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Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp

Reviews of Chongwe River Camp

Wildlife sightings and reviews

120 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Chongwe River Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in May-2018, 28 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Chongwe River Camp.
Lion

93% success

Leopard

54% success

Cheetah

0% success

Wild dog

4% success

Elephant

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Buffalo

85% success

Spotted Hyena

78% success

Zebra

58% success

Aardvark

17% success

Eland

13% success

Sable antelope

8% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 1-10 of 120
Duration
Arrival date
Mr C
EBMATINGEN

"Chongwe River Camp review"

4 nights Arrived 22 Jul 2023
"Chongwe is a fantastic mix of game viewing from the jeep and water based activities. The option to mix it up how you want to adds a new dimension to your holiday.

We saw plenty of wildlife and plenty of birdlife, for sure.

The guides are all hugely experienced and unbelievably good at spotting animals that seem to appear from nowhere!

Add to this the excellent accommodation, fantastic food and brilliant camp staff and you have a recipe for the most amazing safari holiday ever." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Zebra

1 sighting

Mr G.
Devizes

"Chongwe River Camp review"

3 nights Arrived 17 Sep 2022
"Having come from South Luangwa, this was very different.

The flight in was great with the views of the park and the Zambezi.

We had been travelling all day after waking at 5am and going on a long game drive ending at Mfuwe airport after lunch, flying to Lusaka and then to Royal Airstrip via Jeki. We had been travelling with another couple with whom we had been sharing game drives and meals for the previous 5 days and had become friends. However, on being met at Royal airstrip, we were ushered into a separate vehicle from them, joining another couple (who struggled with english and were just starting their holiday). The guide then stopped en route to the camp for a lengthy briefing on the activities we could enjoy at Chongwe, most of which was already known to us. This delayed our reaching the camp and on arrival, this briefing was repeated.

There followed much confusion as to which chalet we had been allocated. We were told initially that it was number 3, but then told that that had elephant damage so it would be number 1, which we were taken to. It was set up with twin beds which needed to be re-arranged. Within minutes, we were told that we could have number 5 if we wished (although on examination it turned out to be identical, and that our friends had been given the un-damaged number 3). During all this time, our bags were left in reception and I had to go and get them as the guide was waiting to take us on a game drive. We had by then had the chance to ask if we could drive with our friends.

All this could have been avoided by asking us at the airport (or earlier) if we had a preference. It would also have been better to have recognised that we had had a long day and although perfectly willing to go straight out on a drive, we could have been helped to do so. It also transpired that despite the lengthy briefings, we had not been told about more important details such as flexible meal times, wake up calls etc, all of which we learned by osmosis subsequently.

This sounds like a rant but is meant to be genuinely constructive. We really enjoyed Chongwe and the contrast from South Luangwa camps. Although it is clearly a bigger operation and busier, the water activities were superb, particularly the canoe trip. The icing on the cake was the surprise lunch on a boat on the last day before leaving for the airport.

One very minor point was that we really appreciated the damp towels offered to us on return from dusty game drives when in South Luangwa. Could this perhaps be offered in Chongwe?

We loved the elephants that came to lunch in the restaurant, despite the disruption of them serving themselves behind the bar." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Eland

1 sighting

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr P & D
Australia

"Picturesque location, nice tent"

5 nights Arrived 19 Jul 2022
"Too many staff, didn't feel sincere, staff robotic, yawning, bored. We changed our guide on 2nd day.

This camp suits first time visitors to Africa - not for photographers or experienced safari travellers. The camp was very large, tents very luxurious and comfortable. We just didn't feel the vibe here. wished we had only stayed 3 nights and 5 nights at Old Mondoro.

The food was adequate - not great. Staying outside the NP was a waste of travel time each day. Too many elephants, impala and baboons in this part of the park.

We spent a day fishing - that was a good break from the jeep." See all these reviews: 16n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average

Location:
Average
Service:
Average
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Poor
Facilities:
Average
Sightings Report

Eland

1 sighting

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Lion

1 sighting

Sable antelope

1 sighting

Zebra

1 sighting

Mr C
EBMATINGEN

"Chongwe - Great stay at a great camp"

4 nights Arrived 13 Jul 2022
"Our second visit to Chongwe and very happy we made the decision to go back to this excellent camp. Location is perfect and this gives a range of activity options outside of the game drive.

Tent was very well laid out and facilities were all spot on. Clean, tidy, well stocked and nothing to fault.

Being critical, the food was somewhat basic compared to other camps, but it was all extremely well prepared and presented, tasted excellent, and there was plenty of it. Getting a menu choice and having somewhat flexible eating times made the whole food experience very good indeed.

Perhaps the very best part of the camp is the wonderful staff, from the managers to the night guard and gardener, they were all friendly, helpful, efficient and made this a wonderful stay.

