POTATO BUSH CAMP – LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

Potato Bush Camp is an intimate family friendly camp in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park.

The Camp lies adjacent to its sister camp Sausage Tree Camp and has a stunning panoramic view overlooking the Zambezi River and escarpment. The camp is nestled under mahogany, sausage, winter thorn and acacia tortillas Trees which provide excellent shade and the camp has just three well-appointed canvas and rosewood safari tents and a 2-bedroom family tent.

Enjoy a variety of activities, superb guiding, exceptional wildlife viewing and a location that is perfect for family or small group of friends looking to have a private escape.

LOCATION

The camp is located on the banks of the Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. Access from Lusaka is by light aircraft taking around 30 minutes and from Mfuwe around 1 hour and 45 minutes.

CAMP

The 3 safari tents are extremely spacious and have ensuite bathrooms with twin showers, twin basins and a full size four-claw bathtub. Large rosewood folding doors lead onto a veranda which has a 2-person hammock and a private plunge pool and panoramic views over the Zambezi River.

Two of the luxury safari tents are furnished with king-size beds while the third safari tent is a twin. All beds are covered with large walk around four-poster mosquito nets and each fitted with a fan. 24-hour electricity is supplied to all rooms for charging batteries, cameras, and computers.

The two-bedroom family house is a massive 21m wide safari tent which offers a huge central living area and a dining and balcony area which divides the two bedrooms. Both bedrooms have their own ensuite bathrooms with twin showers, twin basins and large four-claw bathtubs with a view. There is a large plunge pool, fully stocked bar and fridge, private dining table. The house offers exclusive and private facilities for a family or party of 4 adults. Extra beds can be added in any of the rooms.

All guest rooms are serviced by Muchindas (Butlers) who look after guests from tea/coffee in bed at wake up in the morning to taking meal orders and arranging laundry.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

The Lower Zambezi National Park has a large variety of faunal species including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects, distributed in varying densities and in complex and diverse eco-systems.

During your stay in the Lower Zambezi you will have a very good chance of seeing the following large mammals: elephant, hippo, buffalo, waterbuck, zebra, impala, bushbuck and kudu. Of the carnivores, there are solid numbers of leopard, lion and hyena. Other commonly seen animals are wild dog, serval and the African wild cat. Smaller animals include the side striped jackal, dwarf, slender and banded mongoose, large spotted genet, civet, tree squirrel, honey badger, porcupine and aardvark.

These animals are widely dispersed during the wet season because there is plenty of water and forage. In the dry season they are largely concentrated along the valley floor, the banks of the river and islands in the Zambezi River.

Game drives are the most successful way to see a good variety of wildlife, both large and small. A larger area can be covered in a shorter time frame increasing the chance to find good game. The vehicles allow those ‘up close and personal’ experiences and the team of professional guides will ensure that it is not too close!

Night drives are the best way to experience nocturnal animals including leopard, genet, civet, porcupine and giant eagle owl. The big cats tend to be more active at night and you may find yourself following lions on the hunt. Your guide will also point out the constellations of the Southern night sky.

Potato Bush Camp supports Conservation Lower Zambezi, a non-governmental organisation which supports the Zambian Wildlife Authority and local communities to protect the wildlife and habitat of the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Walking Safaris – search for the smaller creatures, learn about the trees, the plants and examine the different tracks and signs. Walking was pioneered in Zambia and remains one of the few areas where this can be truly enjoyed.

Led by a professional walking guide and National Parks Wildlife Officer, walking is carried out in small groups. Taking advantage of the cooler morning temperatures, you will take a game drive from camp to an open area where the walk begins.

Canoeing – the Lower Zambezi is well known for its spectacular canoeing. As one of the few operators based inside the National Park, the camp is able to canoe guests down the most stunning section of the Zambezi – The Chifungulu Channel.

Led by a highly qualified canoe guide explore the banks of the river where game can be seen from a totally different perspective. Canoe trips vary in length however a one-hour canoe trip is a great prelude to an evening game drive.

No experience or particular strength is required – it is an effortless drift, as the flow of the Zambezi pushes the canoes along. This is a time to relax, listen to the sounds of the huge variety of bird-life and admire the beauty of the area.

Boat Cruises – scenic boat cruises are a very relaxing way to view the game that comes down to the river to drink and enjoy the unique water wildlife. Until the Zambezi River is explored by boat, it is impossible to truly appreciate the huge hippopotami pods and crocodile populations. If you are lucky you can watch elephant crossing the Zambezi – from Mana Pools National Park to the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Birding – there are approximately 500 species of birds in the Lower Zambezi National Park from waders to wattle eyes. Some of the birds that can be found in the area are saddle- billed stork, African skimmer, roufous bellied heron, bee-eaters, black crowned night heron, amathest sunbird and Jamsons Firefinch to name a few.

Fishing – the Zambezi River is host to some of the most spectacular fresh-water sport fishing in the world with Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus Latin for “striped river dog”) and Tilapia amongst others. Potato Bush Camp offers both spinning and fly fishing, both strictly catch and release in accordance with the principles of the National Park.

Fishing is successful all year round, however the warmer months (September – December) are definitely the best time to catch Tigerfish. This is the breeding season when the fish are more active, feeding more regularly and are far more aggressive. The water level is typically lower and the visibility at its very best.

POTATO BUSH CAMP IS CLOSED FROM DECEMBER THROUGH TO JUNE EVERY YEAR

THE CAMP WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 16 YEARS AND OLDER