Mwamba Bush Camp:
Shenton Safari’s Wild Soul Refined
In a remote corner of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, where the dry season draws wildlife in like a magnet and the nights echo with the enveloping sound of territorial lion calls, Mwamba Bush Camp is unmistakably wild.
Long cherished by safari lovers for its authenticity, Mwamba is the smaller, more intimate sister camp to Shenton Safaris’ renowned Kaingo Camp. Its charm has always been its close connection to nature: just four chalets, completely solar-powered, tucked under ancient ebony and sausage trees. Last year’s renovation breathed fresh life into the camp while carefully preserving its wild spirit and barefoot luxury ethos.
Gone are the traditional reed walls, replaced with handcrafted woven bamboo panels and subtle screening that dance with natural light. The result is chalets that seem to disappear into the landscape while offering guests more comfort than ever before. The interiors are spacious, light-filled, breezy spaces, each with a private veranda that overlooks the wild canvas of open plains and dry riverbeds. The open-air bathrooms remain a highlight, featuring sculptural copper tapware, live-edge mirrors, and solid paths underfoot. The showers are delightfully open to the trees, where hornbills call to you as you lather up beneath the canopy. It’s this balance: comfort without barriers to the wild, that has always been Mwamba’s signature.
I fell in love with the new viewing deck. Perched above the dry Mwamba riverbed, it’s quickly become everyone’s favourite hangout spot. There’s something magical about lingering over brunch while watching elephants and impalas wander the sandy riverbed below, completely undisturbed by your presence. In the evenings, the unmistakably Mwamba dinner experience served beneath the stars awaits under the great ebony tree, with chandeliers hanging from a trailing python vine.
For those in the know, the real magic happens where your gaze meets the wild: Mwamba is home to the legendary Last Waterhole Hide, one of Shenton Safaris’ trademark “windows to the wilds”. Tucked discreetly beside a permanent pool of water, it offers an unrivalled front-row seat to the rhythms of the bush. Designed for photographers, loved by all, this hide provides close, unobtrusive encounters with everything from big cats and thirsty elephants to swarms of quelea and love birds, all unaware of your quiet presence nearby.
What makes the renovation so special is how it manages to improve without intruding. The changes feel like a natural evolution rather than a reinvention. Derek and Juliet Shenton have been guiding safaris and protecting this patch of wilderness for over three decades, and their deep respect for the land shines through in every decision they’ve made.
At Mwamba, you won’t find gleaming infinity pools or air-conditioned suites. The luxury here is more meaningful—it’s the absence of crowds, the symphony of night sounds as you drift off to sleep, the thrill of watching a leopard from just metres away in the hide. One evening, as we gathered for sundowners, an elephant silently appeared at the edge of camp, so close we could hear the rumble of its stomach. That’s the Mwamba magic no renovation could ever change—those raw, unscripted moments when Africa’s wild heart beats in time with your own.
WHERE
Mwamba Bush Camp is safely tucked away in a remote corner of South Luangwa National Park, a scenic 2.5-hour game drive from Mfuwe.
WHAT TO EXPERIENCE
- Sleep out beneath a canopy of stars with nothing separating you from the majesty of the night sky but a thin veil of mosquito net on the Numbu star bed.
- Lie in wait and experience some of the rarest wildlife encounters in the hideout, where you lock eyes with Zambia’s wildest species.
- SLNP has one of the largest leopard concentrations in Africa and a thriving lion population awaiting you in exciting game drives.
- South Luangwa is the birthplace of the walking safari. Walking in small guided groups, this offers a unique way to experience the bush first-hand, a truly wild experience!
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