Time + Tide Chinzombo
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Location
On a Luangwa River bend
The camp sits on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River on around 60 private acres of frontage, on Norman Carr's old green-season base near the Mfuwe Bridge Gate, with park access by a short boat crossing — around an hour from Mfuwe Airport.
Transfer
A Mfuwe transfer
Fly in to Mfuwe Airport, then around an hour by game drive — light-aircraft luggage is soft-bag and weight-limited.
Villas
Six villas
Six villas, each around 150 square metres including a two-bedroom family villa, in award-winning Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens design of canvas, timber and reed — each with a private plunge pool, a river-view tub and a shaded verandah.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, honeymooners, families and design lovers after a stylish South Luangwa river camp — award-winning villas, walking safaris in their birthplace and frequent leopard — open year-round, with a family villa; walking from age 12.
Board Basis
All-inclusive
All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities — at the main lodge on home-grown produce, with a river-suspended fire pit and dinner under the stars.
About the Resort
Six design villas on the Luangwa
Time + Tide Chinzombo is South Luangwa's stylish river camp — six award-winning design villas on a private bend of the Luangwa, on Norman Carr's old base, the man who pioneered the walking safari right here. The villas, by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, are canvas, timber and reed, each with a private plunge pool, a river-view tub and a shaded verandah, with a fire pit suspended over the riverbank and dinner under the stars. The valley is one of Africa's finest for leopard, and home to the Luangwa endemics — Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra — with around 700 bird species recorded. Days run on day and night game drives, walking safaris from age 12, sleepouts and canoeing, all-inclusive. Two practical notes worth flagging: the Luangwa Valley is a malaria area, so antimalarial precautions are advised; and unlike many Luangwa camps that close for the green season, Chinzombo is open year-round. Around an hour from Mfuwe Airport, it suits couples, families and photographers.
Accommodation
Villas
Six villas, each around 150 square metres including a two-bedroom family villa, in award-winning Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens design of canvas, timber and reed — each with a private plunge pool, a river-view tub and a shaded verandah.
Entry
River Villa
Sleeps two. A canvas-and-timber king with a private plunge pool and a river-view tub.
Plunge poolLuangwa riverfront
Family
Two-Bedroom Family Villa
Sleeps four to five. Two bedrooms and bathrooms with a plunge pool, on the riverfront.
Plunge poolTwo-bedroom
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining runs to the main lodge on home-grown produce, with a lounge, bar and riverfront sun deck, a fire pit suspended over the riverbank, and dinner under the stars.
Signature
The main lodge
The main lodge, on home-grown produce, with a lounge, bar and riverfront sun deck.
Fire pit
A suspended fire pit
A fire pit suspended over the riverbank.
Stars
Dinner under the stars
Dinner under the stars.
Wellbeing
Spa & pools
There are in-villa spa treatments, a private plunge pool on every villa and a main pool, with walking safaris in the very valley where the walking safari was born.
In-villa spa
In-villa spa treatments.
Private plunge pools
A private plunge pool on every villa, with a main pool.
Walking safaris
Walking safaris, in the birthplace of the walking safari.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
Design, walking safaris and leopard, on a private river bend. Walk the valley where the walking safari began, drive day and night, look for leopard, and sleep out under the stars.
Walking safaris
Walking safaris — South Luangwa is the birthplace of the walking safari, armed-ranger guided, from age 12.
Day & night drives
Day and night game drives, with park access by a short boat crossing.
Frequent leopard
Frequent leopard — one of Africa's finest valleys for them — with the Luangwa endemics: Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra.
Sleepouts
Sleepouts under the stars.
Birding
Exceptional birding — around 700 species recorded in the valley.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
To Mfuwe
Around an hour's game-drive transfer from Mfuwe Airport.
On the river
South Luangwa
On a private bend of the Luangwa River, in South Luangwa.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Time + Tide Chinzombo. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities.
A malaria area
- The Luangwa Valley is a malaria area, so antimalarial precautions are advised — speak to your GP or a travel clinic before you travel.
Made for couples
- A romantic, design-led river camp for couples, with a two-bedroom family villa; walking from age 12.
Open year-round
- Open year-round — unlike many Luangwa camps that close in the green season, so the emerald season is yours too.
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Destination
Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
2
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
Villa preference
Flights
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