Shiwa Ng'andu, the Africa House Safari

Follow in the footsteps of Dr. Livingstone and Sir Stewart Gore Browne on an historic trail.

7 night itinerary combining eastern and northern Zambia

  • Nkwali 2 Nights
  • Tena Tena 2 Nights,
  • Shiwa House 3 Nights

The Luangwa Valley, which marks the end of the Great Rift Valley, is one of the last unspoilt wilderness areas and possibly the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa. It covers an area of over 9000 sq. km. through which the meandering Luangwa River runs. The oxbow lagoons, woodland and plains of the valley host huge concentrations of game - including elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, hippo - and over 450 species of birds.

After you have thoroughly enjoyed your wildlife experience in the Luangwa Valley, you can now travel on further north in Zambia to experience the well-known which is truly a most amazing piece of African history. This is the former Estate of Sir Stewart Gore Browne built in 1928 against all odds. The house has recently been restored and offers guests a chance to put the experiences they may have enjoyed in the "Africa House" book by Christina Lamb into reality. An opportunity of a life time.

Itinerary

Days 1 and 2 After being met at the airport your guide will drive you to Nkwali Camp through colourful local scenes of villages, agriculture as well as bush. Nkwali Camp overlooks a wide bend of the Luangwa River into the South Luangwa National Park and is ideally situated for the start of your safari. All rooms have a view of the river and open air bathrooms. The game in this area is excellent - and includes many family herds of elephants and the endemic Thornicroft Giraffe.

A typical day) at Nkwali has you waking with the dawn to enjoy breakfast round a camp fire before heading out on your morning activity. A delicious lunch is enjoyed on the bank of the lagoon, which is frequently visited by our local wildlife. The afternoon is the quiet part of the day - for siesta or swim in the pool. In the mid-afternoon you meet up with your guide before heading out for an evening adventure, finding a beautiful location to watch the sun go down with a well earned drink in hand. The opportunity to discover the nocturnal world by spotlight is a wonderful treat before heading back to Nkwali for dinner.

NKWALI CAMP

Days 3 and 4 After an early breakfast, a gamedrive through the park and across the river takes you into the Nsefu Sector, which is recognised as a phenomenal game viewing area. Tena Tena is remote and small lying and enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. A grove of mahogany trees shade the large custom-made tents. From the thatched dining room and bar, guests can watch the elephants, hippo and antelope on the riverbank. Tena has 5 tents, each with a dressing room, open-air bathroom and private verandah that overlooks a water hole. Most meals are taken on the deck overlooking the lagoon.

During your stay you have the opportunity to drive or walk through the ebony groves or, depending on the heat and time of year, to explore further afield with an all day picnic drive to the salt pans that will cover different habitats and is an exceptional day's safari. There is also the option of visiting the community at Kawaza Village to experience life in a real non-tourist village.

TENA TENA CAMP

Days 5 to 7 Transfer to Shiwa Ng'andu with a game drive through the Nsefu Sector and a short plane journey over the escarpment seeing waterfalls and wilderness on your way. During your stay with Jo and Charles Harvey you can explore the house and estate learning the history of Sir Stewart Gore Browne and his family.

On walks around the estate you will come across everything from shy sitatunga and duiker to historical buildings including essential oil mills and traction engines. While exploring you can find Sir Steward Gore Browne's grave with beautiful view of the lake or climb Nachipala Hill, where David Livingstone took bearings on his last journey some weeks before his death. Breathtaking views from 6000 ft.

For those who can ride, guided horse trails are available. Many an hour can be sent searching through archives and historical photos piecing together the story of Shiwa. Delicious hearty meals are created mostly from produce locally grown on the farm.

SHIWA HOUSE

Day 8 After a hearty breakfast you will depart for Lusaka, via Mfuwe, to meet your connecting flight.

