Built in 1989 by the Cumings family, Chiawa Camp was the first safari camp to be erected in Lower Zambezi National Park. The owner family has invested hugely in protecting wildlife and developing the park, and deserves every respect for their monumental effort. The camp has received numerous awards over the years for its excellent personal service, fantastic management and bespoke activities.

Chiawa offers eight tastefully designed en-suite rooms with views of the river. Nestled beneath shade-giving trees, each sits slightly elevated atop a wooden platform. The verandas invite guests to sit back and relax, disturbed only by the odd elephant strolling about to say hello. Room 9 (Safari Suite) differs from the others in that it offers more comfort and space and is situated a little way off atop a hillock with spectacular wide-reaching views of a dry valley and the nearby Zambezi River.

The two-storey main building consists of a lounge with bar, dining area, curio shop, pool with open fitness area and fire pit where breakfast is served. At Chiawa Camp, guests are not allowed to walk alone from their room to the main building during the day, as numerous elephants often roam the camp. Guests arrange pick-ups by radio.

Chiawa Camp is situated within Lower Zambezi National Park, which stretches 120 km along the Zambezi River and sits in the southeast of Zambia (4092 km²) opposite the Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe.

The camp is accessed by air from Lusaka to Jeki Airstrip in 40 minutes. A 50-minute boat transfer takes guests to the camp.

Chiawa's sister camp, Old Mondoro, is located further east.

The first thing guests see are the river-dwelling hippo and crocodile, followed by large game such as elephant and buffalo, which come to the river in great numbers to quench their thirst. Lion are once again strongly represented and leopard is often encountered. The escarpment leading to the country's interior acts as a natural barrier, keeping the animals close to the river.

Elephants frequently visit the camp, roaming freely in search of fallen husks and fruits from the surrounding trees (most particularly Winter Thorn aka Ana Tree fruit from August to October).

Giraffe are not present in the park and wild dog and cheetah are very rare.

The camp offers game drives in an open 4x4 vehicle, boat trips on the Zambezi, fishing (catch & release), canoe trips and walks. Canoe trips are something of a highlight and take place along a side channel where guests get to see hippo, crocodile, elephant and many other animals treating themselves to a drink.

Chiawa Camp prides itself on offering bespoke activities to suit guests' every wish. Guests are asked in the evening what activities they would like to do the next day and the camp organises them accordingly. Locations for lunch and evening meals differ by way of variety.

Chiawa Camp is easily combined with Old Mondoro Camp. Transfer between camps in a motorboat takes about an hour. The trip is very scenic with plenty of hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo and, of course, any number of birds lining the banks.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
Dammstrasse 27
8702 Zollikon
Zurich, Switzerland


Telephone: +41 (0)44 451 40 51