Chongwe River House & Camp

Rooms and units

Chongwe River House 1

Includes: D B & B

Designed by Neil Rocher, this stunning private house is situated approximately 1 km from our camp. The entire house is built of ferro walls and wild wood. So the walls follow the natural lines of the branches used. In fact there is not a single straight line to be seen! It is flowing and natural in every way. The location of the house is at the end of a massive winterthorn grove, on the banks of the peaceful Chongwe River, a tributary of the Zambezi. The view of the nearby mountainous escarpment is spectacular. From the main room you look out over the deck and pool to the river and mountains beyond. All the furniture in the sitting room has been carved from a single huge fallen winterthorn tree, as if it has fallen across the room. Beautifully soft coloured pebbles from the Chongwe River have been embedded in the ceilings. The ground floor bedrooms are each entered through a tunnel which gives the feeling of walking through a cave. The curved entrance gives privacy without the need for doors. The downstairs bathrooms have water pouring out of the stone ceiling instead of the normal shower rose, whilst the upstairs showers are waterfalls. “Taps” are made from bone and wood and the exquisitely carved basins have been carved out of wood and white marble by the famous Zambian artist, Eddie Mumba. The upstairs bedrooms have unusual baths, from which you have a view across the bush. The Chongwe area is famous for huge male elephants feeding through the winterthorn grove in which the house is situated and this amazing game experience is enhanced by the fact the Chongwe River itself it the main water source for most of the game in the area. From the bedrooms, the sitting room and the deck you will have game in view, feeding and watering. Uniquely designed private house for up to eight guests Four large ensuite bedrooms, massive dining/sitting area Swimming pool and platform. All activities are exclusive to the house guests Private vehicles, guides and armed scout for walking safari. Canoes and boat. The private chef and house manager will discuss menu planning for the stay. Activities and meals will be designed to suit the individual group requirement. Equally suitable for families and groups (min age 7) Wide range of hosted activities for children, independent of parents, (with child minder available).

Features available

Chongwe River Camp 9

Includes: D B & B

Be warned! Chongwe River Camp is a luxury 'bush camp' situated in a wilderness area; elephant are more numerous than people in our Albida grove. There are no fences and the animals have complete right of way. If you wish to enter into the spirit of non-intrusive enjoyment of wildlife, in a relaxed, natural setting, we offer the experience of a lifetime. One does not have to even leave the camp to see and hear a wide variety of wildlife. Relaxing in the sitting out area over looking the river, one can see a constant procession of game coming down to drink as well as over 250 species of birds.

Features available

Albida and Cassia Suites 2

Includes: D B & B

Albida Suite: Opened in 2007, Chongwe River Camps’ Albida suite, designed by Neil Rocher, is situated on the Chongwe and Zambezi confluence with a view of the escarpment to the North. It is on the finest site we have and has been in reserve for a special project. Custom designed tents and organic ferro walling interspersed with natural wood. The two rooms share a lounge and dining area appointed with fine furniture and antiques that over look a private pool and the Zambezi. Albida is the proud culmination of years of design and experience and is also the perfect marriage between Chongwe Camp and Chongwe House. The en-suite deluxe rooms are separate octagonal tents with gauze windows on seven sides with inter-leading path ways and gardens. The bathrooms have a canvas roof but are open to the bush with a bath, double basins and double shower. One shower is under cover and one is open air. Perfect for families or friends who travel together. The rooms can have a third bed or cot quite easily. Guests are welcome to join the main camp for meals or a drink or remain in their suite. The exclusivity is optional. If just two people want the whole suite, there is a suite rate that ensures exclusive use of the whole facility but does not guarantee a private guide. Activities include game drives, including night drives in the National Park or along the Chongwe River, walking safaris, cruising, fishing and canoeing. If the suite is filled and the group is doing the same activity then private guides will be available. Sometimes, if the group splits up, or due to safety and routes on canoes and walks a private guide/activity is not always possible. The suite offers pure luxury but sill retains the spirit of the bush. We are quite confident it is the finest tented accommodation in the Lower Zambezi if not all of Zambia. Cassia Suite: Cassia Suite is a stand alone unit at the very confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers, built to compliment our executive suite at Albida and provide a luxurious individual tent for Chongwe. This prime site, which was originally owner Chris Liebenbergs’ home in the Valley, has been relinquished for this elite project and is ideal for guests requesting the exclusivity of a suite and offers privacy and the quintessential romantic setting for honeymoon couples. Built in the same style and grandeur as Albida Suite with a custom-designed octagonal room tent, this has gauze windows, which may be rolled up during the day, on seven sides of tents. The adjoining bathroom has a canvas roof with double basin, shower and free standing bath with organic ferro walling interspersed with natural wood allowing privacy but also a sense of open air bathing. A lounge appointed with comfortable, plush chairs and sofas and accented with fine antiques sits toward the front of the suite alongside a private pool set at the edge of the river. This area is perfect for relaxing while viewing the confluence of the Zambezi with the Chongwe and a dining area allows meals and drinks to be taken in the suite or in the main camp. All the usual and expected safari activities are available here with highly knowledgeable and professional guides providing an exhilarating, safe and informative African experience. And with no fences at Chongwe, there are no barriers for an extraordinary safari.

Features available

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