KUYENDA BUSHCAMP – SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Kuyenda is a simple reed bushcamp set beneath shady trees by the dry Manzi River in the south of the park. With just 4 comfortable rooms it may be the simplest of African Bushcamps camps – but Kuyenda has lots of charm and character with its cluster of traditional thatched grass huts and back-to-nature feel.

The thatch and grass rooms overlook the plains around the camp and you can sit on your veranda or inside your room and watch wildlife or settle down in the lounge and look out over the rippling golden grasses swaying in the breeze.

Kuyenda’s intimate atmosphere is enhanced by the extraordinary couple who regularly run the camp – the ever-hospitable Babette Alfieri and Phil Berry who is one of Zambia’s most experienced guides. They know Kuyenda and the surrounding areas very well and will make you feel at home!

LOCATION

Kuyenda Bushcamp is located in the southern part of the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Access is via a flight from Lusaka which takes around an hour and 10 minutes. You are then driven 45 minutes to Mfuwe Lodge and then it is just over an hours’ drive south to camp.

CAMP

Kuyenda is a stunning but simple African bushcamp which is lovingly rebuilt each season. Your room is a simple but cosy grass rondavel (circular hut) complete with paraffin lanterns, swathes of mosquito netting and an open-air ensuite bathroom with a large ‘safari’ drum shower. From the panoramic windows you can look out onto the surrounding plains and the incredible game that frequently saunters through camp, day and night.

The main areas are also built of grass and thatch and are simple but comfortable with chairs and sofas and a dining area and a campfire is lit at night outside.

WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES

The South Luangwa is renowned for its wide diversity of habitats and high game density. With more than 60 different mammal species in the park, there is an abundance and diversity of wildlife and the survival of these animals depends on the meandering Luangwa River – crowded with hippos, crocodiles and wading waterfowl.

Elephants, baboons and vervet monkeys seem to be everywhere from the moment you enter the park. Antelopes, zebra and other plains game congregate on the open floodplains and grasslands along the River and its numerous tributaries. Large herds of buffalo roam the park, impala and puku are plentiful and there are plenty of waterbucks and bushbucks. The endemic Thornicroft’s giraffe is indigenous to the park, as are Crawshay’s zebra and Cookson’s Wildebeest. The South Luangwa is a superb area to see wild dogs with numerous resident packs.

Night drives are renowned for sighting lion and leopard (the density of leopards is among the highest in the world). And nocturnal animals like the honey badger, porcupine and civet are often seen by spotlight.

Birdwatching – is superb and with over 400 species of birds recorded you could easily see over 100 different species in a three day visit. Some particularly attractive ones include: Carmine Bee-eaters, Malachite Kingfishers, Lilac-breasted Rollers, Bateleur Eagles, Saddle-billed Storks, Crowned Cranes, Pel’s Fishing Owls and Fish Eagles.

Walking Safaris – the South Luangwa is the home of the walking safari and this is where it was first pioneered by Norman Carr back in the 1960s. To stride out on your own two feet is the only way to understand the wilderness and the guides will explain the secrets of the bush from teaching you how to track a leopard by identifying spoor and listening for tell-tale alarm calls, to explaining how to soothe insect bites with the juice of a sausage tree. If you have a particular interest in a specific area such as birding or local bushcraft then just let your safari guide know and he will tailor the walk accordingly. With every step there is something new to learn, a new bird or animal to spot and a new unforgettable experience.

Game Drives – are an ideal way to explore the different range of habitats in the area and there are game drives in the morning and evening – which normally return back to the camp after sundowners and a short night drive.

KUYENDA IS CLOSED FROM DECEMBER TO MAY EVERY YEAR

THE CAMP WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 12 YEARS AND OLDER. IF BOOKING THE WHOLE CAMP THEN UNDER 12’S ARE WELCOME. PLEASE NOTE THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON WALKING SAFARIS.