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“Best in Africa” multi-award winning hospitality and guiding - the family owned and operated Chiawa Camp is the original and authentic Lower Zambezi National Park safari.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Chiawa Camp was re-built and has beautiful cabins and lodge architecture. The staff was wonderful with excellent guides. A new chef was turning out an excellent menu. This was full-on five star lodge with thoughtful supplies in the rooms, wonderful canoeing in a long shallow channel that kept out most of the crocodiles and hippos, and a nice walking safari with spoonbills and respectful elephants. The transportation on the river from Jeki airport is itself a scenic tour. The bird sightings are amazing with Giant Herons and storks. You should bring binoculars and would need a telephoto if you want to do animal photography.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Aug 28, 2024
Thank you for your review. Sunrise from camp, over the campfire, are part of what safari is all about.
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We had the absolute best time at Chiawa Camp. Everything about this place is truly magical. The rooms are beautiful, the food was DELICIOUS, and most of all, the staff was incredible. Juliette is so beyond sweet and all of the staff were so incredibly thoughtful and kind. They surprised us with different locations for our meals each day and really went out of their way to make sure that any and every possible need or want was met. The service was truly top tier and they were all such a delight. We had a few guides during our stay and especially enjoyed Sam and Nicholas, but ALL of them were excellent at spotting animals and knowledgeable! The range of activities offered at this camp is also incredible; from game drives to boat safaris to walking safaris to fishing, they have thought of everything at Chiawa! The boat ride up to camp from the air strip was a really fun way to arrive, and some of the guides as well as Simon gave us mini astronomy lessons under the spectacular night sky. Finally, the wildlife viewing at Chiawa is incredible. Before we even got away from the airstrip on arrival, our guide heard the alarm calls from impala and was able to find a lion and lioness, as well elephants and zebra. When we arrived at camp, we were forced to enter the back way because elephants were in the middle of camp, something that would become a common occurrence over our 4 day stay. When we saw lions feeding on a previous kill, Nicholas was exceptionally impressive with being able to explain exactly where and how the kill likely happened. Our night drives were also especially active, and we were able to see leopards stalking prey two nights in a row, as well as a herd of 100 buffalo. We also saw tons of hippos and a lot of different lions as well. We absolutely LOVED our stay at Chiawa and HIGHLY recommend; everything from the accommodation to the staff to the wildlife is exceptional at this camp. Truly a special place.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Sep 12, 2024
What fantastic feedback, thank you so much, it means so much to read your wonderful memories of our camp, the team and the wildlife 🐘
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There can not be a more beautiful arrival at a lodge in Africa, than your arrival at Chiawa. You are met at the “airport” by a guide for a short drive to the Zambezi where you will take your boat the camp. Set right on the banks of the Zambezi, you will think you’ve arrived in heaven when you see Chiawa. We stayed in the Safari Suite which was completely private with every amenity you can think of, including a huge deck and a plunge pool. A very, very special treat. I had a look at the other newly rebuilt cabins, and they are gorgeous as well, all with beautiful views directly over the Zambezi.
Everything else at Chiawa lives up to your initial impression. The staff are all genuinely warm and friendly and delightful to visit with. The activities are fantastic. Our game drives with Moses were outstanding. We saw elephants, lions, impala, kudu, warthogs, buffalo, porcupines, genet, civit, and more birds than we could count. And we saw two bush pigs!!!! Wonderful sightings with the bush pig in full view close to the vehicle for several minutes.
Canoeing is not to be missed. There is nothing like gliding through a channel off the Zambezi with animals and birds coming down to drink as you pass by. Also, there are more special surprises in store for you than you can imagine, but I don’t want to spoil them for anyone who goes. We had another fantastic stay. (We’ve been here 5 times). Thanks to all of our old Chiawa friends Moses, Joshua, Simon, Boaz, Nobby, and our new friends as well.
For those with Covid concerns, Chiawa will put you at ease. It is very spread out with more than enough room for social distancing. Our temperature was taken when we arrived. Hand sanitizer was plentiful and the staff all wore masks. We were greeted with hand sanitizer after every game drives. All of the staff were also vaccinated. Africa is the place to be if you have Covid concerns. They have taken things really seriously and are waiting with open arms, socially distanced of course.