A special mention to our guide Sam - nothing was too much for him, no question too small, and his knowledge is widespread." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

1 sighting

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

N & J Lancs
UK

"Chongwe River Camp review"

2 nights Arrived 25 Jun 2022
"Beautiful view - river, mountains and into the national park.

Elephants walking in to camp and past our tent! Great close up shots. Elephant in musk charging the jeep as we somehow we got between him and some females hidden in the bush.

Saw lioness with cubs and two juvenile males. Also saw 6 wild dogs, they ran past the jeep and then later we caught up with them as they were sleeping.

Our guide here was Hastings and again he was very knowledgeable and experienced. Very expert reversing down a narrow 800 metre track to get away from the big bull elephant!" See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

10 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Lion

8 sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Wild dog

6 sightings

Zebra

6 sightings

NJK
Manchester

"Chongwe River Camp review"

3 nights Arrived 28 May 2022
"Really lovely place - great setting on the river, great rooms and food. Felt 'busy' after my previous two stays but enjoyed chatting to fellow guests nonetheless. A bit disappointing to have wi-fi so I pretended it didnt exist (but at least one other guest was thrilled) and have to admit it was useful. Ate well, slept well, and generally was very well looked after. Would happily return.

Several visitors in camp - a fractious elephant, Albert the hippo is a regular, some shy warthogs who were keen to graze. A slender mongoose and water monitor lizard passed barely 6ft away as I sat on the verandah. Often lots of activity on the river bank opposite my chalet - elephants, crocs, baboons, various birds.

Bob was a great guide and covered lots of ground to ensure we saw all the different aspects of the park and its inhabitants. Our canoe trip was a definite highlight - genuinely an amazing experience (if slightly tense at one point, passing a grumpy elephant! We were in safe hands with Hector and Bob though). Really enjoyed how peaceful it was in the beautiful landscape, and closer to the birds/smaller animals who were less disturbed by us in a canoe than they would have been by us in a jeep." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr F
Hampshire

"Chongwe River Camp review"

10 nights Arrived 25 May 2022
"Everything about this camp faultless.

Our guide Ronald was one of the very best that we have had on our several visits to Africa.

The food was excellent and every member of staff extremely pleasant and efficient. the accommodation suits us, we are not looking for hot tubs etc and the camp is very well managed in every way." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

5 sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Zebra

2 sightings

Mrs E
Yardley, PA, US

"Chongwe River Camp review"

4 nights Arrived 9 Aug 2021
"This was my fifth visit Chongwe River Camp, and each visit is better than the last. The staff and guides are friendly, knowledgeable and just wonderful people. The camp's location, set at the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers, is truly beautiful. I particularly enjoy the view from Tent #4 as one can view both the Chongwe River and escarpment to the north and the Zambezi to the south. Activities include not only game drives and walks but also boating and fishing activities. Food is very good too. Elephants and impala were frequently wandering in camp, searching for winterthorn pods which had begun to fall. There is always some kind of wildlife to watch right from the tents." See all these reviews: 19n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

2 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Lion

3 sightings

Spotted Hyena

3 sightings

Zebra

2 sightings

Mr RVM
Sintra

"Chongwe River Camp review"

4 nights Arrived 7 Sep 2019
"Unforgettable! Above the best expectations. Everything was wonderful from the location to the facilities, bul specially the warmth of the people (manager, staff and guide). We've felt great.

After the first night we had a very kind accommodation upgrade in a private tented suite called "the Albida" (with two-bedrooms, as me and my wife Maria traveled together with my sister Célia and my brother-in-law José, and a common area for meals, leisure and rest). We cannot forget all the support and care received from Fossie (manager), Given (room service), Watson (meals), Steve (our guide) and the rest of the staff. And there was a lot of other surprises, including a birthday cake (and party) and a superb lunch on a boat on the Zambezi River!

Many animals visited us at the Albida during the day or the night - elephants, hippos, waterbucks, baboons and lots of birds. A waterbuck got trapped in our external bathroom on the second night but with the help of the night watch guys it eventually joined the herd. Unexpected adventure...

Canoeing activity was great. We loved the tours in Chongwe and Zambezi rivers and the other activities conducted by Steve as well. We saw a lot of animals although their diversity was not very large.

An aspect to improve: the lack of communications, including the internet, although it is great to keep you focused in your job (walk and drive safaris) can be a serious limitation if you are in need to hear from your family very far away...

Putting it all together: it was an unforgettable stay." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report

Buffalo

3 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

2 sightings

Zebra

1 sighting

Ms D
Ireland

"Cassia suite at Chongwe River Camp"

3 nights Arrived 4 Sep 2019
"Sunrise at Cassia suite is spectacular and magical!" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia; 9n in Botswana; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Showing 1-10 of 120
96%
120 reviews of Chongwe River Camp by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
99
17
4
0
0
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