Proudly introducing Mchenja Bush Camp – our newest Zambian gem!
South Luangwa is Zambia’s premier national park and wildlife destination. It is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, covering 9,050 km2. The park is unfenced and bordered by a steep escarpment to the west and by the Luangwa River to the east. The Luangwa Valley lies at the tail end of the Great African Rift Valley, which extends 4,000 km all the way from the Red Sea down to the Pungwe River mouth in Mozambique. Listen to a lion calling in the distance and feel every sense awaken as you open your eyes in one of the wildest places on the planet.
Mchenja Bush Camp is a luxury safari retreat located in one of Zambia’s most renowned natural sanctuaries. Taking its name from its prime location, Mchenja (ebony) is a seasonal camp (20 May – 7 November) set under a canopy of Ebony trees along the banks of the Luangwa River. This enchanting accommodation provides you with all the modern amenities in an elegant and stylish tented camp overlooking a huge sweeping bend in the river.
Described as one of Zambia’s most luxurious and romantic bush getaways, guests spend sunny afternoons in the beautiful lounge which is built around one of the old, fallen ebony trees before enjoying a scrumptious lunch.
Relax next to the pool which overlooks the river while you wait for the excitement night brings. Watch as herds of elephants approach to drink from the plunge pool or cross the Luangwa River and big cats wander around the nearby ebony grove and lagoon in search of their next hunt.
Once the sun sets and the stars start twinkling, Mchenja kindles the spark with a romantic dinner served on the river bank or an exciting night-drive that will have your heart racing.
Picture-perfect Accommodation
Reconnect with nature and each other in a meaningful way on the ultimate family getaway. Iconic Africa recommends one of four sensational and diverse camps, to suit all travel styles. The camps have different opening times based on their seasonality. Time + Tide’s collection of South Luangwa camps offer an immersive, authentic experience that celebrates the wilderness and allows guests to experience the true Africa in a luxurious way. From opulent settings to natural elegance, the variety of camps suits all types of travellers.
Mchenja boasts four striking one bedroom luxury tented suites and one two bedroom family villa. These innovative octagonal luxury canvas accommodations are built on a raised platform shaded by canopies of ancient trees. Each chalet offers open-air en suit bathrooms with claw-foot baths and outdoor showers all with spectacular views integrating guests’ living spaces with nature. Soak off between game drives and unwind in the tub as you focus on the river meandering past you.
You will have an authentic safari experience in this grand wilderness without compromising on style, comfort and luxury. Rest your tired heads on the softest beds with large picture-windows for uninterrupted views.
The two bedroom, two bathroom family villa is the perfect retreat for couples, families and friends travelling together. Relax elevated high into the trees and the hippos below bellow and the elephants feed right outside your tent.
The minimum age of guests is 8 years old.
Mchenja is renowned for their luxury safari accommodation, excellent service, mouth-watering cuisine and most important, the wildlife sightings!
Sensational Game Viewing
South Luangwa National Park offers guests the opportunity to witness an unspoiled wilderness of soothing rivers, aged forests and open pans. This region promises excellent game viewing with world-class predator action, large herds of elephants, endemic species of fauna and flora, superb leopard sightings, wild dog and lions. Concentrations of game along the meandering Luangwa River and its lagoons are amongst the most intense in Africa. The river teems with hippo and crocodile and provides a lifeline for one of the greatest diversities of habitat and wildlife, supporting more than 60 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds. One of South Luangwa’s most exciting success stories is the resurgence of the African wild dog population. Over the past decade, numbers have strengthened considerably and today, although far from guaranteed, sightings of wild dog are common.
A Perfect Time to Visit
The African bushveld is spectacular all year round, each season bringing with it a special experience which cannot be seen at other times of the year. The ideal time to visit will depend on your interests and which camp you wish to stay at. The dry, winter season runs from May to September when temperatures drop to their lowest – still around 27˚C to 30˚C during the day – with cool mornings and evenings. May is the start of the ‘sleep-out’ season and when animals start to gather at lagoons. It’s also when all the camps in South Luangwa are open. By June you can expect the rare chance to see caracal or serval in and the crowned cranes start to come together in colonies. July is an excellent time for walking safaris as the weather is mild overnight and pleasantly warm during the days. August and September sees an increase in lion sightings and guests start to see the traditional elephant crossings of the Luangwa. The summer rains begin around October with storms building, lightning and thunder later in the month. By March, the rains begin to stop and April introduces the warm humid air again.
The Elite Safari Experience
It is the combination of viewing Africa’s raw power from the comfort and luxury of your open topped 4×4 game vehicle and then the return to your 5 Star luxury camp which has hurtled South Luangwa into the acclaimed status they now enjoy. Mchenja Camp, Nsolo Camp, Luwi Camp and Kakuli Camp all offer boutique luxury safari experiences which will leave you astonished that you are in Africa’s untamed wilderness.
Family Fun
Together, you can explore the beautiful African bush, come face-to-face with some of Africa’s most loved wildlife and spend quality time with family and friends. South Luangwa has activities to suit every guest’s wants and needs – from adrenaline rushes to blissful R&R time. To inspire Norman Carr’s love for Africa, nature and wildlife in the next generation, Time + Tide has tasked award-winning all-Zambian guiding teams with leading some of the most exciting bucket-list activities:
Day & Night Drives
There’s nothing to compare an encounter with African wildlife during both day and night drives to. South Luangwa’s excellent guides provide plenty of knowledge to enrich the experience and the escarpment and river bank ensures incomparable sightings.
Walking Safaris
Explore the untamed beauty of South Luangwa with our experienced guides at your side, sharing their knowledge of flora and fauna. Our world-class guides make every step thrilling, allowing you to become part of the landscape rather than a mere spectator.
Sleep-out
Feel the thrill of early explorers while camping out on the Luwi Riverbed with only wildlife and stars for company.
Why Mchenja?
- A wide variety of activities to keep children engaged
- Combine land and water experiences for the ultimate family getaway
- Situated on the banks of the Luangwa river with amazing views from all tented suites
- Extremely intimate with only 5 rooms
- The most luxurious bush camp and the only one to boast a pool
- Superb game-viewing, with leopards and lions sometimes wandering through the camp’s ebony grove in search of prey.
Getting There
There are a number of travel options getting to South Luangwa. We recommend a short 1 hour flight from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka. Alternatively, there are a number of other international flights from Windhoek, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Lilongwe and Kigali – all landing at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. From there it’s a short distance to Mfuwe domestic airport. • 2.5 hour game drive transfer from Mfuwe Airport.
The magic of the African bushveld touches all that visit it. To share this experience with your loved ones away from the distraction of “life” strengthens your bond and will forge unforgettable memories for life.
For further information and to plan your tailor-made Zambian safari, contact one of our safari experts.
