BAINES RIVER CAMP – LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

Baines River Lodge is set under Jackalberry and Tamarind trees on the banks of the Zambezi River in the unfenced wilderness of the Lower Zambezi Valley. Located within the Chiawa Game Management Area adjacent to the Lower Zambezi National Park, with traversing rights of over 5,500 square kilometres, the camp has magnificent views across the broad expanse of the Zambezi River to the Unesco World Heritage site of Mana Pools in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

The camp has 8 Explorer Suites and a Family Suite. Each luxurious, freestanding suite offers an atmosphere of elegance and privacy boasting spectacular views over the Zambezi River. The suites are equipped with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, minibars, personal safes, king-size beds and spacious bathrooms.

The location in the Lower Zambezi means you are never far from exceptional wildlife and river experiences. Activities include game drives and walks in the Lower Zambezi National Park and exploring the Zambezi River by motorboat and canoe. The Zambezi River is home to the iconic Tiger Fish and fishing is available seasonally on a catch and release basis.

LOCATION

Baines River Camp is located just outside the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. Daily charter flights are available from Lusaka, Livingstone and Mfuwe to Royal Airstrip and camp guides will collect you from the airstrip. It is then around a 40 minute game drive into camp.

CAMP

The camp has 8 Explorer Suites have spacious bedrooms with either king size or twin beds, a writing desk, leather occasional chair with footstool. The ensuite has a bath and dressing room with double basins, large walk-in shower and a separate toilet. Outside there is a river-facing veranda with a sofa, occasional chair and a coffee table.

Two of these Suites offer additional outside showers and are usually allocated to honeymooners or if you are celebrating a special event.

The Jackalberry Family Suite has two bedrooms, and the cottage is ideally suited to a young family or up to 3 adults. The main bedroom has a king sized bed, a walk in wardrobe and an ensuite bathroom. The children’s bedroom has twin beds, built-in cupboards and a separate bathroom. There is a river-facing veranda with sofa, 2 occasional chairs, coffee table and a 6-seater dining room table and chairs and inside is an open plan lounge and dining area with kitchenette.

General amenities in all suites include air-conditioning (operational during generator hours), ceiling fan in all bedrooms, coffee and tea making facilities, hairdryer, personal safe, luxury bathroom amenities, personal insect repellent, torch, whistle to attract the attention of a watchman in case of an emergency.

The camp’s main area is both spacious and luxurious and has two lounges, an indoor and outdoor dining and a bar which opens up to the swimming pool with river views.

More than 90% of the team at Baines’ River Camp originate from the greater Chiawa community. In the unfenced Zambezi Valley human-wildlife conflict has posed a severe threat to the local farmers with elephants, hippo and buffalo raiding crops on a frequent basis. In order to mitigate this loss, Baines’ River Camp has worked closely together with Chieftainess Chiyaba and put together a cooperative of 35 farmers and a team of international experts to create the first safe and sustainable local farming enterprise in the area. Ten hectares of uncultivated land in one of the villages was allocated for the benefit of this pilot project. The members of the cooperative worked the land whilst Baines’ River Camp engaged the services of the professional team, provided the materials for a solar powered electrified fence and the equipment to clear and prepare the land for the first crop. The Chimsambo-Mugurameno Cooperative Farm was a great success with a bumper crop of maize in its very first season and this has led to more farms with the same cooperative concept in the Chiawa Chiefdom.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

Game Drives – your best chance to see and photograph lions, leopard and large herds of buffalo is on a game drive in an open viewing vehicle. June – November is the best time to view game.

River Cruises – make for relaxed game viewing, photography and bird watching. You will be entertained by baboons, hippo, elephant, crocodiles, water buck and the occasional buffalo on the riverbanks and on the Zambezi’s various islands. The best time for river cruises is March – November.

Sunset cruises – make for a spectacular end to a day in the bush with a sundowner on the river. The best time for sunset cruises is March – December.

Tiger Fishing – anglers visit the Zambezi River to catch Tiger Fish. Please note that there is a strict catch and release policy. The best time for fishing is from September – November.

Canoe Safaris – give a totally different perspective to the African wilderness. Drift down the river with your experienced guide and watch the wildlife coming down to the river to drink. The best time for canoe safaris is from June – December.

Walking Safaris – are a superb way to get closer to Africa and see all the little things you might miss whilst on a game drive and will focus on tracks, vegetation, birds and butterflies. Walking is best suited to winter months from June – September.

BAINES RIVER CAMP IS CLOSED FROM DECEMBER THROUGH TO MARCH EVERY YEAR

THE CAMP WELCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 6 YEARS AND OLDER. PLEASE NOTE THAT CHILDREN HAVE TO BE 12 YEARS OR OLDER TO PARTICIPATE IN CANOE SAFARIS AND 14 YEARS OR OLDER FOR WALKING SAFARIS