are the headline acts, and the name was earned. Wild dog appear too, along with big herds of elephant and buffalo, and the valley's three local specials: Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra. More than 400 bird species are recorded in the park. By September, carmine bee-eaters are nesting in the riverbanks while pelicans and marabou storks work the shrinking lagoons in raucous fishing parties.

Few other camps operate this far north, so sightings are rarely crowded and the plains in front of the main deck are seldom empty. Expect two guided activities a day, and plenty happening between them without leaving your lounger.

Rooms And Suites

All ten suites at Lion Camp are raised on stilts and built from timber, canvas and thatch. Each has:

• an en-suite bathroom and a private outdoor shower
• an evening-breeze cooling system and 24-hour solar power
• USB charging points, premium linen and complimentary Wi-Fi
• a private deck facing the lagoon and plains

The seven Luxury Suites are the backbone of the camp: generous, private and positioned for the view. The three Deluxe Suites, Lagoon, Sunset and Ebony, take the prime spots and add an outdoor bathtub on the deck. After a dusty afternoon drive, that is about as good as safari plumbing gets.

Ebony doubles as the Family Suite. It is a Deluxe and a Luxury Suite linked by a shared lounge, each with its own bathroom, so parents and children have space together and privacy apart. Elevated walkways connect every suite to the main lodge. Because the camp is unfenced, puku, impala and the odd elephant wander through beneath them.

Cuisine And Wine

The kitchen cooks African-fusion food fresh in camp, built around local produce sourced from the surrounding communities. Meals move with the day: breakfast on the main deck, lunch in the shade of the dining area, and dinner in the boma under the stars. A bush breakfast above the Luangwa River comes with hippos and crocodiles for company.

Estate wines are chosen to match the menu, and house drinks are included. Premium spirits, reserve wines and champagne are extra. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book and we will brief the kitchen well before you arrive.

Facilities

The main lodge is a large, open-sided thatched space on the edge of the lagoon, shaded by sausage and mahogany trees. Its lounge, bar, dining area, viewing deck and infinity pool all face the floodplain, so the wildlife is part of the furniture. Power comes from solar, around the clock, and the lodge uses biodegradable products throughout.

The hide is the camp's secret weapon. It sits at ground level by the water, so animals coming down to drink fill the frame at eye height. That is the angle photographers crave and a vehicle can never give you.

Other facilities:

• Infinity pool and sun loungers on the main deck
• On-site ground-level game-viewing hide
• Bar and lounge with a full-size snooker table
• Fitness facility
• Fire pit for after-dinner stories
• Gift shop
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Activities

Lion Camp runs two guided activities a day: a morning outing, and an afternoon game drive that rolls into sundowners. Drives are shaped around what you want to see, whether that is big cats, birds or the wider bush. They run on a road network laid out across the northern sector's lagoons, open plains and ebony groves.

South Luangwa is where Norman Carr pioneered the walking safari, and setting out on foot from his original base is the best way to honour that. Walks are led by a professional guide with a park game scout. They slow everything down to tracks, dung, birdcalls and plant life, and they sharpen every sense you have.

Serious photographers can book the Cinematography & Photographic Safari with resident wildlife filmmaker Darren Britz. It comes as a four-day package or a single-day upgrade. Both include:

• a private vehicle and a dedicated camp guide
• a private photographic guide
• a daily one-hour editing session

The photographic safaris are available on request, subject to availability, and cannot be combined with other offers.

Activities on offer:

• Morning and afternoon game drives
• Guided walking safaris (16 years and over)
• Photographic and cinematography safaris (on request)
• Birdwatching
• Stargazing

Child Friendly

Lion Camp welcomes children aged 7 and over. Younger children can stay only when the whole camp is booked exclusively. Walking safaris are limited to guests aged 16 and up.

The lodge is raised on walkways and unfenced, with wildlife moving freely through it, so it best suits older children who are happy to follow bush rules. For families, the Ebony Family Suite is the natural choice, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shared lounge.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Lion Camp open, and when is the best time to go?

The camp opens for the dry season only, from 21 May to 31 October. May and June are green, cool and quieter, with prolific birdlife. From mid-June the bush dries and game moves towards permanent water. September and October are the hottest, driest months, bringing the biggest herds, the most predator action and lagoon fishing parties at their peak.

How do you get to Lion Camp?

Fly into Lusaka, then take a scheduled flight of about an hour to Mfuwe International Airport, the gateway to South Luangwa. From Mfuwe it is roughly three hours by road to the camp in the park's remote northern sector. Most of the drive runs through the national park, so the transfer doubles as your first game drive. Uyaphi arranges flights and transfers within your itinerary.

Is Lion Camp in a malaria area?

Yes. South Luangwa National Park, including the camp's northern sector, lies in a malaria area, and visiting during the May to October dry season does not remove the risk. See your doctor or a travel clinic about antimalarial medication before you travel. Pack long sleeves and insect repellent for evenings, when mosquitoes are most active.

Does Lion Camp accept children?

Yes, from age 7. Children under 7 can stay only if your party books the whole camp, and walking safaris are restricted to guests aged 16 and over. The lodge is raised on walkways and unfenced, with wildlife moving freely through it, so it suits older children happy to follow bush rules. The Ebony Family Suite links two bedrooms through a shared lounge.

What safari activities does Lion Camp offer?

Two guided activities a day are included: morning and afternoon game drives, or walking safaris led by a professional guide with a park game scout. A ground-level hide on site gives close-range photography. On request, resident filmmaker Darren Britz runs private photographic and cinematography safaris, with a private vehicle and a daily editing session. Birdwatching and stargazing round out the programme.

In Conclusion

Lion Camp is the pick for travellers who want South Luangwa at its wildest. It offers the remote north, the lion country the camp is named for, and a walking-safari heritage that runs straight back to Norman Carr.

Why go: game concentrates on the lagoon in front of camp as the dry season bites, and vehicles are few. The suites are properly comfortable without shutting out the bush.

When to go: June and July bring green-to-gold landscapes and crisp mornings. August to October brings the big dry-season gatherings and peak predator action.

How to go: fly Lusaka to Mfuwe, settle in for the three-hour drive north through the park, and give it at least three nights. The camp runs stay-longer offers through the season, and we will tell you which apply to your dates.

Uyaphi has been building Zambia safaris since 1999. That is 27 years of matching camps, seasons and flight connections to the people travelling. Tell us when you would like to go and who is coming, and we will build your itinerary around Lion Camp. You pay no booking fees and no credit card surcharges, and you get 24-hour support from the moment you land.