In stark contrast to the ownership situation governing the majority of safari camps and lodges throughout Africa, Zambia has recently pioneered the setting up of a small number of bush camps that are principally owned by – and return profit solely to – the local community. Owned in partnership between the local community and the rural enterprise company, Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO), these bush camps offer a readily affordable alternative to the usual run of bush camps, which, by their nature, tend to lie at the top end of the cost spectrum. This is achieved without any noticeable sacrifice in quality, making a stay here an immensely rewarding experience.

Staffed entirely by locals, the guiding quality at these camps is high – relying as they tend to do on reformed poachers, who know the area like the back of their hand! The staff have been well-instructed in the art of on-safari cuisine, and the camps also exhibit one or two features notably lacking in their much more expensive counterparts. Your stay at one of these bush camps helps [cont]

support COMACO’s sustainable income-producing activities such as rice, soya-bean, and vegetable farming, poultry farming and, organic beekeeping. These activities reduce poaching and provide food-secure alternative livelihoods to local villagers.

ZambiaAway is proud to support this initiative, and encourages guests to try one of the two bush camps conveniently located in the Luangwa area. Mwanya Bush Camp is located just outside the South Luangwa National Park, at its north-eastern end, while Chifunda Bush Camp is located just outside the North Luangwa Park. Both camps specialise in walking safaris into the Parks, although game drives can also be undertaken.

Each camp consists of 3 chalets made of woven local bamboo and thatch, designed to make you feel one with nature. The chalets, run on solar power, are airy and cool, and offer open air en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and modern facilities. The chalets are a thoughtful balance between back-to-nature simplicity and essential comfort in authentically African style. Each chalet overlooks the Luangwa River with hippos being your closest neighbours.