- A relaxed, family-friendly camp at the meeting of the Chongwe and Zambezi rivers.
- Gateway to Lower Zambezi National Park — canoeing, boating and game drives from one base.
- Open-fronted tents and suites facing the water, with the Zambezi escarpment as backdrop.
- Excellent for elephant, hippo and birdlife, and for canoe safaris past the herds.
Why Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe sits in a rare position — right where the Chongwe River spills into the mighty Zambezi, on the doorstep of Lower Zambezi National Park. That confluence is a magnet for wildlife, and it gives the camp a variety of activities few can match: glide the Zambezi by canoe at dawn, drift past drinking elephants by boat, then head into the park by vehicle in the afternoon. It is unpretentious, warm and genuinely wild.
Families love it for the space and the water-based safaris; couples love it for the sundowners over one of Africa’s greatest rivers. It is a private, easy-going luxury — the kind that lets the river do the talking.
The Tents & Setting
Open-fronted tents and larger suites line the riverbank, each framed to the water so the Zambezi is the first thing you see each morning. Interiors are cool and natural — canvas, thatch and stone — with en-suite bathrooms and shaded verandas. A pool, a riverside lounge and a candle-lit dining area complete a camp built for slow afternoons and long, golden evenings.
Wildlife & Activities
The Lower Zambezi is elephant country, and Chongwe delivers them in numbers — often wading across channels within sight of camp. Hippo and crocodile own the water, buffalo and waterbuck the banks, and leopard and lion move through the woodland. The signature experience is the canoe safari: silent, low and thrilling, floating past pods of hippo and herds coming down to drink. Boat cruises, game drives and superb birding round out the days.
Best Time to Visit
The dry months (May to October) concentrate wildlife on the river and offer the classic Lower Zambezi safari. The shoulder months are quieter and beautifully green. Peak game-viewing is September–October, when the heat pulls everything to the water.
Rates & How to Book
| Location | Chongwe–Zambezi confluence, Lower Zambezi |
|---|---|
| Rooms | Open-fronted tents & suites |
| Open | Dry season (approx. Apr–Nov) |
| Style | Relaxed riverside, water-safari focused |
| Best for | Families, couples, canoeing & birding |
Chongwe is offered fully inclusive of meals, drinks and activities. We tailor length of stay and pair it with South Luangwa or Victoria Falls, so we quote current rates when we design your trip.
Ready to plan your own Lower Zambezi canoe safari? Talk to a Beyond Africa Safaris specialist, browse our tailor-made safari packages, or message us on WhatsApp for private, custom pricing.
