Chikunto Safaris

Highlights

• Unfenced setting inside South Luangwa National Park, overlooking the Luangwa River at the famous Big Bend
• Intimate boutique camp of just five luxury tented suites on raised decks
• Game drives, renowned walking safaris and seasonal boat safaris from one property
• Saltwater counter-current swimming pool overlooking an active onsite waterhole
• Excellent leopard and wild dog sightings, with Thorneycroft's giraffe endemic to the valley

You Should Know

• The camp is unfenced and wildlife moves freely through the property, so guests are escorted between tents and the main area after dark
• Chikunto opens in mid-February and closes in mid-November ahead of the rainy season
• Boat safaris are available from opening until late April or mid-May, water levels permitting
• Please enquire about the child policy before booking, as age restrictions apply on certain activities

The Details

Location

Chikunto sits inside South Luangwa National Park on a picturesque bend of the Luangwa River known as the Big Bend, flanked by rolling plains, plateaus and miombo woodland. It is a 50-minute game drive from the Mfuwe gate, which is in turn a 40-minute drive from Mfuwe airport and a one-hour flight from Lusaka.

South Luangwa is widely recognised as one of Africa's premier national parks. Experts have called it one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, with the concentration of game around the river and its oxbow lagoons among the most productive on the continent. The riverine forest stays green year-round, and the park is famous for leopard, large elephant herds, buffalo, sizeable pods of hippo, crocodile and the endemic Thorneycroft's giraffe.

Accommodation

The boutique, independent and eco-friendly lodge has five luxury tented suites plus two guide rooms. Each suite is accessed by wooden walkway from the central area and built on a raised deck with a private veranda over the Luangwa River. The suites are spacious and have been designed to balance privacy and a genuine connection to the bush with feelings of security and comfort.

Accommodation options include luxury double or twin tented suites, a luxury family tented suite, a deluxe twin suite and a deluxe combination suite with a private elevated sleep-out and stargazing platform.

Dining

The main central area is a large, airy thatched space with a discreetly luxurious lounge looking out over the onsite waterhole and the Luangwa River. Guests gather at the well-stocked bar with leather barstools, and at an open-air circular deck with a feature fire pit for pre-dinner drinks or an early-morning coffee before heading out on a game drive. Guests consistently single out the food as a highlight of their stay.

Activities

Activities follow the rhythm of the seasons. Traditional game drives run throughout the operating period, walking safaris draw on the South Luangwa tradition that effectively invented the format, and water-based boat safaris are offered from opening in mid-February until late April or mid-May, depending on water levels.

In front of the lounge, a saltwater counter-current swimming pool, unusual for South Luangwa, can be used for a cool-off or switched to its second setting for a permanent infinity-swim workout. The waterhole directly in front of the deck attracts a steady stream of wildlife as the dry season progresses, providing onsite game viewing, birdwatching and photographic opportunities without leaving camp. Starlink broadband is available in the main area for guests who want to share images or send an email.

Price Includes

• Accommodation in a luxury tented suite
• All meals
• Scheduled game drives in South Luangwa National Park
• Walking safaris with experienced guides
• Seasonal boat safaris, water levels permitting
• Use of the swimming pool, lounge and bar facilities
• Starlink Wi-Fi in the main area