Old Mondoro Bushcamp takes its name from the Shona word for lion. It is a small bush camp situated on the banks of the Zambezi River, overlooking reed islands where buffalo feed and hippos bask. Of the two bush camps in the Lower Zambezi valley, Old Mondoro is the smarter and has a more solid, permanent feel. The other, Bushbuck Camp, uses zip-up safari tents and has a much more basic feel.
As there are only four bush chalets at Old Mondoro, this simple camp has an exclusive, intimate atmosphere. Reed walls enclose each chalet on three sides whilst the front only has a waist-high wall, leaving the rest free for a great view. Canvas flaps are rolled down over these 'windows' at night. The interior is made up of two single beds or one small double bed, hanging space, coffee table and canvas directors' chairs. An A-frame canvas roof with open ends covers the room and en-suite bathroom. In the bathroom there is a flush toilet, sink, mirror and bucket shower for which hot water is brought on request.
Chalets #1 and #2 overlook the Zambezi River, whilst chalet #4 overlooks a small dambo or lagoon. Chalet #3 has a view of both these environments. Each chalet has a covered private deck with canvas directors chairs from where you can relax in-between morning and afternoon activities and watch wildlife. During our last visit in July 2008 we watched vervet monkeys, waterbuck, impala, buffalo, elephant and countless birds from these vantage points.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp's main area is a large, open-sided, pole structure with a wooden floor and canvas roof. Next to comfortable wicker lounge furniture there is a small library with various reference books and novels. There is also a fairly well stocked bar and the communal dining table. Beyond this building is the campfire and below that is the boat station at the Zambezi River's edge. Old Mondoro is a true bush camp without any electricity; it's lit by oil lanterns at night.
This stretch of river bank is shaded by a beautiful grove of winterthorn trees. We recommend visitors enjoy this scenery, and the wildlife feeding in the open glades below, on a guided walking safari. Other activities offered at Old Mondoro Bushcamp are day and night 4WD safari drives, boat trips and canoeing on the Zambezi in two-man Canadian canoes.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp is situated in the far east of the Lower Zambezi National Park, an area shared with only two other camps – the old-style Ana Tree Lodge and the more luxurious Zambezi Kulefu Camp. This means that you and your guide can explore this wilderness without too much disturbance from other vehicles. An undertaking not as easy further west where there are more camps sharing their area with the various safari camps situated outside the park boundaries and self-drive visitors.
Lodge overview
Lodge type: Safari
No. of bedrooms: 4 reed-and-canvas chalets
Season: May to Nov
Ideal length of stay: We recommend that you opt for a 3-night stay here. Although you can make a visit here your only stop in the Lower Zambezi, Old Mondoro combines very well with its sister-camps, Chiawa Camp or Sausage Tree Camp.
Directions: A short light aircraft flight from Lusaka or longer one from Mfuwe takes guests to Jeki airstrip. From there it is about a 50-minute road transfer to camp depending on what you see along the way.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Key personnel
Owner: Grant Cumings & Jason Mott
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: The food at Old Mondoro can be compared to tasty home cooking. Breakfast is usually eaten around the camp fire at dawn. Various cereals, yoghurts, juices and fruit are offered. Porridge is cooked over the fire whilst fresh baked bread is toasted to order.
Lunch is usually a buffet including two salad options such as coleslaw and a green salad, a freshly baked flavoured loaf such as onion bread and a hot dish such as beef lasagna. This meal is often served after an activity, in the late morning. At afternoon tea, tasty savoury and sweet snacks help fill you up till dinner time. On our last visit, in July 2008, we had mini pizzas, small cinnamon wheels and orange cake.
Dinner is usually served at about 8pm, after a spot-lit night drive. On our last visit we enjoyed vegetable soup to start, followed by roasted chicken breast topped with a tomato relish and served with vegetable rice and butternut. Desert was a delicious sticky toffee pudding.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Old Mondoro Bushcamp has most drinks in its well stocked bar, all of which are included in the price.
Children
Attitude towards children: Old Mondoro welcomes children 8 years old and over. Walking activities in the bush is possible for children aged 12 and over. The decision on whether youngsters aged between 12 and 16 can walk is left to the discretion of the managers.
Generally recommended for children: Not recommended for children under 16 years of age as there is limited activities to keep kids interested in between safari activities.
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: The camp has radio connection with their guides and with its sister camps – Chiawa and Sausage Tree. Satellite email and phones are used for contact outside the surrounding area.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: The guides at Old Mondoro have first aid training. For serious medical emergencies guests can be evacuated by aircraft.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: Guests are walked to and from their chalets after dark in case of any visiting wildlife.
Fire safety: Buckets filled with water have been placed outside each chalet in case of fire.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: A laundry service is offered for all clothing excluding ladies smalls. Washing powder and a small clothes line is supplied in each chalet.
Money: A stay at Old Mondoro includes all meals, activities and drinks. Only tips are extra and there is a camp tip box in the main area for this purpose. We recommend any tips are made in US Dollars.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp review
This was my least faveourite out of the 4 camps we stayed at. However, its location on the Lowere Zambezi was one of the nicest and the terrain was idyllic.
The reed cabins could have been a bit l...
Is there a better location - anywhere?
Locations by water always offer something extra. Here at Old Mondoro the 'open aspect' lodge perches on the bank of the Zambezi with an attendant orchestra of hippo to ensure the right atmosp...
On the banks of the Zambezi
Lana and John made us very welcome. Levy and Morat showed the level of expertise we had by now come to expect.
This was more relaxed - no middle-of-the-day activities, and later starts in the morni...
Click on the links below to read sections from the Bradt guidebook which are related to Old Mondoro Bushcamp.
Old Mondoro Put Old Mondoro into context – read more about it in the Bradt travel guide to Zambia.
Useful links...
We want you to understand more about Old Mondoro Bushcamp. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Live availabilty for Old Mondoro Use this live site to check space at Old Mondoro, and its sister-camp, Chiawa. Enter your start date in the boxes, then click the green arrow to update the calendar. A red square means a full camp!
Old Mondoro - on Chiawa's site Old Mondoro is the 'daughter' camp of Chiawa, so here's its page on this parent's website - it has a handful of pictures and some good information worth reading on the camp.
Old Mondoro - on Sausage Tree's site Old Mondoro's other 'parent camp' is Sausage Tree Camp - so here is the other parental view of it - you'll see that both parents agree closely!
Old Mondoro