An authentic, owner-run camp in South Luangwa National Park, overlooking the Luangwa River
Open-sided lounge and dining area, bar, library, curio shop, reference library, campfire, wildlife hides
Six brick-and-thatch chalets featuring private decks with river views and outdoor baths
Game drives, walking safaris, wildlife hides, sleep-outs
With its stunning South Luangwa walking trails, Kaingo Camp offers immersive walking safaris as a highlight. Guests can also enjoy day and night game drives and thrilling sleep-out experiences.
South Luangwa is quite simply one of the best parks for game viewing in all of Africa, so it comes as no surprise that activities at Kaingo focus on expertly guided game drives in custom-built, open game viewers – during early morning, midday, and afternoon/evening. There are never more than four guests on a game drive, ensuring everyone has plenty of space and excellent vantage points.
Few places offer walking safaris quite as exceptional as South Luangwa National Park. Accompanied by your professional safari guide and an armed scout, you’ll be safely escorted across a variety of terrains and walking routes, discovering insider tips on tracking wildlife and the smaller creatures that might be overlooked from a vehicle. Walks are offered in the morning and usually last from 3 to 3.5 hours.
Derek Shenton’s famous hides offer incredible opportunities to capture animals quenching their thirst at a waterhole or birds cavorting on the shores of a lagoon. The quality of photo opportunities is well matched with the outstanding guiding and abundance of wildlife, making Kaingo very popular with photographers.
Kaingo has a variety of star-bed sleep-outs and fly-camping options for adventurous visitors seeking a fully immersive experience in the heart of the bush. Tuck into a hearty dinner cooked on a crackling open fire, listen out for the distant whoops of hyena, and sleep just beneath a mosquito net, gazing up at the African night sky.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
Kaingo Camp is located deep in the heart of South Luangwa National Park, on the banks of the Luangwa River. Guests usually arrive at Mfuwe Airport, and the flight is followed by a game drive transfer lasting approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes through some of the park’s most stunning areas.
Kaingo Camp’s homely communal lounge and dining area, referred to as the ‘chitenge’, offers an atmospheric space for socialising under the shade of towering ebony trees.
Bar
Library
Curio shop
Telescope
Open on one side, with uninterrupted views of the river, it also features an adjoining reference library and Kaingo’s iconic thousand-year-old leadwood bar just outside on the main deck. Next to the chitenge are a library and a small curio shop that showcases local artistry and craftsmanship. A lounge deck extends over the river and is the perfect place to relax between safaris – there is even a telescope here for maximising wildlife-viewing opportunities. Finally, the camp has a unique sunset-viewing point atop a large termite mound, and the roaring campfire glows at night, welcoming guests for pre-dinner drinks and gatherings.
Guest accommodation at Kaingo Camp consists of six solar-powered brick-and-thatch chalets overlooking the Luangwa River.
Private deck
Outdoor bath
Flush toilet
Five of these are standard chalets, and the privately located First House is a larger unit ideal for families or those simply seeking a little extra space. The Kaingo style is rustic and cozy, with some lovely personal touches such as local African textiles and walls adorned with photography by Jules Shenton. Sturdy wooden beds are draped with mosquito net canopies, there are large gauze windows, and the skylights provide guests with uninterrupted views. Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet, a basin, and a shower heated with slow-burning fallen wood. Outside, there’s a freestanding bath tucked under trees, while the private deck offers armchair viewing of the nearby hippo pod. Guests can also savour private meals on the veranda, beneath the starlit sky. Additional room amenities include a solar fan, a charging station equipped with international adaptors that run 24/7, and an electronic safe. First House is the largest unit and is located at the end of the camp for added privacy. Inside, there’s a spacious en-suite master bedroom as well as an adjoining lounge, which can also be converted into a sleeping area for up to three children with a separate washroom conveniently located next door. Guests can also shower in the open air or enjoy a relaxing bath on the deck with glorious river views. The suite comes with its own private guide and vehicle, butler service, and private dining.
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