Chongwe River House: Our full report

A short distance from Chongwe River Camp, the spectacular Chongwe River House is a luxurious four-bedroomed house has been designed with originality and luxury in mind - complete with its own pool and deck in a great bush location overlooking the Chongwe River, a tributary of the great Zambezi River.

It opened in April 2006, and since then has created quite an impression with all who have seen it. Chongwe River House is fully self-contained and staffed, including a private guide and game-viewing vehicle. Here you have a choice of walking safaris, boat trips, 4WD game safaris and night drives – all led by your own expert safari guide. The house also gives you the flexibility to set your own schedule: get up when you like, eat when suits you – and enjoy the safari activities for as long, or as short, as you like.

This flexibility if particularly well-suited to family safaris with children, but is also great for groups of friends who are traveling together. All walking safaris are accompanied by an armed game ranger, as well as a fully-qualified safari guide.

If you're planning a family safari, then in addition to Chongwe River House you might also consider including a trip to Zambia's other 'houses' which have been designed with families in mind. In the South Luangwa National Park, Robin Pope Safaris run the Robin's House and the Luangwa Safari House - both of which work very well for families or small groups.

For something completely different, families can have the old stately home at Shiwa Ng'andu largely to themselves – and a whole range of activities from game drives and horse-riding to archeology projects are possible there!

Another very separate entity, on the Zambezi's banks, near Livingstone, Tangala House is a very lovely family home which can also be hired out for exclusive use – complete with toys, books, kitchen equipment and absolutely all the things that you'd normally find in a family home. It is connected to the excellent nearby Tongabezi Lodge.

Chongwe River House combines very well with its more normal sister safari camps: nearby Chongwe River Camp in the Lower Zambezi, and Nsefu, Tena Tena, and Nkwali Camp in South Luangwa.

Geographics

Location: Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

Ideal length of stay: Chongwe River House opens from about 1st April until 30th November, and often groups and families will stay here for a week or two at a time. Note that it is often booked up far in advance, especially during school holiday periods – so book as far in advance as you can. To check the availability of the house on the dates that you want, use the 'Live availability' link on the right-side of this page.

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Special interests

Family holidays: The spectacular Chongwe River House was made for fun family safaris. It's very stylish and totally original, with not a straight line in the whole house. Chongwe House centres around a vast lounge-dining area, and of this are four large bedrooms (all en-suite), a kitchen, plenty of space and a large outdoor deck and swimming pool. It's one of Africa's best family safari camps – perfect for a group travelling together – and comes with its own chef and safari guide.

See more ideas for Family holidays in Zambia

Birdwatching: You'll find good safari guides at Chongwe River House and a superb location. From the foothills of the escarpment in one direction, to the great Zambezi River in the other – you'll find quite a range of different environments, and some very prolific birdlife. It's a top destination for keen bird-watchers.

See more ideas for Birdwatching in Zambia

Wildlife safaris: Chongwe River House comes with a private expert safari guide who is fully-qualified to lead walking safaris, boat trips and 4WD safaris – and the park rules allow night drives and some off-read driving. Hence the Chongwe River House offers a first-class wildlife safari experience in one of the best areas of the Lower Zambezi Vallyey

See more ideas for Wildlife safaris in Zambia

Children

Generally recommended for children: Yes

Central communications

Power supply: Generator

TV & radio: Chongwe River House has no TVs or radios – this is the bush!

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: In emergency, Chongwe River House has access to very good communications facilities, and is a short flight from Lusaka.

Dangerous animals: High Risk