Kuyenda Camp

By the Manzi River (or its riverbed, depending on the season) in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.

In the finest Zambian tradition, these are simple reed and thatch rondavels, rebuilt after the rains each year. Three twin and two double rooms, with open-air ensuite bathrooms. This is all about keeping as close to nature as possible - when we last visited we could see buffalos from the bed and stars from the shower.

Facilities? No. Not a single one. Did we miss them? Not at all. Meals on the other hand, were tremendous. Beautifully produced nibbles at sundowner drinks, candlelit communal dinners, and steaming bowls of porridge before the early morning walk. And if that doesn’t impress you, just ask to take a peek into the kitchen - seeing where it all comes from is truly mind-boggling.

With a maximum of eight guests in camp, activities are done as a team. In the morning there’s often a walk, meandering through the bush, spotting tracks in the warm dust and identifying birds by their calls. It’s a great way to understand and feel part of the environment that you’re in and to start training your eyes as an expert spotter! After your lunchtime snooze (all that walking and lunch means you’ll almost certainly need it) there are game drives to get you up close and personal with the larger animals. As dusk falls, you’ll do a night drive back to camp.