Chikunto Safaris

Chikunto sits inside South Luangwa National Park — not on its edge, but within it — on a site overlooking a waterhole and the Luangwa River. The park holds one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife and is where the walking safari was developed as a guiding discipline. Being based inside the park rather than outside it means you reach the game faster and share the roads with fewer vehicles than in the busier central Mfuwe area.

The lodge has five tented suites, each raised on wooden platforms one and a half to two metres off the ground, with verandas and unobstructed views to the river. Room types include a standard luxury double or twin, a two-bedroom family suite with a shared bathroom, and a deluxe combination suite connected by a private walkway to a six-metre-high sleep-out and stargazing platform with its own shower. A two-bedroom private villa, Nthawi House, opens in September 2026. The main area — reception, dining room, bar, and lounge — sits under a thatch roof on raised decking facing the same river view.

Activities run morning and afternoon, with game drives, guided walks, night drives, boating, and river cruises all available. Walking safaris go out with an armed scout. The kitchen cooks everything on site, sourcing ingredients locally where possible, and caters for vegetarian, vegan, and coeliac guests. There is a salt-water counter-current swimming pool, a photographic hide, and a photo and editing suite on the property. The lodge takes exclusive-use bookings and has two additional guide rooms for specialist groups.