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Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp
Shawa Luangwa Camp

Reviews of Shawa Luangwa

Wildlife sightings and reviews

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

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Aug-2022, 3 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Shawa Luangwa.
Lion

100% success

Leopard

100% success

Wild dog

33% success

Buffalo

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Spotted Hyena

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Aardvark

0% success

Eland

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Roan antelope

0% success

Sable antelope

0% success

Wildebeest

0% success

Showing 1-3 of 3
Duration
Arrival date
Pete & Nancy
Stockton

"Shawa Luangwa Camp review"

4 nights Arrived 7 Oct 2023
"We were really interested in both the area and the electric vehicles at Shawa Camp. We flew from Lusaka to Mfuwe on ProFlight Zambia. Then there was about a one hour drive on tar and dirt roads to get to the camp.

The river level was still good in early October and we crossed it each day in a boat to do our game drives in South Luangwa National Park. The vehicles were transferred each morning and evening by ferry to the park and back in the same location. The drive to the crossing point from camp is only a few minutes and once across, our game drives officially began in the park saving the time it would have taken to otherwise drive to main entry gate.

The electric safari vehicles are really nice. While quieter, they still make the usual clunking and other road noises but are especially quiet when the guide repositions the vehicle at an animal sighting. It was particularly noticeable when another vehicle came along and made engine starting noises and puffs of black smoke every time they repositioned. While driving we did notice some animals were surprised when they did not notice us until we were fairly close.

The weather was 100 degrees plus (38 celsius), so quite warm. It was very comfortable in camp but our tent (#4) was somewhat hot during the day. The afternoon sun came directly in the front, which is all screened-in. The tent has an A/C unit which directs cool air onto the bed by blowing upward against a sheet-like membrane. It works very well at night but during the day the wind blew crossways through the side screens so only the very edge of the bed was cool. It did help keep us comfortable, however. We probably should have asked to have the flaps lowered on the side the wind came through.

The tent is built on a raised platform with a large seating area in front with chairs and an umbrella providing a beautiful view of the Luangwa River. The tent has an indoor shower/toilet and a bathtub. A pleasant surprise was an outdoor shower that worked very well and was most welcome on a sweltering afternoon.

The food was great with lots of choices, plenty of fruit, delicious vegetables, meat dishes and vegetarian options too. It was difficult not to eat too much every day.

There were some tsetse flies around the area but weren’t a big problem, and none in camp.

We needed a guide escort to our tent and back at night and in the early morning, but could sometimes walk on our own in the afternoon. The camp is unfenced, and elephants were roaming through camp regularly at the time we were there. Beautiful location along the Luangwa River with the dining and bar area located on a raised platform under large trees. There is also a raised lawn area with a pool facing the river with comfortable seating.

Game drives were good with a lot of animals and we did one all day drive that was really interesting with all the different landscapes. One thing we did not care for was we always returned at night with a night drive. We aren’t fans of night drives to begin with and there were a lot of other vehicles from the camps doing the same thing in the park. The other camp vehicles were not as noticeable during the day drives, and the number of vehicles at any sighting is limited.

We had a really interesting walking safari with Jacob Shawa, the legendary local guide who chose the location for Shawa Camp and for whom the camp is named. Jacob’s love of the local environment and respect for the animals is eclipsed only by his knowledge of both. We learned so much. Our walk with Jacob was one of the highlights of our time spent in Africa on this trip.

Notes on ProFlight - Lusaka to Mfuwe:
If you carry a lot of camera gear you are always concerned an airline may make you check it. ProFlight allows one item up to 5kg carry on. All must fit under the seat. The reality was we checked our two duffels and carried our backpacks to the plane. Mine was determined to be too big, so I pulled out my camera insert and they took my pack and loaded it in the cargo area. When the plane lands you just grab your pack right at the plane while the other luggage is brought inside. My wife’s pack fit under the seat (aisle) but my camera insert just fit under my seat as the window seat has restricted space under it. They are quite nice and casual about it though, if you sit in one of those seats without enough room, just put your pack in an empty seat." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 10n in Botswana; 6n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Buffalo

3 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

3 sightings

Lion

5 sightings

Spotted Hyena

4 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Mr & Mrs J
Chepstow

"Shawa Luangwa Camp review"

3 nights Arrived 13 Sep 2023
"We were a little disappointed that all of the safari drives and the walking safari were on the other side of the river. We were expecting these to be in the Nsefu sector and this was a significant factor in choosing the camp.

However, the camp staff and set up were excellent as was the food. Our guide, Jack, was very knowledgeable and personable. He took on board our particular interest in birds.

The electric vehicles used for the safari drives were a great feature, so quiet." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

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

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr & Mrs E
Glos.

"Shawa a camp to relax under the trees."

7 nights Arrived 29 Aug 2022
"A new camp set up to be green by using solar for which they have 220 panels.

They also use solar powered vehicles. These are very quiet and the wildlife do not seem to mind.

All the staff are relatively young and nothing is too much bother. They make your stay a pleasure. The guiding here is first class.

The accommodation is in tents raised up on a platform approached by steps. They are roomy and overlook the river. The central area including the bar are also raised and reached via steps." See all these reviews: 18n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Buffalo

3 sightings

Elephant

7 sightings

Giraffe

6 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

5 sightings

Lion

5 sightings

Spotted Hyena

4 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Showing 1-3 of 3
93%
3 reviews of Shawa Luangwa by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
2
1
0
0
0
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