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Lodge · South Luangwa
Kafunta River Lodge
The lodge's central feature is a spacious bar and dining area, traditionally thatched and built around a semi-evergreen wild mango tree, offering stunning panoramic views of the Luangwa River and the national park. Exceptional game viewing and bird watching can be enjoyed right from the lodge.
From $710 per person sharing, per night
Lodge · South Luangwa
Kafunta River Lodge
From $710 per person sharing, per night
Enquire nowThe lodge's central feature is a spacious bar and dining area, traditionally thatched and built around a semi-evergreen wild mango tree, offering stunning panoramic views of the Luangwa River and the national park. Exceptional game viewing and bird watching can be enjoyed right from the lodge.
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Kafunta River Lodge
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Kafunta River Lodge
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About the lodge
An overview of Kafunta River Lodge.
The lodge's central feature is a spacious bar and dining area, traditionally thatched and built around a semi-evergreen wild mango tree, offering stunning panoramic views of the Luangwa River and the national park. Exceptional game viewing and bird watching can be enjoyed right from the lodge.
Highlights
- Two game viewing activities per day
- Night game drives with sundowners
- Walking safaris in the South Luangwa bush
- Photographic hide, under the dining deck facing the floodplains
- Cultural visits to the Mfuwe Village Visitor Centre
You Should Know
The minimum age is 6 years (younger children on request only).
The Detail
Next to the bar, guests can unwind in the only natural hot spring tub in the Luangwa Valley or the refreshing infinity pool, both offering magnificent views over the floodplains. The hot tub, unique to the region, maintains a constant 38-degree temperature, sourced from Kafunta’s grounds.
Kafunta Lodge offers a variety of activities, including game drives (morning, afternoon, and night), bush walks, village and cultural tours, and a wellness spa. Added in late 2023, The Sunset House, a private tented villa with three en-suite bedrooms, caters perfectly to families or small groups seeking a more secluded and flexible lodging experience.
Accommodation
Kafunta River Lodge offers a variety of accommodation options to suit different preferences and needs.
The Kafunta Standard Chalet includes eight twin-bedded rooms, each featuring an en-suite bathroom, a minibar fridge, a ceiling fan, and a private verandah with stunning views of the floodplains.
A more secluded experience is offered by the Kafunta Luxury Suite. These two suites are located further from the main dining area and each features a ground-floor double bed. The suites include a large bathroom with a shower, a separate standalone bath, a viewing deck, and an additional upstairs deck that overlooks the floodplains. These suites can accommodate a family of up to four and are available for a small additional fee.
Additionally, Kafunta River Lodge operates two remote camps:
Island Bush Camp
A satellite bush camp positioned further south on the banks of the Luangwa River, Island Bush Camp offers a more intimate connection with nature.
Three Rivers Camp
The newest addition to Kafunta Safaris, opened in 2017, Three Rivers Camp features five sophisticated tents, each with its own sleep-out deck.
Dining
Dining is a delightful experience tailored to enhance your stay. Guests can start their day with a light breakfast before embarking on morning activities or enjoy a cooked breakfast if they choose to stay in camp. Later, a buffet lunch is served, providing a variety of options to suit different tastes.
Dinner at Kafunta is an elegant four-course meal served on the main deck, with direct views of the stunning floodplains. While dining is typically hosted, private tables can be arranged to accommodate personal preferences or special occasions.
The lodge also caters to special dietary needs, ensuring that all guests have a satisfying and enjoyable dining experience.
Wellness
Guests can book a massage at the spa or maintain their fitness routines in the lodge's gym. The gym is equipped with a selection of equipment, including treadmills and bikes, catering to all levels of fitness enthusiasts.
Price Includes
- Accommodation
- Two game-viewing activities per day
- All meals and snacks
- Standard drinks included (premium brands excluded)
- Laundry services
- Transfers between Mfuwe airport and inter-camp
- All taxes covered
- Long-stay rate applies for stays of 5 nights or more, combinable across properties
- Sunset House pricing: per unit for up to 4 people, additional guests at a reduced rate
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup.