Thank you to all our Chiawa friends. We’ll be back.
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Date of stay: May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Jun 8, 2021
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and of course, not only for visiting us again but for traveling during such uncertain times. It was our pleasure to welcome you back and help you enjoy the gorgeous Lower Zambezi National Park as much as ever, whilst keeping you safe from this unwelcome virus. We look forward to welcoming you back in hopefully not too long from now.
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Luxury tented accommodation (including hot water and wifi), excellent food and the most friendly, welcoming and accommodating staff - all in one camp. Elephant sightings were abundant, including within the camp itself! Lions, leopards and hyenas were seen up close, but for us the sighting of a pangolin in the wild for the very first time was special. We took advantage of the many varied activities on offer including game drives, animal hides, water, walking and night safaris. Varied dining locations - such as silver service lunchtime cruises and bush barbecues also kept things interesting. We would highly recommend Chiawa Camp to anyone looking for a luxurious safari experience.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Sep 16, 2024
Pangolin - wow. Thank you for sharing your review and recommendation of Chiawa Camp and our fantastic team 🙏🐘
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I enjoyed my stay here. The staff couldn't have been kinder or more helpful. The food was just superb at every meal.
The game viewing was excellent as well. I saw plenty of lions, leopards, and elephants. I also saw so many hippos in the river, Chiawa was in a beautiful location on the river.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Sep 3, 2024
Thank you, delighted you enjoyed your safari with us and perhaps one day you’ll return 🐘
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Our family of 4 spent 3 nights / 4 days at Chiawa Camp and had an absolutely amazing time. We can not recommend Chiawa Camp enough! We stayed in the Safari Suite which was well appointed and huge with an oversized outdoor deck, plunge pool, and separate fire pit. What a welcome after the hour boat ride from the Jeki airport on the Zambezi river watching all the elephants, crocodiles, and hippos along the way. Lyson our boat driver was awesome. Our welcome to the camp started with greetings from staff. Such a wonderful welcome to what would become a magical stay. The wonderful meals served, the welcoming and helpful staff (Simon, Juliette, Immaculate), and our game drive drivers and trackers (Moses, Sam, Nicholas, Tiff). We can not thank you all enough for all that you did for our family from the lunch meals on the river to the all camp night time dinner in the dried riverbed to the special birthday dinner and gathering in our suite. You all have become part of our family and we thank you for sharing your love and passion of the lower Zambezi National Park. Chiawa Camp is a special place, with special people and special wildlife! We will definitely be coming back.
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Date of stay: June 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Aug 28, 2024
… and we hope to welcome you back soon. Thank you so much for sharing. 🐘
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This camp defines luxury in the bush. The service, food and wildlife sightings are 5 star. Simon the manager is always there to make sure you are taken care of. The guides are the best in the business. Each meal featured 4 courses and always were serviced in a special, romantic spot. We had a meal during a private boat cruise and several in a private location that overlooks the river. Not only were we treated to their normal 5 star service, but because there were only 4 of us there two of the nights and just the 2 of us the final night, we had the staff completely to ourselves, tending to all of our needs. The wildlife around the camps is amazing. Elephants are regularly coming in to camp along with warthogs, etc. Don't let COVID scare you away. Everyone on staff is vaccinated and being in the bush is the safest place you can be! Plus there are very few tourists traveling there now so all of your meals and game drives are done in private. Now is the time to experience Zambia and Chiawa needs to be part of your itinerary!
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Date of stay: August 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After visiting Mana Pools early this year, I was very interested to compare the experience with Lower Zambezi on the other side of the river.
We picked Chiawa owing to its reputation for walking safaris and were not disappointed. The history of the camp, and the fact it is owned by the local family founders, was also a factor.
The camp itself is fabulous, and were treated to a behind the scenes tour which showed what's needed to deliver such a top class experience - the river front is very much tip of the iceberg.
We also met a regular elephant visitor behind the kitchen, a bull that has lost the both tip of its tail and trunk to crocs. One of the best things about being in camp was relaxing on the room deck with elephants sloshing in the river just a few metres away.
Probably everything has been said about the quality of the food, guiding and facilities. There was literally nothing to find fault.
