Mwamba Bush Camp by Shenton Safaris is often combined with its sister camp Kaingo Camp, and ideal for those looking for a small and intimate, no-frills camp. Four traditional reed houses with large open-air bathrooms sit on the dry Mwamba River riverbed and offer simple but homely accommodation.

Each chalet takes its name from the tree under which it is located: ‘Fig', ‘Ebony', ‘Sausage' and the newer 'Gardenia'. The chalets have a covered terrace to the front with seating and a sofa/day bed. Clean solar energy powers light in each room and in the hotter months the fan provides cooling.

The main building (Chitenge) is an open area surrounded by reed walls, with a lounge corner, the bar and a large table where dinner can be served under the stars. A larger lounge was built on a raised deck from where guests can enjoy the view of the usually dry riverbed.

Located just 50 m from camp, a hide looks out onto a small waterhole, which attracts a variety of wildlife. Another Shenton feature is the lookout situated atop a termite mound close to camp - perfect for a sundowner or intimate dinner.

Mwamba Bush Camp is situated in the northern part of South Luangwa National Park, on the edge of the dry Mwamba River riverbed and 20 minutes drive from the Luangwa River and Kaingo Camp. Vehicle transfer time from Mfuwe Airport is approximately 3 hours.

The area between Kaingo Camp and Mwamba Camp is spectacularly beautiful with a highly varied terrain that supports a huge variety of wildlife. Animals can be seen at the river, in the lagoons (Fish Eagle and Pelican lagoons being the largest), on the dry, sweeping plains (Lion Plain, for example) and in the ebony and mopane woodlands. Derek Shenton's father was a park ranger here and he has passed on a rich wealth of knowledge to his son.

The game drive area covers the Fish Eagle Lagoon, a huge ebony forest, the largest open plain in the national park and, of course, the banks of the Luangwa River - such a highly varied terrain obviously supports a corresponding variety of wildlife. Together with hyena, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala and even the odd wild dog, two large lion prides and some ten leopard also make this region their home. South Luangwa is a birdwatchers paradise.

Large colonies of bee-eaters can be photographed on the banks of the Luangwa River throughout September and October.

Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra are unique to South Luangwa National Park.

The camp offers three activities per day: a game drive in an open 4x4 vehicle, a walk with an armed ranger and a night drive. Those who still have the energy can be driven out to one of the hides at midday and brought back to camp for lunch at about 13:30.

Guests may also wish to spend a night sleeping under the stars on a mattress and mosquito net. In the evening you are driven to the Numbu Star Bed and the adventure begins.

Transfer to Kaingo Camp can be made on foot. The walk takes around 3 hours (steady pace) and is tackled early due to the heat, particularly in October when temperatures soar. Luggage is taken on ahead by vehicle. The walk offers guests the possibility of encountering lion, elephant, hippo and buffalo.

Mwamba Camp was built by Derek Shenton. His father, Barry Shenton, played a huge role in Zambia, particularly in the founding of South Luangwa and Kafue National Parks.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
Dammstrasse 27
8702 Zollikon
Zurich, Switzerland


Telephone: +41 (0)44 451 40 51