The same as booking direct
Rates and dates.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 5 Jan 2027
Green season
25 May 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
All Inclusive — All meals & snacks, standard drinks (excluding premium brands), Mfuwe airport & inter-camp transfers
$710
per person · night
Shoulder
1 Nov 2026 – 5 Jan 2027
All Inclusive — All meals & snacks, standard drinks (excluding premium brands), Mfuwe airport & inter-camp transfers
$535
per person · night
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Current offers
Special offer available.
Long stay
Stays of five nights or more qualify for our reduced long-stay rate, and the nights may be taken in any combination across Kafunta River Lodge, Island Bush Camp, Three Rivers Camp and The Sunset House. Multi-camp Getaway itineraries combining Kafunta River Lodge with Island Bush Camp and Three Rivers Camp are also built on these long-stay rates, and are available from 25 May to 31 October, since the two bush camps close outside that period. Fly-in itineraries pairing South Luangwa with the Lower Zambezi, Kafue or North Luangwa are likewise available, with the number of nights at each property and the order of camps varying with availability and flight times; a minimum age of 12 applies at the walking camps.
Family
Children sharing with two adults receive 50 per cent off the nightly rate between the ages of 6 and 11, and 25 per cent off between 12 and 17; the same reduction applies to the additional-person rate at The Sunset House. Levies, park fees and the conservation contribution are charged at 50 per cent for children up to 11 years. The minimum age at Kafunta River Lodge and The Sunset House is 6 years, while Island Bush Camp and Three Rivers Camp accept guests from 12 years, so children's rates on multi-camp itineraries are quoted on request.
Bush & beach
Our ten-night Bush and Beach itineraries combine Kafunta River Lodge and Three Rivers Camp with either Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island or Blue Zebra Island Lodge on Nankoma Island, on Lake Malawi. Services begin in Lusaka and end in Lilongwe, and rates are based on standard rooms at Kafunta and Three Rivers and on a Lake Safari Tent at Blue Zebra. From 1 April to 24 May and 1 November to 2 January the itinerary is rebuilt as seven nights at Kafunta River Lodge with three nights at the lake, as the bush camps are closed; visas and motorised water activities in Malawi are excluded, and children's rates are quoted on request.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Kafunta River Lodge, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
- Minimum ages
- Stay 6+ · Game drives 6+ · Walking safari 12+
- Child rates
- 6–11 years: -50% on nightly rates when sharing with two adults; 12–17 years: -25%. Park fees/LCCF: 50% for children up to 11 years. Also valid at Sunset House on additional person rate.
- Family rooms
- Family unit available.
- Care
- No dedicated kids' programme
- Exceptions
-
Kafunta River Lodge and Sunset House welcome children from age 6; younger children considered on a case-by-case basis on request. The Sunset House is a private 3-bedroom family unit sleeping up to 9, offered on exclusive-use basis with private meals and private activities — ideal for families. A private game-drive vehicle is available at $350–$400/day (low/peak season) with an additional $100 for private bush walks; it must be booked at time of reservation. Note: the sister bush camps (Island Bush Camp and Three Rivers Camp) carry a higher minimum age of 12 due to park restrictions on walking safaris, unless the camp is privatised; multi-camp itineraries that include the walking camps therefore require children to be 12+.
Imagery
A closer look.
Your specialist for this lodge
Safari Specialist - Southern Africa and East Africa
Knows Kafunta River Lodge backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.
With Lana and Nerine across the team.
"Our contact at Safari.com was fantastic. She was able to answer all my questions, or find and out then text me back. Communication using email and WhatsApp was excellent. While planning our trip we had a large change and Denise was able to work with our Safari lodge to find a solution, which solved it. Booking went smoothly, suggestions about the trip were very helpful and I felt I was working with a professional who wanted the best experience for my family."
Speak to a safari specialist
Let's design your stay.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Kafunta River Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
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