The highlight of the 3-night stay was the canoe trip on a side channel of the river. It felt very safe despite the proximity of hippos and crocs, and was a really magical way to get close to the birds and animals.
We walked as much as possible, guided by Moses and assistant Clement. If anything the walking here is even better than at Mana Pools - stunning Winterthorn and mahogany forests, with wildlife everywhere. As the lodges are concentrated on the river plain, which also has the best walking terrain, we saw occasional vehicles, but this did not detract from the experience.
While walking, we encountered lion and elephant multiple times, but always at a safe distance. I've walked in quite a lot of places around Africa, and can say this is amongst the best, with the perfect combo of water, tree cover, wildlife, guiding and outstanding camp.
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Date of stay: September 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Important to follow the guidelines on room escorts. As well as elephant, I had a buffalo directly...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Aug 28, 2024
So glad you enjoyed your walking safaris with us and we hope you will return before too long 🐘
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The camp is a must visit. The tent was spacious comfortable luxurious with delightful bathrooms miniature lounge and bedroom all facing the Zambezi. The food was fantastic and the entire service was just astounding. The staff are courteous knowledgeable friendly while somehow giving you space and privacy. And all this is before the game drives and boat cruises and what not. It made the experience unbeatable in as far as a safari experience is concerned. The game drives and boat cruises were expertly dispatched a superior understanding of animal and bird psychology that made for great close ups and handling of light for photography. The viewing is was mind blowing too , Fish Eagles carmines, leopards, lions, baby elephants with tending mothers, giant crocs, Cape Buffalo and so much more. The team made the camp feel like home in a paradise park.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:The tip for future travelers is “Go to Chiawa”
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sometimes it's just the little things you remember about your safari experience. At Chiawa, it was what the manager told me when we arrived. We were discussing our entire travel plans during my family's 15 days in Zambia and South Africa, with stays at 3 different safari lodges over 10 days. The manager said something to the effect of ... "I'm glad you started here first as this experience will be quite different from the other lodges you have booked." After looking back on our stay at Chiawa, she was spot on. Chiawa is like an old time safari experience. What made Chiawa unique and special compared to the other camps we stayed at is the overall feeling and vibes of the area.... waking up to a breathtaking sunrise over the Zambezi River, the remoteness of the camp and the feeling that you have the entire national park to yourself. The animal noises just outside your luxury tented camp was unique... no barbed wire separating the animals from you, no glass enclosed tents and no a/c. We were literally in the wilderness sleeping amongst the hippos and elephants. The guides and staff made our stay so special and the amount of animals during safari drives and canoe trips were off the charts. The nights are cool and comfortable but the late afternoon the heat can be a tad warm for some guests so check on the temperatures during dates that you are traveling. Chiawa does have a pool to cool off and each tent also has a small plunge pool . Overall wonderful experience and a great way to start our Africa experience.
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Date of stay: May 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Grant Cumings, Owner at Chiawa Camp
Responded Aug 28, 2024
Wow, your review takes the readers right to Chiawa Camp. Thank you 🐘
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thanks for your interest in what is the key ingredient to any successful safari.
Chiawa has an excellent guiding team, achieving a successful balance between safety, conservation and guest enjoyment. Unlike at many other camps at Chiawa the guides are not assigned to the guest but to the activity, so our guests are assured that the best guide for that activity will typically lead that activity. An independent panel of judges of safari experts from around the world (Safari Awards) voted them as the Best Guiding Team in Africa 2017.
Thanks for your questions. TIX (the new Safari Suite which opens June 1st 2017) will appeal primarily to couples (and families with younger kids) wanting more luxury, privacy and space. My recommendation is that for families with older teenage children, taking a second tent for them (keeping the Safari Suite for the parents!) would work better as although the bathroom is massive and luxurious it would be shared between the four of you. .
The interaction with wildlife at either of those 3 tents is equal although T9 perched on a ridge has a more expansive view.
Yes fishing is an option as a standard activity and tackle is included.
I'm sure you'll have a fantastic visit no matter which rooms you choose as the real magic at Chiawa lies in it's unique, personalized service.
Please ask if you have other questions. Thanks.
There are more places to choose from in the Lower Zambezi National Park area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
chiawa camp hotel lower zambezi national park
LOCATION
ZambiaLusaka ProvinceLower Zambezi National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
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