Mpala Jena is an exquisite and exclusive canvas tented camp. Its three luxurious and generous guest tents have been elegantly positioned under the dappled shade of indigenous sausage trees, rain trees and water berry trees. Each tent has a lounge area with a desk, en-suite bathroom which include a bathtub, indoor shower, separate loo and double basins. The verandah in front of the tent leads to a private outdoor shower with views of the Zambezi River.

The main area includes the restaurant, bar and lounge area. In front, a sandy beach extends to the shore of the Zambezi, a wonderful place to enjoy the sunset in the evening by the fire pit with a drink in your hand. Just around the corner and well screened off is the swimming pool with its own pool lounge and sun loungers.

Mpala Jena is located in a private concession within the Zambezi National Park, overlooking a beautiful stretch of the Zambezi River shoreline. The property is conveniently located 16 kilometers inside the National Park which makes for easy access to Victoria Falls (approx. 80 minutes road or boat transfer).

The Zambezi River rises in north-western Zambia and crosses several African countries on its 2700 km journey to the Indian Ocean. The river also forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. At Victoria Falls, the water falls for more than 100m into Batoka Gorge, over a width of nearly two kilometers. The falls are called 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' or 'the Smoke that Thunders', as the spray can be seen from miles away and, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge.

According to the local park rangers from back in the days, there had been regular sightings of a ghost-like albino impala along this stretch of the park. The camp was named after a natural spring line, Mpala Jena („white impala“), which runs through the centre of the concession and attracts an abundance of wildlife, particularly during the drier months.

Zambezi National Park has a healthy and ever increasing number of wildlife species, with higher concentrations of buffalo and elephant during the dry months (June - October). This area is particularly good for bird watching throughout the year, especially during rainy season (November - April).

Early morning and late afternoon game drives in open vehicle, guided walks, boat trips on the Zambezi (water levels permitting). Excursions to Victoria Falls to visit the famous water falls can be organized by the camp and are extra.

Different times of the year will provide completely different experiences of the Falls region. Peak flood season starts in April when the full power of the Falls can be experienced in all its glory. Due to the masses of spray rising from the fallen water, the full width of the Falls cannot be seen on foot. The aerial view at this time is spectacular, with clouds of spray rising high into the sky.

As the floods abate the view of the Falls gets better and better through the year, but at it’s lowest, around November and December the Falls become little rivulets running over the edge and in some places along the 1,7km width, no water falls at all. At this time of the year the falls can be visited on foot from the Zambian side. Visitors can actually walk on top of the falls ... there are also boats that take you to Livingstone Island from where visitors swim to Devil's Pool, a little pool located right on the edge of the falling water.

At the time of low water, white water rafting in the Batoka Gorge becomes impossible in some places as the rapids become too dangerous. Should you wish to do whiter water rafting, it is usually best to visit from August to December.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
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