Nkwali Camp

Highlights

• Walking safaris with Robin Pope Safaris guides – among the finest on-foot safaris in Zambia
• Leopards regularly spotted along the riverbank from camp
• Day and night drives in open-top Land Cruisers, with a window seat for every guest
• Boat safaris on the lagoons in the Emerald Season
• More than 450 bird species, with carmine bee-eaters nesting from September
• Open all year, just 40 minutes from Mfuwe Airport

Information

• Lodge type: Classic Bush Camp
• Location: East bank of the Luangwa River, facing South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 6 Thatched Chalets (1 double, 4 twin, 1 family/honeymoon suite)
• Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes – South Luangwa is a malaria area; take prophylaxis
• Getting there: 1 hr 30 min flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe (1 hr from Lilongwe), then a 40-minute road transfer to camp

Experience Wildlife Paradise At Nkwali Camp Along The Luangwa River!

Nkwali Camp sits on Robin Pope Safaris' private land on the east bank of the Luangwa River, looking straight across a magnificent meander into South Luangwa National Park. It is one of the most accessible camps in the valley: 40 minutes by road from Mfuwe Airport and open every month of the year. The wildlife doesn't wait for you to reach the park. Leopards patrol the far bank and are often seen from camp, while elephants drift through the ebony woodland and down to the lagoon to drink.

Robin Pope Safaris, a family company now marking 40 years of operating in Zambia, runs the camp, and the experience shows in the details. Robin and Jo Pope chose the site for its giant ebony tree, and the open-sided chitenge bar and lounge is built around it. Behind camp lies a private game-viewing area. Guests cross into the national park by boat or pontoon, or simply drive across the riverbed when the Luangwa drops to its lowest.

The camp is open year-round. The dry season, from late May to October, brings the most concentrated game, with July to September the peak months. The Emerald Season, from November to May, brings lush scenery, newborn animals, migrant birds and boat safaris on the brimming lagoons.

Rooms and Suites

Nkwali has just six chalets: one double, four twins and a family/honeymoon suite, each with an open front facing the Luangwa River. By day the entire front stays open to the view, and at night Constantia grill doors are drawn across to close the room. The chalets are built of blockwork with stone floors and tall thatched roofs, which keep them cool, and standalone fans help through the hottest months.

The bathrooms are wonderfully generous, with double basins and open-air showers under the enormous African sky. The family/honeymoon suite adds a second room without its own bathroom. Couples use it as a private day room, and families use it as a bedroom for children.

Cuisine and Wine

All meals and drinks are included at Nkwali Camp, from breakfast with a view over the river to dinner beneath the stars. Lunch is often accompanied by elephants or a resident hippo in the lagoon, and the well-stocked bar keeps the sundowners coming around the fire pit as the light fades over the park. The kitchen happily caters for most dietary requests with advance notice. The one exception is severe nut allergies, because the camp cannot guarantee a completely nut-free environment.

Facilities

Nkwali Camp's facilities are deliberately simple, and they all face the water:

• Open-sided chitenge bar and lounge, built around the camp's giant ebony tree
• Plunge pool in the main area overlooking the lagoon, where elephants often drink during the day
• Riverside dining and a fire pit for sundowners and stories
• Footbridge across the lagoon
• Wi-Fi in the main area only; limited cellphone reception
• Mains electricity with backup generator; universal plug points with USB outlets
• Standalone fans in every chalet
• Laundry service

Activities

Walking safaris and game drives are the heart of a stay, and both are included in the rate.

