CHUNDUKWA RIVER LODGE – LIVINGSTONE

Chundukwas River Lodge is a boutique bush lodge located half an hour’s drive from Livingstone overlooking the Zambezi River. The lodge has just five river-facing chalets – which are open-fronted for a greater connection with nature – and one riverside family cottage. You’ll hear hippos grunting every evening before they come onto the property to graze the lawns behind the chalets.

Come here to retreat, relax, recover, horse-ride, bird-watch, cruise on the Zambezi, explore the Victoria Falls and try some of the adventure and safari activities in the area. The lodge has been family owned and run for over 50 years and is connected with the environment and the local people, their tribal language and traditions. The lodge is family friendly and has riding stables with horses for all abilities, and a child-friendly farmyard with animals.

LOCATION

Chundukwa River Lodge is located half an hour’s drive from Livingstone 36km upstream from Victoria Falls in Zambia.

LODGE

There are just 5 river-facing stilted chalets and a family house all individually decorated – their focus being on the unique open-fronted layout offering breath-taking views over the Zambezi.

The ensuite river chalets are built on stilts over the Zambezi River – each with their own sense of luxury, romantic charm and privacy. Two chalets are superb honeymoon suites and one (Jacana River Chalet) is large enough to fit two extra beds for families.

Chundu Cottage is a completely private, stand alone, family-friendly, thatched home overlooking the Zambezi River with its own small team of chef, waiter and housekeeper. The cottage sleeps up to 6 people and includes one king/twin bedroom with ensuite shower and double basins, a second king/twin bedroom and an upstairs loft space that sleeps two. The loft space and second bedroom share a separate bathroom with double basins, a private toilet and a shower with a skylight roof. An open-plan lounge and kitchen area opens onto a covered veranda and adjoining deck extending to a plunge pool. The deck is fenced so little ones can’t wander into the swimming pool or down to the river. There are fireside chairs and a picnic table on the bank of the river for dining under the stars.

The main lodge has a thatched open-plan lounge and dining area with ceiling fans for the hotter months. It is divided into 2 spaces: a lounge with comfortable couches, good lighting, a telescope, binoculars, and a variety of reference books and novels for guests to use and enjoy; and a dining area with a water-refill point, tea and coffee station and the lodge’s bottomless cookie jars!

The lounge area overlooks the Zambezi River and there is an open-air deck over the river with comfy couches and loungers where you can enjoy beautiful views of the river – all day long. By night the patio and deck are transformed with candles, solar lights, and a cosy fire, creating a beautifully romantic dining area under the stars.

The river chalets sit between two bodies of water with the river in front and a system of waterways behind which offer an experience in themselves. Meander around the dams, sit on a bench and soak up the sun, or watch birds. Over a 100 species have been spotted on the property… The gardens have been manicured around the existing indigenous vegetation, creating a truly beautiful natural space for you to enjoy. This is a perfect place to put your feet up, bird watch, do yoga, meditate, paint or snooze or you can follow the ‘waterway meander’ where you might be lucky to discover Cape Clawless Otters playing in the early mornings or Monitor Lizards basking in the midday sun.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

Boating – the Zambezi River is 2,574 km long and it flows through Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and into the Indian Ocean. It feeds and nourishes both people and wildlife along its banks. Sunrise and sunset cruises are a perfect way to relax and enjoy one of Africa’s finest waterways. A great opportunity for photography, bird watching, game viewing. One Sunset cruise is always included in your stay.

Swimming – the rock plunge pool is fantastic to cool off in the hot months and warm up as it is heated in the cold months.

Bush walks or bike rides – are available through the farm and riverine forest or enjoy a morning run along the river accompanied by one of our guides.

Horse Riding – the lodge offers various rides from short hour and a half rides to half day and multi-day bespoke rides along the Zambezi River and there is also a large stable yard with horses for all levels of riders in the stables.

Owner Doug set up Ride Zambezi Horse Trails and loves nothing more than to guide groups on horseback safaris. When he is not guiding tours, Doug spends his time rehabilitating and training mainly thoroughbreds off the track for Polo Crosse and trails. Doug is a Zambian National Polo Crosse Coach and has coached for the World Cup and the American Inbound Tour to Zambia.

Farmyard – a great opportunity for kids to feed carrots to the horses and donkeys and all the other animals that live there.

Birdwatching – Zambia is one of Africa’s top destinations for birding with over 750 bird species recorded of which nearly 120 are not found south of the Zambezi River. Chundukwa’s location on the banks of the Zambezi provides ample opportunity for you to spot some of the unique bird species even if you never leave the lodge. Over 180 species of birds have been spotted from the lodge from giant kingfishers and thick-billed weavers nesting in the trees outside the chalets and around the lagoons to Livingstone turacos and the rare and elusive African finfoot which are seen daily in the gardens.

The lodge’s inclusive packages include a sunrise or sunset boat cruise which offer great opportunities for birdwatching. Early mornings and late afternoons are good for birders to explore the pathways around the lagoons in the lodge grounds. The lodge can also arrange special land and water birding expeditions with an expert local birding guide.

There is a huge variety of activities available in and around Livingstone and you can book activities directly at the lodge when you arrive.

CHUNDUKWA RIVER LODGE IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

FAMILIES CHILDREN AGED 10 YEARS AND OLDER ARE WELCOME IN THE RIVER CHALETS AND YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO STAY AT THE FAMILY FRIENDLY CHUNDU COTTAGE