Chongwe River House

15°42’29.3"S 29°20’14.9"E

100% (8 reviews)

Chongwe River House: Information from the owner

General information

Type: Safari Lodge

No. of rooms: 4

Check-in time: 11.00

Check-out time: 09.00

About this information

All the information on this page is supplied to us directly from the lodge owner and reflects their view, not ours.

For Expert Africa's view, see our own full report on Chongwe River House, which contains our own observations and views.

Last updated by Owner: 20 Apr 2023

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Facilities at Chongwe River House

Property facilities: 24-hour Security, Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Library, Meal on Request, Pool, Private Vehicle Available
Room facilities: Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Disabled Rooms, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Fan, Fridge, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Mosquito Nets, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Activities on site: Bird Watching, Boating, Canoeing, Catch-and-release Fishing, Fine Dining, Fishing, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Viewing Hide, Game Walks, Gourmet Picnic, High Tea, Kayaking, Night Drives, Safaris, Sleep Outs, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours
Nearby activities: Animal Encounters, Bird Watching, Boat Cruises, Boating, Canoeing, Catch-and-release Fishing, Child Friendly Activities, Cultural Tours, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Hiking, River Cruises, Safaris, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours
Languages: English

Room types at Chongwe River House

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Time + Tide Chongwe House

Time + Tide Chongwe House rests on a peaceful stretch of the Chongwe River, set against a beautiful mountainous backdrop.

A two-storey, four-bedroom, four-bathroom private house, its design blends effortlessly into the undulating landscape around it, with river pebble accents and furniture carved from a fallen winterthorn tree. The house sleeps four to eight people and features private open-air bathtubs and waterfall showers, a large pool and spacious indoor and outdoor lounges with dining areas perfect for spending time together.

Listen to fish eagle calls and the faint sound of a resident family of warthogs ‘mowing’ the grass outside. Watch elephants wade across the river right in front of the house. Savour fine dining in the wild, featuring local and seasonal ingredients.

Activities at Chongwe River House

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Boat Cruise

The Zambezi River offers a variety of additional activities that few, if any, other destinations can offer. One such activity is a river safari which offers both morning and afternoon opportunities to view game from the comfort of a luxury boat.

Sit back and relax as your guide leisurely navigates the islands and main channels of the mighty Zambezi. Cruise the river looking at game, birds and enjoy some of the most spectacular sunsets you are ever likely to see. All without the bumps and dust of game drives.

Morning coffee or evening sundowners can be enjoyed from either the boat or from your own island in the middle of the Zambezi River!

Cultural Village Visit

The Chiawa Cultural Village was born of a partnership between conservation organizations (with Africa Wildlife Foundation as a key strategic partner), Lower Zambezi Lodges and the Goba people of Chiawa, championing a cultural tourism enterprise prototype that empowers local people to benefit directly from the tourism trade generated by the profusion of wildlife in the region. It is owned by the Chiawa community through the Tsika Development Company.

At the Chiawa Cultural Village, visitors will embark on a guided tour where they will learn about the lives of the Goba people, their traditions, trades, tools, edifices and arts including dance, song and handiwork of local craftspeople.

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Fishing

When it comes to fishing, Chongwe is tiger country! The Lower Zambezi is home to the tiger fish, nicknamed the “water dog,” whose sharp teeth are matched only by its fighting spirit and reputation as one of the world’s top game fish.

At Chongwe House we offer our guests the chance to head out onto the river in search of this formidable combatant, operating a strict catch-and-release policy in order to preserve stocks of this incredible fish.

Alternatively, you can try your hand at bream fishing on the Chongwe river itself, where a limited catch can be brought back to camp and served up with a delicious lemon butter sauce!

Fishing can be combined with game activities and all equipment is provided, with both conventional tackle and entry level fly rods available. We recommend serious fly fisherman should bring their own tackle. Please contact us for specifications and recommendations.

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Game Drive

Driving safaris are all conducted in a private, open 4X4 vehicle (Land Cruiser or Land Rover) with either two or three 'rows' of seats allowing the whole group a great view.

Night drives are generally an extension of your afternoon game drive, canoe or walking safari. As the sun begins to set we stop to watch the day come to a close and as dusk falls set off to explore as the nocturnal animals start to emerge.

The best chance of seeing genets, civets, elephant shrew, porcupine and the fierce honey-badger is after sunset and the large predators, with the exception of wild dog, are most active at night. Night time birding can be very rewarding with nightjars, owls great and small, dikkop, bat hawk and coursers are all abundant.

The Africa night sky is simply magnificent and it’s worth coming all this way just to experience its vastness and splendour. The Milky Way seems 100 times brighter in the Luangwa Valley where there is no light pollution. We’re watched over by the Southern Cross, Orion and Scorpio amongst an infinite number of others and memories of sitting in awed silence listening to the distant call of lions, cicadas and a million tree frogs under the crescent of an African moon will live with you forever.