Zambia Safari Fly-Camps
Walking safaris originated in Zambia and so it was only a matter of time before some of the best fly-camping options in Africa emerged in Zambia. From sleeping out on the open grasslands of Liuwa Plains to camping alongside the mighty Zambezi River and sleeping under the stars in the South Luangwa, there are plenty of options for the adventure traveler to Zambia.
Below are some of our favorite Zambian Fly Camp options.
Time &Tide South Luangwa Sleepout Safari
Time and Tide operate several lodges and camps throughout Zambia, including the South Luangwa National Park. They have taken the sleepout experience to the whole next level, getting guests back to basics and reconnecting with nature. From the camp in the South Luangwa, guests will generally leave camp on a walking safari, arriving at the dry riverbed setting of their Under the Stars experience.
Waiting onsite is your private chef who prepares your dinner on the open fire in front of you. The camp consists of a camping mattress on the sand covered by a mosquito net and there is a camp toilet nearby. Apart from that, it is all about kicking off your shoes, feeling the river sand under feet and enjoying this back to basics experience.
After dinner and drinks around the fire, retire to your bed and fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush calling around you. Being deep in the African bush, the stars are incredible as you lie in bed and look up, feeling a million miles from your normal life back home. This is an adventurous experience that is completely unique and will be something you remember for the rest of your life.
The rustic camp is located in a wide, dry riverbed and the scout and armed guide remain on lookout duty to ensure there are no animals lurking nearby. The following morning enjoy coffee and breakfast around the fire before heading back to the camp or lodge with your guide.
This is a private experience and so is perfect for the more adventurous couple looking for that once in a lifetime experience that will remain with them for many years to come. You can go to any park in Africa and see the wildlife, but it is these sorts of unique experiences that you will be telling your friends and family about for years to come.
Time & Tide Lower Zambezi Sleepout Safari
Guests staying at any of the Chongwe Camps or house have the opportunity to experience one of the most amazing wilderness sleepouts in Africa. Guests depart from the lodge in the Lower Zambezi National Park, after afternoon high tea and enjoying a game drive and sundowners in the bush. After the sun has set you continue your night drive in search of nocturnal game before heading up the escarpment to your elevated sleepout.
The camp is on the escarpment offering incredible views down to the Zambezi River and Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, and because this is private you feel you have the entire place to yourself. Waiting at the camp when you arrive is a chef who prepares dinner on the fire before serving it to you on the table and chairs under the stars. After some drinks and safari talk around the fire guests retire to their suspended tent under gauze so you can view the millions of stars above.
Your guide and game scout stay the night to keep watch on the camp and to ensure there are no animals creeping around. The following morning your guide will drive you back to the lodge in time for breakfast and your morning activity.
The following morning guests return to camp for breakfast and the morning activity. This is a very rustic experience but will the thing that you remember the most about your time in Africa.
Time & Tide Liuwa Plains Sleepout Safari
Possibly one of the remotest sleepouts in Africa, the Time and Tide Sleepout at Liuwa Plains National Park is something you will never forget. Liuwa consists of vast open grassy plains and so your sleepout will not have trees to break the horizon because of the location miles and miles from anywhere the stars will be some of the brightest you would have seen anywhere before.
Guests depart King Lewanika Camp after afternoon high tea and enjoy an afternoon game drive. After the game drive enjoys sundowners in the bush before going on a night drive in search of the nocturnal creatures of the grassy plains. You will arrive at the sleepout camp in time for dinner which has been prepared on the open fire by the chef. After dinner enjoy some drinks around the fire chatting about your Zambian safari experience before retiring to your unique suspended tent for the night.
The game scout and your guide spend the night keeping watch over the camp to ensure there are no animals creeping around. This is truly a wild experience as you are in the middle of the African grasslands with nothing but a mosquito net as protection. Listening to the lions roar or the hyenas laughing as you drift off to sleep will be the memories you take back home with you and the stories you tell your friends and family for years to come.
Kutali Camp
Located in the eastern side of the Lower Zambezi on Kulefu Island is Kutali Camp, one of our favourite camps and experiences in Africa. This is how all safaris should be done. Simple tents with comfy beds, a bucket shower under the stars, cold drinks in the fridge, fantastic home cooked food and safari stories around the fire.
Set in amongst the famous Winter-thorn forests of the Lower Zambezi, the camp has these unique canvas and mosquito net tents with gauze for walls. This means that you have almost 360degree views from the comfort of your bed. Attached to the tent is an open air ensuite bathroom with flush toilet and bucket shower.
This is a fly-camp with the focus on walking and canoeing safaris and is all about sitting around the campfire at night chatting about your wildlife experiences from the day and this is exactly why we love this camp (and their sister camp Chula Camp – see below). It is owner run and operated and is how all safaris should be done.
Chula Camp
Slightly upstream from Kutali is Chula Camp, but still in the quieter eastern side of the Lower Zambezi National Park. The camp is situated amongst Natal Mahogany trees and overlooking a lagoon and floodplain just off from the main Zambezi River.
With just 4 tents and a maximum of 8 guests, Chula Camp is all about the wilderness experience. With cold drinks in the fridge and incredible home cooked food, guests staying at Chula Camp are here for the real safari experience. The focus is on the walking and canoeing and sitting around the campfire under the stars with the lions roaring in the distance. This is how all safaris should be done and is why this is one of our favourite camps in Africa.
The tents are large canvas and gauze with almost 360degree views of the river and floodplain beyond. The ensuite bathroom is open air and is attached to the tent. The bucket shower is filled every night so guests can enjoy a hot shower under the stars.
This is truly an adventurous camp but will be the experience you remember for many years to come.
