Puku Ridge Camp

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Lodge · Zambia

Puku Ridge Camp

Puku Ridge Camp nestles in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park which boasts an extraordinary number of diverse ecosystems and is well-known for incredible walking safaris. On the edge of an escarpment, is the luxurious and secluded Puku Ridge Camp, named after the puku antelope that graze in the fertile floodplain in front of the camp.

Enquire now

From $1,205 per person sharing, per night

Special offer available on selected dates.

LocationZambia
From, per person · night$1,205

About the lodge

An overview of Puku Ridge Camp.

Puku Ridge Camp nestles in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park which boasts an extraordinary number of diverse ecosystems and is well-known for incredible walking safaris. On the edge of an escarpment, is the luxurious and secluded Puku Ridge Camp, named after the puku antelope that graze in the fertile floodplain in front of the camp.

Highlights

  • Romantic nights under the stars in a private star bed tower
  • Guided walking safaris through the wildlife-rich South Luangwa
  • Ideal for solo explorers, couples, and families looking for an authentic tented safari getaway.

The Detail

There is a sense of timelessness and being at one with the world at the intimate Puku, where impeccable service and comfortable luxury combine in a pristine wilderness to assure guests of an unforgettable safari experience.

Puku Ridge Camp boasts seven safari tents with king-size or twin beds, an en-suite bathroom with a bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers, mosquito netting, luxury bathroom amenities, a hairdryer, fans, and private decks that overlook the game-rich floodplains.

The camp facilities include a lounge, bar, dining area, and boma.

There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species in South Luangwa National Park. The only notable exception to the Big Five is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction. The park is renowned for its large elephant herds and huge pods of hippos. Endemic species such as Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest are frequently sighted, as are leopards.

The region is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with about 400 of Zambia’s 732 bird species, including 39 birds of prey and 47 migratory species.

Knowledgeable guides lead twice-daily game drives and night drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Night drives offer the opportunity to spot rarely seen nocturnal creatures such as porcupines and bush babies. It’s also when lions and leopards are often actively hunting their prey.

Walking safaris are led by a professional guide and an armed national parks scout. On foot, guests not only get up close to big game but also discover the fascinating, often-overlooked smaller creatures.

Price Includes

Return transfers from Mfuwe Airport to Puku Ridge Camp, all meals (private dining available), beverages, house wines, local spirits, and laundry. Professionally guided safari activities include day and night game drives and bush walks.

You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup.

Puku Ridge Camp

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 31 Dec 2026

Show prices in

Peak / migration

1 Jul 2026 – 15 Oct 2026

All Inclusive - All meals, beverages, guided safari activities, game drives, bush walks, boat trips, angling and transfers between the lodge and airfield.

Special offer

$1,595

per person · night · normally $1,995

Shoulder

16 Oct 2026 – 30 Nov 2026

All Inclusive - All meals, beverages, guided safari activities, game drives, bush walks, boat trips, angling and transfers between the lodge and airfield.

Special offer

$1,205

per person · night · normally $1,510

Festive

1 Dec 2026 – 31 Dec 2026

All Inclusive - All meals, beverages, guided safari activities, game drives, bush walks, boat trips, angling and transfers between the lodge and airfield.

$1,510

per person · night

Rates are per person sharing, per night. Where a reduced rate is shown, it reflects a stay-pay or long-stay offer for those dates; honeymoon and other offers are applied separately when we prepare your quote. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.

Current offers

Special offer available.

Where the rates above show a saving, it comes from a stay-pay or long-stay offer.

Stay & Pay

Stay for 3 nights, Pay for 2. Valid from 01 April - 30 June & 16 Oct - 30 Nov | Stay for 5 nights, Pay for 4. Valid for all seasons.

Sleep-outs

Under the stars.

Star beds, sleep-out hides, walking sleep-outs and overnight platforms documented at Puku Ridge Camp.

Star bed

Star Bed. Sleep Out Tower

Puku Ridge Camp offers a dedicated Star Bed. Sleep Out Tower, available for 1 or 2 adults at the same price. It is a structurally separate sleeping point that must be booked in advance. Children are not permitted. Priced at US$400 per night (or US$320 at the lower rate).

1–2 adults (same price); no children permitted; advance booking required.

Cost
US$400. US$320
Availability
advance booking required

Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.

Water safari

Out on the water.

Mokoro, canoe, kayak and boat options at Puku Ridge Camp. The silent dugout mokoro is a different product to a motorised sundowner cruise — check the category on each.

Canoe safari

Canoeing

Canoeing is listed as a water activity available at Puku Ridge Camp, operated by Chiawa Safaris in the South Luangwa area.

Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.

Your specialist for this lodge

Nerine Du Plessis

Nerine Du Plessis

Safari Specialist - Southern Africa

Knows Puku Ridge Camp backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.

Denise HeemroPascal John

With Denise and Pascal across the team.

"After a year of planning with Safari.com, Luxury Safari Consultant - Leighann Croeser, our long wait was greatly rewarded. In September 2025, we spent 21 extraordinary days in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Our plan was to start in Cape Town, go to Zulu Nyala and then another safari in Kruger. With expertise guidance from Leighann Croeser, we added in Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls, Panoramic Route, and Johannesburg. These additions to our trip, greatly enhanced our FIRST African vacation, adding incredible sites, knowledgeable tours and beautiful accommodations. Our visit to Cape Town was all arranged by Leighann. She gave us hotel choices based on what we wanted to do. We choose the Winchester Hotel. A beautiful location with the popular walking path going around the bay, a delicious restaurant on property, and wonderful rooms with views. We loved the courtyard! We had a wonderful driver, David, for three day who arranged our visit to the Apartheid Museum, Atlas Spice Shop, Table Mountain, Stellenbosch wineries, Cape of Good Hope, and penguins! After four fun filled days, we headed up to Zulu Nylan Safari Lodge for 6 nights, Johannesburg -1 night so we could drive the Panoramic Route staying at Angles View Hotel, Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge – 3 nights and finally Victoria Falls – 4 nights with a both sides tour of Victoria Falls and the Steam Train Dinner. Here is our big note: Flying and driving around to each of these locations takes incredible experience and planning for your trip. Trying to navigation these websites in America was difficult. We can’t tell you how important it is to have someone in Africa to handles these domestic flights, hotels reservations and drivers. Leighann booked all of our interior airline flights, checked us in for every flight, and drivers for every flight. We had a weather delay in Richard’s Bay. Our flight to Johannesburg was delayed 5 hours. Leighann called our hotel - DaVinci, the restaurant we booked for that night (Alto234) and the driver. Upon arrival, we were promptly met by our driver and taken to this beautiful hotel downtown Johannesburg. A little late to dinner but the most incredible evening at the top of Alto234 Bar with endless views. Leighann Croeser is an amazing, highly experience travel consultant for “all of Africa”. We can’t say enough good words about her. She enhanced our visit to an unexpected level of service, a can-do attitude with a grace we have never experienced! When you’re so far away in country, like Africa, you want our Luxury Safari Consultant - Leighann Croeser as your travel adviser!"
October 2025 · USA · with Leigh Ann Croeser 2 · Verified on Trustpilot ↗

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 Puku Ridge Camp: 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.

Example: 14–21 Nov 2027 · 2 adults · departing NYC · Big Five focus.

A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours. Your details stay private. View our privacy policy.

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