Key Takeaways
- Anabezi sits at the secluded eastern end of the Lower Zambezi National Park, where crowds thin away
- Twelve enormous elevated tented suites, each around 1,000 sqft with a private plunge pool
- A dedicated family suite — a rarity in this couples-focused valley
- Set among photogenic winterthorn trees at the Zambezi and Mushika confluence
- Two swimming pools, a raised main deck and superb game and birdlife (500+ species)
- Ideal for families, couples and photographers who want space, seclusion and comfort
First Impressions: The Quiet Eastern End
Anabezi has one great advantage before you even step inside: location. It sits at the far eastern edge of the Lower Zambezi National Park, at the confluence of the Zambezi and Mushika rivers, well away from the busier central section. This is the quiet end of the valley, where sightings feel private and the sense of wilderness is complete — a genuine escape for travellers who want big-camp comfort without big-camp crowds.
The camp is built along an elevated ridge among a stand of magnificent winterthorn trees, whose seed pods draw a constant parade of elephant right beneath the walkways. Raised timber decks link the suites to the soaring main area, and everywhere the design makes the most of the long views across the floodplain to the escarpment. It feels grand yet unpretentious — a proper five-star camp that never loses sight of the wildness all around it.
The Suites: A Thousand Square Feet of Comfort
Space is Anabezi's signature. Its twelve tented suites are among the largest in the valley — each roughly a thousand square feet, raised on stilts among the winterthorns, with a vast bedroom, a lounge, an indoor and an outdoor bathroom (complete with a roll-top clawfoot tub), and a private plunge pool on a deck overlooking the floodplain. Sliding canvas walls open the whole suite to the view, and the elevation means elephant, buffalo and antelope drift past below while you rest.
Crucially for a valley built largely around couples, Anabezi offers a dedicated family suite — two bedrooms with the space and privacy families need — making it one of the Lower Zambezi's few genuinely family-friendly luxury camps. There are two swimming pools, including one on the raised main Mushika deck, and the whole camp is designed for the languid, hot afternoons when the safari pauses and the river does the entertaining.
The Wildlife: Winterthorns and Wild Dogs
The eastern Lower Zambezi is superb wildlife country, and Anabezi's winterthorn setting is a magnet. In the dry months the Faidherbia trees drop their protein-rich pods, drawing elephant in remarkable numbers right into camp, along with the buffalo, kudu and hartebeest that follow. Lion and leopard hunt the floodplain and woodland, and the area is one of the better places in the valley to encounter its famous packs of painted wild dogs.
The river and floodplain are a birder's dream — well over 500 species have been recorded in the park — with skimmers, storks, bee-eaters and fish eagles all easily seen. Anabezi offers the full range of land and water activities, from day and night drives to walking, canoeing and boating, so you can experience the valley from every angle. For the wider picture, see our roundup of the best Zambia safari lodges.
Dining, Service and Family Appeal
Dining is relaxed and generous, served on the raised main deck with its sweeping floodplain views, on the sandbanks at breakfast, or privately in your suite. The kitchen handles families and special diets with ease, and the pace is unhurried — long lunches, afternoon swims and sundowners as the light turns gold over the Mushika. Service is warm, professional and notably good with children, an area where many luxury camps struggle.
That family focus is a large part of Anabezi's appeal. The two-bedroom family suite, the two pools, the sheer space and the welcoming team make it one of the most workable luxury choices in the Lower Zambezi for a multi-generational trip — while couples and photographers still get all the seclusion, comfort and wildlife they could want.
Who Is Anabezi For?
Anabezi suits travellers who want space, seclusion and five-star comfort at the quiet end of the Lower Zambezi. It is one of the valley's best luxury choices for families, thanks to its dedicated family suite and easy, child-friendly service, and it is equally rewarding for couples and photographers drawn to its enormous suites, private pools and elephant-filled winterthorns.
Those seeking the smallest, most rustic bush-camp experience may prefer a place like Old Mondoro, and the eastern location means a slightly longer transfer. But for comfort, space, seclusion and genuine family appeal, Anabezi is one of the most complete camps on the Zambezi — and a superb base from which to explore this magnificent valley.
Recommended Safari Packages
- Zambezi Safari Experience (4 Days) — the classic Lower Zambezi introduction
- Mana Pools Walking & Canoe Safari (5 Days) — a walking and canoe wilderness
- South Luangwa Explorer (5 Days) — combine the Zambezi with South Luangwa
Getting There and Booking
Anabezi is reached by a short scheduled or charter flight from Lusaka to Jeki airstrip, followed by a game-drive transfer of around an hour to the eastern sector — the quiet position is part of the appeal. Rates peak from July to October, when game concentrates on the river and the winterthorns draw the elephants, so book the family suite and peak months well ahead. The camp closes during the green-season rains.
Beyond Africa Safaris arranges every detail of your stay at Anabezi — the light-aircraft flights, the finest suites and the ideal pairings across the Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and Victoria Falls — as one seamless, tailor-made journey.
