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Mwamba Bush Camp

  • Adventurous little camp in the South Luangwa’s northern region
  • Just four chalets with skylights for amazing views
  • Dining and bar area, close to waterhole
  • Excellent game drives, walking safari, loads of hides!
When To Visit South Luangwa National Park:
When To Visit South Luangwa National Park:
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"The rustic little sister to Kaingo Camp, Mwamba Bush Camp has a hide that's considered one of the most productive photographic hides in the valley."

OVERVIEW:

All in all, this is a great little camp for travelers who like the authentic safari experience, with an emphasis on wildlife photography. Like Kaingo, Mwamba Bush Camp is both owned and operated by the Shentons, with Derek’s passion for authenticity on safari in evidence all through the camp. 

ACCESS & LOCATION: 

It is positioned among enormous ebony trees a short distance from River Mwamba, a tributary of the Luangwa.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT MWAMBA BUSH CAMP: 

The main area of camp consists of a dining space and bar in the shade of trees and amid sprawling python vines. There are great views out to waterholes, which are particularly popular with elephant! Not far from camp, an immense termite mound forms a spectacular natural setting for sundowners, with its vistas of wildlife roaming the park. Guests also enjoy sitting around the campfire, swapping stories.

There are just four chalets at Mwamba Bush Camp, accommodating a maximum number of eight people. All are situated in the shade of sausage trees and constructed from reed and thatch, with two skylights each for guests to observe the stars and to feel part of the nightlife that includes owls, bats, hyenas and cicadas. As the camp uses solar power, there is no interruption to the sounds of the bush all night long and during the dawn chorus. Each chalet boasts an outdoors en-suite bathroom, featuring flush toilet, basin and hot bucket shower.

ACTIVITIES AT MWAMBA BUSH CAMP:

  • Mwamba’s activities are all about the animals, appropriate for the camp’s location in one of the best parks in Africa! Lion, buffalo, eland and Cookson’s wildebeest are especially prevalent here.
  • Game drives take place three times daily – early morning, mid-day, and afternoon/evening.
  • Walking safari is popular too, focusing on Lion Plain and Eland Plain in addition to the mopane woods along the river. And, as at Kaingo, Derek Shenton’s hideaways provide fantastic opportunities to get up close to wildlife and to take some impressive photos.
  • Guests are truly spoilt for choice here, enjoying Hippo Hide, Elephant Hide, Carmine Bee-eater Hide and Last Waterhole Hide – and occasional mobile hides too!

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.

Elephants, Mwamba Camp, South Luangwa NP, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park

TrustScore 5 / 5 1 reviews

Paul Weiss, 26 August

TrustScore 5 stars

I visited Mwamba Camp for 5 days following a 10 day safari in Botswana. Despite the significantly late arrival of my flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe, the driver was there to pick me up and bring me to camp. Arriving as late as I did meant it was dark and past dinner time for the other guests, however I had a delicious hot meal and a much needed drink waiting for my upon my arrival. The next morning, I woke up to discover the camp. It’s got everything you need without being overstated. A firepit for the cooler mornings and evenings, a couple eating areas, a welcoming bar and a comfortable area to lounge. The “tents” were perfect as well. Comfy bed with surrounding netting, plenty of outlets for charging camera gear and laptop (even outside on the patio), comfortable desk space for culling through the thousands of photos taken and a perfect outside bathroom that was completely private but still gave that outdoor feel. The hosts Lester and Val made everyone feel comfortable and welcome. The food was plentiful and delicious and the support staff was quietly there behind the scenes making everything work perfectly. Lastly, I can’t say enough about my amazing guide Chapuma. Not only a great tracker and spotter for the wildlife, he also knew how to position me in good lighting and find the perfect hole in the bushes for me to get good photos, but he has incredible encyclopedic knowledge of the natural history of the area and enjoys teaching to those willing to learn. It was a pleasure spending many hours in the vehicle with him. I enjoyed his upbeat attitude, his slow and understandable manner of speaking, and his comfortable communication style. I also appreciate that Shenton Safaris will allow no more than 4 people in a vehicle meaning photographers should get a row all to themselves. My time at Mwamba was amazing. I highly recommend it, and I look forward to returning to Africa to see more.

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