This package includes

  • All domestic flights and transfers.
  • Robin Pope Safaris ~ accommodation - Nkwali only in low season, Nkwali, Tena Tena, Nsefu in high season, meals, drinks, laundry, game activities, transfers, national park fees.
  • Shiwa Ng'andu ~ accommodation, meals, local drinks, laundry, and activities

This package excludes

  • Visas, international flights, airport taxes

Conditions

  • Minimum 2 people. Children of 13 years and above are welcome at full rate.

Camp Information

Nkwali Camp is located on RPS private land, overlooking the National Park.  The land is superb gameviewing country, with a beautiful area of ebony woodland and open grass plains.  Elephants often cross the Luangwa, seen from the bar, or come to the waterhole near the thatched dining room.  The chalets are cool and spacious, with a view of the river.  One double, four twins and a honeymoon suite/family suite.  Throughout the year we have direct access from camp to the park by boat.  During the dry months we operate a pontoon into the more southern part of the area.

  • 12 guests
  • woven bamboo walls with plastering on the inside and thatch roof chalets
  • en-suite semi open air bathrooms with flush loo, double shower and basins
  • walking, drives, night drives, visit to Kawaza Village and school, Tribal Textiles
  • plunge pool

Nsefu Camp. On a sweeping bend of the river, 12 kilometers north of Tena Tena, lies Nsefu. Nsefu was the first game camp in Zambia and dates back to the early fifties. The Nsefu Sector was recognised then as a phenomenal area and it still is. We reopened the camp in 1999, in keeping with the original style, and so operate the only 2 camps in the Nsefu Sector of the park.

The view of the river is superb and includes a terraced area where game grazes during the day. The bar, tucked in beside a huge extinct termite mound, overlooks a waterhole that is very productive for game, especially leopard at night. The original rondavels have been extended, with a spacious bathroom added. Each room has a clear view of the river, through large windows and from the new wooden verandah. The camp lies in the heart of the undeveloped Nsefu sector and so offers charm and total comfort in remoteness and seclusion.

  • 12 guests
  • en suite bathrooms
  • open late May - early November
  • open mid January to end March for River Journeys
  • walking, drives, night drives

“Tena Tena Camp … is altogether beyond superlatives, and must be one of the best safari camps in the whole of Africa”, The Times, London. This remote and small camp lies within the National Park and enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. A grove of mahogany trees shade the large custom-made tents. The dining room is on an elevated deck overlooking the lagoon, where guests can watch an assortment of animals that come to the lagoon to drink. Nearby there is a spectacular lagoon, Buca Buca, where a whole morning can be spent quietly sitting while the game comes down to feed and drink. With the camp being remote and small, we have these scenes to ourselves.

  • 10 guests
  • tents under thatch
  • en suite bathrooms
  • open late May - early November
  • walking, drives, night drives

Shiwa House is located in the heart of Northern Zambia and the house (Africa House) overlooks the famous Shiwa N’gandu “Lake of the Royal Crocodiles”. This has to be one of the most photographed houses in the whole of Africa. The house has recently been restored in keeping with the style and your hosts Charlie and Jo Harvey (Charlie is great grandson of Sir Stewart Gore Browne who built the house in 1928) are now taking in guests in four double rooms with ensuite facilities.

The Estate boasts a 10,000 hectare game ranch with 22 mammal species, fishing and birding on the lake, historic walks around the estate, horse trails, river walks and day trips to the Kapishya Hot Springs. The house is steeped in history and the library remains the manor’s heart and guests have access to archival material and one of the largest private collections in Zambia. Dr Kaunda wrote his book here and befriended the late Sir Stewart Gore Browne and indeed when he died he was the only white African ever to be honored with a State Funeral. There is a 1200m airstrip at Shiwa where guests will be flown back to South Luangwa and on to Lusaka. The end to a memorable and historic safari. To quote an inscription above the grand fireplace in the Library:

“Ille terrarum mihi super omnes anculus ridet”

“THIS CORNER OF THE EARTH, ABOVE ALL OTHERS, SMILES ON ME”