Chula Island Camp

Chula Island Camp sits on the Zambezi River inside Lower Zambezi National Park, operating as a small seasonal tented camp with a ceiling of ten guests at any one time. Five tents are positioned individually along the riverbank, each placed to face the water. The tents are canvas, fitted with proper mattresses and linen, and each has a private detached bathroom with a flush toilet, running water, and a bucket shower. The setup is deliberately simple in method — the bucket shower is heated rather than plumbed — but the materials are not rough.

The main area is a large stretch-canvas tent pitched beneath Natal Mahogany trees, used for meals, wildlife watching, and charging camera batteries. Dining here is communal, and the bar is part of the same space.

From camp, the activity list covers most of what the Lower Zambezi offers: game drives, night drives, guided walks, canoeing on the river, boating, catch-and-release fishing, and bird watching. The park holds good populations of elephant and lion, and the Zambezi corridor is one of the more productive canoeing routes in southern Africa — you travel at water level through hippo and crocodile habitat with a guide.

The camp is seasonal, so confirm operating dates before planning travel. Laundry is done in camp at no additional charge.