The camp is situated in a grove of acacia and winter thorn trees, strung out along the banks of the Zambezi River and overlooking a maze of hippo-inhabited channels.

Rooms
Old Mondoro accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 comfortable, but rustic, canvas roofed chalets, each with en suite facilities consisting of flush loos, wash basin, outdoor plumbed shower and a splash tub. Each chalet is built onto a low concrete base with a shaded deck to the fore with safari chairs and a comfortable day bed. There are no ‘windows’ (canvas blinds can be dropped after dark) which adds to the safari feel. Standing fans are provided during the hotter months (September onwards). Two chalets have views over the Zambezi River (one more direct than the other), while another three have views over a small river bed and into the bush beyond. One of the chalets is suitable for families with two en suite bedrooms under a shared canvas roof.

Central Areas
There is a small dining and lounge area which forms the nucleus of the camp and all meals are taken communally with your hosts. The camp is unfenced, and a range of game including elephant and hippo are frequent visitors.

• ROOMS- 4 safari rooms.
• POOL- NO
• PRIVATE DINING – NO
• AIRCON- NO

SAFARI ACTIVITIES

River cruises, day game drives, night game drives, fishing, walking safaris.

Bush Walks

Pioneered in Zambia, bush walks are essentially a “micro-safari”. An armed ranger with your qualified and experienced pro guide will guide you through the wilderness on foot, interpreting spoor, identifying the various flora and fauna, and highlighting conservation issues. However elephants and buffalo are seen on most walks.

Canoeing

Although the Zambezi offers many activities, perhaps it is best known for canoeing. No where else is there such a combination of breathtaking scenery, varied wildlife and such interesting channels to paddle through. Six-meter-long Canadian canoes are used and these trips may last anywhere from 1 hour to 1 day.

Fishing

Chiawa Camp is internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s leading fishing destinations. Recommended by authoritative anglers and in publications such as The Best Fly Fishing Trips Money Can Buy and Forbes Traveler, expert guides are on hand to assist you in finding the notorious tigerfish (camp record 10.1kg, average 2kg) which are caught on fly or conventional tackle and other species that abound in the Zambezi River.

Game drives

This is the safest and most effective way to view big game. Drives are conducted in open 4wd vehicles that have been specially adapted for safari use with comfy seats, pockets to stow your gear and bean bags to steady your camera for those all important photos. Usually departing in the early morning, drives can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on what’s seen and the requirements of the guests.

The Lower Zambezi eco-system is one of Africa’s most diverse and scenic, with a variety of habitats in a small area, due to the proximity of the river and the escarpment. Many soil types and varying water tables make for an incredible diversity of vegetation, and the most interesting of Zambia safari activities. However, this eco-system is extremely fragile and impacted to some extent by the Kariba Dam which is located some 150km’s upstream. This has led to the designation of World Heritage status upon the neighbouring Mana Pools National Park, and is something we are lobbying for with Zambian authorities, to seek the same from UNESCO.

Most of safari activities take place on the Zambezi and its floodplains, however, drives and walks will often venture onto higher ground, combining all the habitats these have to offer such as grassland, woodland, forest, thicket, floodplain and riverine.

Old Mondoro Cam
Lower Zambezi National Park

DINING

Old Mondoro is full of flavour. Where elephants visit at lunch, dinner is enjoyed under the stars, and each meal caters to all tastes. The excellent cuisine, oft described as an Afro/Euro fusion, caters for most palates with aplomb.

Menus and recipes have been developed and enhanced over time with a view to balance health, variety and some indulgence – you are on holiday after all!

UNDER THE STARS OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSH

Our imaginative camp chefs ensure meals are of the highest standard despite the remote and basic conditions in the bush. Vegetarians, vegans, gluten free, and lactose intolerant diets are all well catered for with advance notice.

Depending on the time of year and the day’s activities, breakfasts, brunches and lunches are served plated, or hot and cold buffet style, usually al-fresco, and sometimes in the bush!

Afternoon tea with sweet and savoury snacks is usually served overlooking the river and just prior to the afternoon safari activities.

Dinners are multiple courses at this exclusive “Zambian Restaurant”, table d’hote, where dietary requirements are catered for, and usually served under the stars or by the camp fire.

GUESTS TO THE PARK ARE ASSURED OF SEEING VERY LITTLE HUMAN ACTIVITY.

Some of the animals found in this area.
Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.

Some of the birds found in this area.
Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.

Abundant water, food and shelter give rise to a spectacular array of wildlife in the Lower Zambezi. The rich and diverse habitat of this small national park is home to one of Africa’s healthiest elephant populations, along with vast herds of buffalo, prides of lion, and elusive leopards. Various small carnivores and omnivores abound, as do nocturnal hyenas, secretive jackals, zebra and antelope.

Although Africa is no stranger to conservation challenges such as encroachment and poaching, the Lower Zambezi National Park is one of Africa’s best protected sanctuaries thanks to cooperation between the safari operators and Zambia Wildlife Authority through the charity Conservation Lower Zambezi (which Grant co-founded in 1994) and of which Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro are anchor donors.

Zambia, like many African safari destinations, has a wet season and a dry season. The best time to visit the Lower Zambezi National Park is during the dry season from May to November. Opportunities for game viewing and Zambezi wildlife photography are plentiful when water supplies dwindle between June and October, as animals are out more often searching for their next drink. If you can bear higher temperatures, September and October are best for ultimate wildlife sightings.

However, if you’re planning to see Victoria Falls before or after your Lower Zambezi safari with Chiawa, then March to May are ideal for the powerful waters of the Mosi-oa-Tunya to be flowing freely.

The rainy months of the Lower Zambezi, also called the green season, transforms the landscape into a lush and verdant oasis. But it also means wildlife viewing is lacking, while humidity increases the mosquito population. Many lodges, including our two Zambezi camps Old Mondoro and Chiawa Camp, are closed during this time.

Many African safari destinations are overcrowded, where the experience is overpromised and underdelivered. A safari in Zambia is none of these things. Only declared as a national park in 1983, it previously served as the private park of the Zambian President. This private use kept the masses of tourists away from Zambia for far longer than many other African safari destinations. Long-standing ivory trade bans and anti-poaching teams have allowed for Zambian wildlife to flourish, leaving Zambia and its unfenced safari lodges open to a pristine and raw wilderness unlike any other in Africa.

Zambia is also one of the safest nations in Africa, as rated by the World Economic Forum (WEF), coming ahead of Botswana (84 of 141), South Africa (119 of 141) and Kenya (131 of 141) on the Safety & Security index. Rated at 68 of 141 nations, Zambia is just a few spots behind the United Kingdom (63 of 141) and travelers can rest easy with this knowledge.