Luangwa Safari House: Our full report

In the Nkwali area, the spectacular Luangwa Safari 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 a waterhole and the backdrop of the Chindeni Hills.

Like Robin's House, it is fully self-contained and staffed, including a private guide and game-viewing vehicle. Here you have a choice of short walking safaris, 4WD game safaris and night drives. With your own expert safari guide and 4WD, you can 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 grups of friends who are traveling together. All walking safaris are accompanied by an armed game ranger, as well as a fully-qualified RPS guide.

If you're planning a family safari, the you might also consider including a trip to Zambia's other 'houses' which have been designed with families in mind. Close to the Luangwa Safari House, Robin Pope Safaris also run the Robin's House. A short 90-minute flight south-west of South Luangwa National Park, in the Lower Zambezi, they also have the Chongwe River House, which works for families or small groups on exactly the same basis.

As a separate entity, on the banks of the Zambezi near Livingstone – Tangala House is a real (and very lovely) family home for most of the year – but can also be hired out for exclusive use – complete with books, toys, 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.

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!

Luangwa Safari House combines very well with its more normal sister safari camps in South Luangwa, Nsefu (which is also in the Nsefu Sector of South Luangwa National Park) and Tena Tena - and for a really authentic cultural experience, a natural choice would be a trip to Kawaza Village.

Geographics

Location: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Ideal length of stay: Luangwa Safari House opens all year, 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 'availability' link on the right-side of this page; you may need to scroll down.

Key personnel

Owner: Privately owned by Robin Pope Safaris

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Drinks included: Yes - soft drinks, house wine and local spirits are included in the rates. Note that fine wines, champagne and imported spirits and liqueurs, are charged as extras.

Special interests

Family holidays: The Luangwa Safari House has been purpose-built for family safaris – like a family house. Inside is a vast central lounge and dining area, four large bedrooms (all with full, en-suite bathrooms), a kitchen and plenty of space. Outside is a swimming pool and a game-viewing platform. It's one of Africa's most spectacular destinations for a family safari - and perfect for a group of 8 adults travelling together.

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Birdwatching: The safari guides at Luangwa Safari House are keen bird-watchers and the house stands in a lovely location with tall old trees around, and great views across a lagoon to the hills beyond. Luangwa Safari House makes a very good stop for keen bird-watchers.

See more ideas for Birdwatching in Zambia

Walking safaris:

See more ideas for Walking safaris in Zambia

Wildlife safaris: Luangwa Safari House comes with a private 4WD safari vehicle and an expert guide, fully-qualified to lead walking safaris as well as 4WD safaris – and the park rules allow night drives and some off-read driving. Hence the Luangwa Safari House offers a really superb wildlife safari experience in one of the best areas of the South Luangwa.

See more ideas for Wildlife safaris in Zambia

Children

Generally recommended for children: Yes - with a minuimum age of 7 years old.

Central communications

Power supply: Mains Electricity

Communications: In emergency, Luangwa Safari House has access to very good communications facilities.

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

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Extras

Disabled access: On Request

Laundry facilities: A full laundry service is included.