• Walking safaris: led by Robin Pope guides with an armed National Park scout, reading tracks, signs and the smaller details a vehicle drives past
• Day and night game drives: open-top Toyota Land Cruisers with a window seat for everyone and 360-degree views, continuing after dark with a spotlight
• Boat safaris: Emerald Season only, exploring the flooded lagoons for game and outstanding birding
• Kawaza Village and school visits: USD 35 per person, paid directly to the community
• Tribal Textiles and the local market: hand-painted, locally made textiles and souvenirs
• Wildlife Education Centre: a conservation trust for Luangwa schoolchildren (extra cost)
• Private guide and vehicle, and mobile spa treatments: available at extra cost

South Luangwa is one of Africa's richest wildlife areas. Lion, leopard, spotted hyena and wild dog hunt among large herds of buffalo, elephant, puku and impala. Three regional specials are found here: Thornicroft's giraffe, Crawshay's zebra and Cookson's wildebeest. Birders can expect more than 450 species. The Emerald Season brings the migrants, and from September carmine bee-eaters nest in the sandbanks of the Luangwa, often within sight of Nkwali Camp's riverbank.

Nkwali Camp – Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Nkwali Camp and how do you get there?

Nkwali sits on the east bank of the Luangwa River in eastern Zambia, on Robin Pope Safaris' private land facing South Luangwa National Park, about 5 km south of the main Mfuwe Bridge gate. Guests fly to Mfuwe Airport, which is 1 hour 30 minutes from Lusaka with Proflight or 1 hour from Lilongwe in Malawi. From Mfuwe it is a 40-minute road transfer to camp.

Is Nkwali Camp inside South Luangwa National Park?

No. Nkwali lies just outside South Luangwa National Park, across the Luangwa River from the park boundary, and that works in guests' favour. Leopards and elephants are regularly seen from camp, and there is a private game-viewing area behind it. Vehicles cross into the park all year by boat or pontoon, or drive straight over the riverbed when the river is at its lowest.

What activities are offered at Nkwali Camp?

Nkwali's rates include walking safaris led by a guide and an armed National Park scout, plus day and night drives in open-top Land Cruisers where every guest has a window seat. Boat safaris run on the lagoons in the Emerald Season only. Kawaza Village visits cost USD 35 per person, paid to the community. A private guide and vehicle and spa treatments are also available at extra cost.

When is the best time to visit Nkwali Camp?

Nkwali is open all year. July to September is peak season, when thinning bush and shrinking water push game towards the Luangwa River and sightings are superb. Late May, June and October are shoulder season, with excellent game and lower rates. The Emerald Season, November to May, brings green landscapes, newborn animals, migrant birds, boat safaris and the year's lowest prices.

Is Nkwali Camp suitable for children?

Nkwali welcomes children over 7, and younger children can be accommodated when the camp is booked exclusively. The family/honeymoon suite has an en-suite master bedroom plus a second room for children. Robin Pope Safaris offers children's rates and a complimentary stay for a second child under 16. Families can still choose between walks and game drives, subject to the guides' age guidelines.

Is there malaria at Nkwali Camp?

Yes. Nkwali lies in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, which is a malaria area, and Robin Pope Safaris recommends that all visitors take antimalarial prophylaxis after consulting their doctor. Beds are draped in mosquito nets. Long sleeves and insect repellent after dark add sensible extra protection, particularly during the wetter Emerald Season months from November onwards.

In conclusion

Nkwali Camp is the perfect place to begin a Zambian safari. It is 40 minutes from Mfuwe Airport, open every month of the year, and faces some of Africa's finest leopard country across a single bend of the Luangwa River.

Why choose it? Six open-fronted chalets keep it intimate, the walks and night drives are led by guides from a company with 40 years in Zambia, and the wildlife comes to you: elephants at the lagoon, leopards on the far bank and hippos below the deck. It is the classic South Luangwa bush camp, run with real warmth.

How to do it: fly Lusaka or Lilongwe to Mfuwe and spend two or three nights at Nkwali. Then move on to one of Robin Pope's walking camps, Tena Tena or Nsefu, further up the Luangwa for a 3–7 night valley safari. When to go: July to October for peak game, or the Emerald Season from November to May for green landscapes, boating and rates around 30% below peak.

Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. That is 27 years, nearly three decades, of matching camps, seasons and flight connections across Zambia and beyond. We'll build your Nkwali stay into the right itinerary, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Start planning your South Luangwa safari.