ELEPHANT CROSSING SAFARI BUSHCAMP
Introduction: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Early Explorers’ Expeditions.
The first explorers ever to travel along the pristine wilderness of the Mighty Zambezi River found themselves immersed in a world of awe and excitement that changed their lives forever.
They taught us that luxury is not an end in itself, but rather a tool to enjoy the exclusivity of the experience and the overwhelming feeling of being surrounded by kilometres of unexplored bush teeming with wildlife.
In today’s world, there’s nothing more precious than time. Luxury, therefore, becomes the slow pace of a campfire under a million stars, sipping a drink while enjoying the sounds of the untamed wilderness, with the certainty that every aspect of your adventure is carefully taken care of by experienced professionals who understand that the Art of Safari relies in seamlessly blending the right amount of luxury, with the rusticity of the African bush.
Location: Untamed, Unfenced, Real Wilderness
Settled on the sandy shores of the Zambezi River, surrounded by the Lower Zambezi National Park, the Zambezia Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mana Pools National Park on the opposite shore of the river, lies Elephant Crossing Safari Bushcamp, right in the very heart of the Chiawa Game Management Area.
The Bushcamp’s grounds are limited by the sandy beaches of the Zambezi River and by two natural lagoons that carry water for most of the year, attracting a multitude of elephants, hippos, zebras, antelopes and many other wild species that populate its premises all year round.
Elephants in particular tend to gather in these two lagoons before crossing the Zambezi river to reach Mana Pools National Park, directly opposite to our bushcamp. The spectacle of dozens of elephants crossing the river in a straight line right in front of your tent is one that you will never forget for the rest of your life.
The Bush Camp: A Step Back in Time, An Atmosphere of Rustic Luxury
The camp has three different sections, each with a unique atmosphere and secluded from the rest, so not to interfere with each other and to grant maximum exclusivity and privacy to every guest.
The Main Camp comprise of just 5 Luxury, river-facing, en-suite double tents, decorated in the style of the early explorations of the mid-1800s. The tents and the common areas do not have electricity, rather they use paraffin lamps for all illumination purposes and fire-powered bush water-heaters to warm up your showers and faucets, while running water is extracted directly from the Zambezi river and stored in a high water tank that serves each tent through gravity. Each tent also has a private verandah overlooking the Zambezi. On the shore, directly in front of each tent, you will find some rustic gazebos with a sunchair to observe the ever-present resident hippos, elephants and the magnificent birdlife that populates the river. The simple common area includes a small bar, a private dining table and a small lounge with locally crafted armchairs and couches.
Finally, after passing the last eastern tent, a larger gazebo hides one of the most exclusive experiences in the valley: a pure copper bathtub facing right on the Elephant crossing points, where guests can take an unforgettable bubble bath, sipping champagne and observing the stunning spectacle of nature unfolding right in front of their eyes.
On the right of the Main camp, facing one of the Eastern Lagoon, stand 5 Bird Nests, incredible accommodations made of weaved wickers and branches, large enough for 2 people to sleep in and located on risen platform, at 2.5 meters of height. This is an incredible vantage point to observe the dozens of elephants that populate the lagoon.
Below each platform, each nest has a small toilet and changing room, consisting in a drop shower, a compostable toilet and a water basin. Outside, each unit has a small barbecue and charcoal stove for self-catering meals.
Behind the Main Camp, facing yet another lagoon, there’s a small campsite consisting of 5 permanent dome tents with two single beds inside, each with a private ablution consisting in a drop shower and a composting toilet surrounded by a thatch wall.
Seasonality: We Are One With Nature
The Bushcamp is open each year from April 1st to December 15th Although, depending on the Rain patterns, an early opening or a late closing may be possible.
Families with Children:
Children of all ages are welcome at Elephant Crossing Safari Bushcamp Bird Nests and Camping Areas, however due to the intrinsic risks of staying in an unfenced wilderness area parents must ensure that children are always supervised, keep a low tone of voice at all times and do not adventure by themselves away from their designated area.
Regretfully, we do not admit children below the agre of 12 at the Main Camp.
Getting There: An Adventure in Itself
There are three ways to reach Elephant Crossing Safari Bushcamp:
By Road: you can drive from Lusaka to Chirundu (130 km, approximately 2,5 hours) where you will find fuel and groceries. From there, take the gravel road through the Chiawa Game Management Area for approximately another 1,5 hours. Always keep the right at each fork on the road and pass Chiawa Village, where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables at the local market. After approximately 5km you will eventually come across a borehole and a station used by the women from the village to wash their clothes, and an anonymous signpost on the right side of the road. Turn right and proceed on the same trail for about 5km up to our camp. The whole journey will take approximately 4.5 hours plus stops.
By plane: It’s approximately a 30 minutes flight from Lusaka airport to Royal Airstrip. Here, you will be collected by one of our vehicles and escorted to camp driving through the Zambezia Wildlife Sanctuary for approximately 1 hour
By Boat: The most exclusive way to reach the Bushcamp, however, is to drive to Chirundu following the instructions above and turn into Nsofu Lodge, right at the confluence of the Kafue and the Zambezi River. Here you will receive a refreshment drink and start a fantastic boat river safari among the hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless birds that populate the shores of the Zambezi river, reaching directly into our camp.
A Typical Day at the Bushcamp: Get Ready to Explore With Our Expert Guides.
At 05.00 a.m. the bush camp staff are up to get the fires lit, boil the water, and prepare for breakfast.
At 05.30 a.m. Guests are woken with hot water to prepare their own cup of tea or coffee or to prepare themselves an incredible bush Espresso. When ready, guests make their way to the open Boma, where they can enjoy a spectacular sunrise wile having breakfast.
At 06.00 a.m Breakfast is served with fruit, yoghurts, cereals, toast and juice, followed by a 06.30 a.m. departure by boat for a sunrise Boat Safari that will bring them right at the Main Gate of the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Around 07.30 a.m. After checking in at the Main Gate, guests will start enjoying their Full Day Game Drive in the Lower Zambezi National Park until approximately 10.00 a.m. where they will stop for a spectacular mid-morning break with Muffins, Cake, Tea & Coffee and whatever our chef has prepared for them.
The Game Drive will then continue until 12.30 when the guide will choose a spectacular location for a pic-nic lunch on the shores of the Zambezi River.
After Lunch and a bit of relax enjoying the quietness of the natural environment, the Game Drive will continue until 16.30 when you will meet your boat again, ready for a return Sunset Cruise with a sundowner on the water.
You will reach camp around 18,00 and have time to enjoy a hot shower and some relaxing time before dinner will be served at 19.30. All guests will eat together under the start at the open boma where everyone discusses the sightings of the day and gets to know each other over a few glasses of fine wine.
The evening will then continue by our Campfire. Around 21.30 most of the guests retire to bed and the team continue the evening clear up and get ready for the following day.
*NOTE: in the very early or very late season, depending on rain patterns, Game Drives in the national park may not be possible due to high water levels that block the access to the Park gate. In this case, the game viewing activities will be done in the Zambezia Wildlife Sanctuary and Chiawa G.M.A.
Alternatively, other activities can be organized, such as morning and afternoon river safaris, canoe safaris, fishing, village and community walks, etc. but they need to be arranged in advance.
