The Natural Choice for Wildlife Holidays, Safaris and Natural History Cruises Wildlife Holiday, Safari, Expedition Cruises Specialist

mainimage

Luangwa - Mchenja Camp

Mchenja Camp is a luxurious bush camp with five tents on raised wooden platforms, each with an indoor bath and outdoor shower. Mchenja is the local name for the African Ebony and the camp is shaded by a stand of these beautiful trees. The camp looks out across the picturesque river and after a mornings walk or game-drive you can relax on the verandah and admire the view. The camp also has a plunge pool. The game viewing in the area is superb and the nearby Ebony grove home to a rich variety of wildlife including plenty of Bushbuck whose eerie 'dog-like' bark echoes through the woods at night. Wood Owl and Giant Eagle Owl live in the grove and Leopard are frequent visitors.

Game-viewing from Mchenja is conducted both on foot and by four-wheel drive, and this is the only bush camp in Luangwa to be open in the green season (January to March). A stay at Mchenja is the perfect end to a walking safari through the Luangwa. Mchenja and its sister camps Luwi, Nsolo and Kakuli are ideal for anyone seeking a personalised remote bush experience in the South Luangwa, along with great hospitality and spectacular opportunities to explore this magnificent wildlife sanctuary on foot. Each camp is unique in location and style and perfectly suited to an African walking safari moving from camp to camp.

Mchenja Camp, Luangwa Valley, Zambia Mchenja Camp, Luangwa Valley, Zambia

Mchenja Camp, Luangwa Valley, Zambia

Mchenja Camp

Click here for all Zambia holidays

  • Location:

    South Luangwa is the jewel of Zambia's national parks. It lies in the north-eastern part of Zambia and comprises some 9,050 square kilometres of unspoilt African wilderness. Its eastern boundary is the meandering Luangwa River whose regular changes in course leave characteristic ox-bow lagoons which are one of the most scenic aspects of the park. Set amongst beautiful riverine vegetation of evergreen Mahogany and Ebony Trees, these lagoons and the 'grazing lawns' around them are a magnet to the outstanding wildlife of the park.

    You can expect to encounter numerous large animals here - Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Hippo, Lion, Nile Crocodile, Warthog, Puku, impala, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu and Eland are all common, and the Luangwa Valley probably has the world's highest, naturally occurring population of Leopard. Unique to the Luangwa are the Thornicroft's Giraffe, Cookson's Wildebeest and Crawshay's Zebra, which are found nowhere else. For the birdwatcher too, Luangwa could hardly be better with some 400 species of bird. The sun-scorched riverbanks play host to vast colonies of Carmine Bea-Eaters, which together with numerous raptors, lovebirds, weavers and kingfishers lend more than a splash of colour to this beautiful destination. Concentrations of game along the riverine area increase throughout the dry season and are at their maximum during September and October. Buffalo herds of over a thousand and large herds of Elephant are frequent sightings. Hippos collect in huge numbers, often several hundred strong, in the deep-water channels of the river, accompanied by unknown numbers of Nile Crocodile.

    The beautiful 'green season' begins with the first rains in early November. The occasional rain storm is unlikely to affect your safari activities and there are many advantages to visiting at this time. There is a glorious cleansing of the dust and haze that has built up during the intense heat of the dry season and a wonderful green flush adorns the previously parched earth. Flowering trees and plants come into bloom, and the young of most animals are born, including African Wild Dog puppies. The sky is full of migrant birds from Europe and central Asia, and the resident birds are in colourful breeding dress and of course full song. Not only is it a beautiful time to visit, but the lodges also offer attractive discounts.

    Safaris from all the camps and lodges are conducted both by open four-wheel drive vehicles and on foot (in the dry months of mid-May to early November), with armed scouts and fully qualified safari guides. Night drives with powerful spotlights are a highlight.