Read 13 traveller reviews of Nsolo Bushcamp

At the beginning of 2007, and after a fire at the old site, Nsolo Bushcamp was moved to a new location about 400 yards away and completely rebuilt. The current bush camp overlooks a wide bend in the bed of the Luwi River where one or two shallow pools (depending on the season) attract various animals to drink.

Taking the local name from the greater honeyguide bird, which can often be found in the area, Nsolo Bush Camp has five thatched chalets built on raised timber platforms. Each chalet has its own slightly unique style and has been cleverly designed using local materials. Bamboo lattice windows sit in reed walls, a bamboo hanging rail has reed covered hangers for clothing and woven reed 'wallpaper' conceals the plumbing in the open-air, en-suite bathroom. Double wooden doors open up to a private wooden deck where comfortable chairs face out over the river bed.

Nsolo Bushcamp's main area is an open-sided, thatched building also overlooking the Luwi riverbed. This has been built under the shade of sausage and Natal mahogany trees and incorporates their tree trunks into the structure. In this building there is a comfortable lounge with a small library, a bar and the dining area. Below this building the ground slopes away onto a wide sand bank before dropping into the main river bed. This sand bank is the perfect spot for sundowner drinks and snacks or for a beautiful lantern-lit dinner under the stars.

Although day and night driving activities are offered from Nsolo, this bush camp really concentrates on guided walking safaris. These walks might take place in the open plains, devoid of roads, across the riverbed from the camp or through the riverine woodland along the rivers banks.

A great option for Zambian holiday is to combine sister-camps, Luwi Bushcamp and Kakuli Bushcamp, with Nsolo on a walking safari. It is approximately 6km between Luwi and Nsolo, which takes about three hours to walk. The walk between Nsolo and Kakuli is 14km and only recommended for fitter travellers during the cooler winter months (May to early Sep).

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

No. of bedrooms: Four chalets

Season: 20 May to 10 Nov

Ideal length of stay: A two- or three-night stay at Nsolo Bushcamp is ideal. This works best when combined with a walking safari encompassing its sister-bushcamps, Luwi Bushcamp, Kakuli Bushcamp and Mchenja Bushcamp - and, of course, this will often start and at Kapani Lodge.

Central facilities: An open-sided, thatched area has been built on a wooden base between the trunks of shady sausage and Natal mahogany trees. This acts as Nsolo bushcamp's main area and has a bar, dining area and lounge with small library. There is a small toilet within close proximity of this building. The main area overlooks the sandy Luwi riverbed. Depending on the time of year there are one or two pools of water in the rivers bed where animals come to drink. On the top of the bank, canvas chairs have been laid out in various viewing positions. Nearby, the campfire is used for breakfast and for pre-dinner drinks.

Geographics

Location: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Directions: Mfuwe Airport is the gateway to South Luangwa National Park. From there it's an easy game drive through the park to Nsolo camp, which lasts about three hours.

Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Key personnel

Owner: Norman Carr Safaris

Staff: Camp Manager and head guide: Shadrack

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Food quality: We've visited South Luangwa National Park, and Nsolo, many times in the last decade, most recently in July 2008. We were impressed by the food at all the Norman Carr Safari camps, including Nsolo. Whilst almost all the Zambia's safari camps provide very good meals, we thought those at Nsolo and its sister camps were particularly delicious, well prepared and well presented. Breakfast is usually served around the campfire before the early morning activity. A choice of cereals, fruit, juices and fresh muffins are usually set out in a buffet. Porridge is heated over the fire whilst toast is prepared to order. Occasionally a full hot breakfast is cooked over the fire by the camp's chef. On our last visit this included fried eggs, sausages, tomatoes and bacon. Brunch is served at about 11am although this is flexible and depends on when the morning excursion returns to camp. Usually eaten under the cool thatch roof of the main area, this meal is served as a buffet and could include a variety of salads (green, rice and coleslaw), freshly baked bread and two more substantial dishes such as quiche, lasagna or babooti (a South African farmers pie). This is often followed by fruit salad. Dinner is a three course meal often served by candlelight under the stars. We enjoyed one meal out on a sandbank in the river channel, whilst keeping an eye on a leopard hunting baboons by moonlight on the opposite bank. Our dinner started with pumpkin soup, followed by tilapia (local river fish), stir-fried vegetables and couscous. Desert was a very tasty banoffee pie.

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Room service: No

Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included

Drinks included: All drinks available at Nsolo Bushcamp's bar are included in the price.

Special interests

Walking: Nsolo Bushcamp offers walking safaris through various environments, from open grassy plains to mopane woodlands, visiting the odd remaining lagoon and the riverine woods along the Luwi riverbed. Wildlife is plentiful here with species including Crawshay's zebra, elephant, lion and the usually elusive eland antelope. Walks between Nsolo and its sister-camp, Luwi Bushcamp (about 7km's away), are a highlight. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for walking in Zambia

Children

Attitude towards children: Nsolo can only accommodate children aged 12 and over. Even then, children between the ages of 12 and 16 years will only be allowed to join the walking safaris at the manager's discretion.

Equipment: An additional bed can be made up in one of the chalets to create a triple room for parents and a child.

Notes: Nsolo Bushcamp is unfenced; dangerous animals will often pass through the camp. Parents need to keep children under their close supervision at all times.

Central communications

Power supply: Solar Power - Solar power is used to charge simple batteries which power a 12V light system in the chalets, for use at night. Paraffin lanterns are also used to light the camp. A small generator is used as a back-up; guest's camera batteries can usually be charged on request.

Communications: Nsolo bush camp has 24-hour radio communications with its sister camps in South Luangwa National Park and with its base near Mfuwe.

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: A doctor is usually on call in the Luangwa Valley, sponsored by the various safari operators based in South Luangwa National Park.

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Security measures: As Nsolo camp is unfenced, a guide or scout will escort guests to their chalets after night fall.

Fire safety: The camp has fire extinguishers throughout.

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible

Laundry facilities: A laundry service is included, although local taboos may mean that women's underwear cannot be put for laundry. For guests who wish to hand wash these or any delicate items, washing powder is provided by the sink in each chalet.

Accepted payment: We recommend that you use US Dollars for tips if possible. A stay at Nsolo is fully inclusive. In the unlikely event that payment for anything else is required, this can be arranged through Norman Carr Safaris' base camp – Kapani Lodge.

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