KuKaya

At KuKaya, you can design your safari according to your schedule, letting you fully curate your experience across activities and dining. Complete flexibility is the lodge’s ethos in this original concept. The lodge itself unfolds along an oxbow lagoon near the main entrance of South Luangwa National Park.

You’ll feel right at home in one of its six tented chalets opening to waterholes. They’re all generously spacious, making them ideal for groups and families. Their interiors, decorated in neutral hues to reflect the surrounding bush, spill onto timber decks overlooking the Luangwa River, where al fresco life plays out.

There, you can watch the antics of the wildlife that often visit the lodge. Slip into your private pool for a different vantage point, glimpsing crocodiles and hippos swimming in the river ahead while you float. Adjoining your private deck is also a sociable area equipped with a barbecue, firepit and pizza oven; this is the place for creating memorable moments with your loved ones.

Locally sourced ingredients make up the heart of KuKaya’s gastronomy, shaping the menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Keeping in line with the lodge’s penchant for flexibility, you can dine in various locations, like on the riverbank or in the middle of the bush. There are also curated dining experiences, such as curry nights in your chalet, set up by a private chef.

Activities can include walking safaris and game drives tailored to your interests. Without leaving KuKaya, you can observe elephants, warthogs and other game from specially crafted hides. You can also learn about the local community through organised visits.