MUKAMBI SAFARI LODGE – KAFUE NATIONAL PARK

Mukambi Safari Lodge is centrally located in the park, right on the banks of the stunning Kafue River and is known as the Gateway to The Kafue National Park. The lodge is located just off the road from Lusaka making it an ideal stop over point into and out of the park.

The lodge is a thatched building with several decks overlooking the Kafue River and offers an infinity pool with views over the Kafue River. There is a choice of comfortable accommodation to choose from luxury safari tents to family chalets all with ensuite bathrooms and fabulous views of the river.

Wildlife often comes in around the lodge area – impalas, baboons, monkeys, elephants, hippos, even a small pride of lions.

We recommend visiting two or three lodges within the Kafue National Park to really appreciate the vastness and diversity of habitats and wildlife and Mukambi Lodge is ideal as s stopover before moving on to some of the more remote bush camps.

LOCATION

Mukambi Safari Lodge is located in the centre of the Kafue National Park in Zambia.

LODGE

Mukambi Safari Lodge has 3 different room types to choose from:

Chalets and Family Chalet – there are eight comfortable ensuite rondaval chalets for 2 guests and a family unit for 4 guests with ensuite bathroom, 24hrs electricity and hot water. Chalets come with either one queen size four-poster bed or two single four-poster beds. All beds made are up with cotton sheets, a duvet (extra blankets available) and mosquito nets.

The family chalet has two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with two single beds, a lounge for relaxation, 24hrs electricity and hot water and the bathroom comes with shower, toilet, basin and mirror.

All chalets are on a ridge and face the Kafue River with garden and bush in front up to the river’s edge.

Riverside Villa – the luxury family Riverside Villa has two large bedrooms (one with a queen-sized bed and the other with two single beds), both rooms have an ensuite with a shower, toilet and basin. The beds made up with cotton sheets, duvet (extra blankets available) and mosquito nets. The Villa has a fully furnished living room, an extensive wooden deck overlooking the Kafue River, 24hrs electricity and hot water. This accommodation is right on the banks of the river and ideal for families or a small group of friends travelling together.

Luxury Safari Tents – 4 luxury tents for two guests which have a private deck with comfy seating overlooking the Kafue River and each unit privately surrounded by natural riverine bush. Romantic mosquito nets surround luxurious box spring beds which are standard made up as king beds but can be made up as twins on request. The tents have an open bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin and a freestanding ball and claw bathtub is found on each deck. The furniture is made of recycled wood from old wooden Dhows and sliding glass doors provide spectacular views and light into the tents.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

The Kafue National Park is named after the Kafue River that runs through the park for over 250 km. It enters the park in the north east and forms Lake Itezhi-Tezhi. Other well-known rivers in the Kafue are the Lunga and Lufupa River which both feed into the Kafue River. The rivers and lake dominate the landscape in the northern and eastern part of the Kafue National Park.

The Kafue National Park is a unique area and one of the biggest national parks in Africa with many different habitats and a huge variety of mammals and birds. It is Zambia’s biggest and oldest national park and is easily accessed from both Lusaka and Livingstone. It is also one of the least visited parks – an untouched wilderness with a rich diversity of wildlife, stunning landscapes and unspoiled by mass tourism.

Wildlife viewing in the Kafue is diverse with large breeding herds of elephant and a good number of larger predators – among them several prides of lion, cheetah, leopard and wild dog. Other animals that you are likely to see are buffalo, zebra, hippo and various antelope species such as impala, puku, sable, hartebeest, bushbuck, roan and waterbuck.

The diversity of habitat makes Kafue National Park also one of the best locations in Africa for birding. The Kafue River, wetlands, savannah and woodland boast an impressive 478 of Zambia’s 733-recorded bird species. Among them African Wattled and Crowned Crane, Fish Eagle, Woolly-Necked Stork, Saddle Billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Ground Hornbill, African Fin Foot, Pel’s Owl, Purple-Crested Lourie and Chaplin’s Barbet amongst others.

Game Drive – the Lodge offers game drives daily at sunrise and the afternoon drive (partly a night drive) leaves at approximately 2 hours before sunset and drives are around 3.5 to 4 hours long. The game vehicles are located in the park which is a short boat trip across the Kafue River, so all game drives depart from within the park.

Walking Safaris – leave in the early morning hours after sunrise to avoid the heat of the day. The walks take place in the Kafue National Park itself and are approximately 3 hours. Your guide will talk you through everything Kafue has to offer that otherwise goes unnoticed, showing how the whole ecosystem works together to support the National Park. Walking safaris are not available due to the wet conditions and high grass from Dec to May.

Boat cruises – on the Kafue river can take place at any time and there is a scheduled Sunset Cruise each evening. The experience is relaxing as you drive slowly up the river giving you the chance to take in the surroundings, have sundowners and watch the sunset. You are likely to see hippos and crocodiles, wildlife coming down to drink from the river and a plethora of birds.

Fishing trips by boat – take place at any time of day and are approximately 2.5 hours long. While out on the river with your guide you can enjoy the surrounding nature while fishing. We supply basic equipment and bait to assist you on your way to catching one of the many fish found in this area, whether that be a silver barbell, a larger catfish or Kafue bream. Keen fishermen may like to consider bringing their own equipment.

MUKAMBI SAFARI LODGE IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

THE CAMPS WELCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ANY AGE AND CHILDREN CAN GO OUT ON GAME DRIVES WITH THEIR PARENTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHIDLREN AT ALL TIMES. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINIMUM AGE FOR WALKING SAFARIS IN ZAMBIA IS 12 YEARS AND OLDER.