Chinzombo Camp
A luxury safari experience
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine (Click to enlarge)
Located in South Luangwa National Park, Chinzombo is the ultimate destination for an unforgettable safari holiday in ultra-trendy surroundings. Featuring six spacious villas, each with its own sun deck and private swimming pool overlooking the Luangwa River, the camp will satisfy even the most demanding travellers.
Fashion Studio Magazine spent two fabulous nights at Chinzombo during our #stylishAFRICA trip. We were truly impressed with everything that we experienced: from excellent dining and friendly staff to innovative camp design and beautiful location. It is hard to imagine a better place if you want to experience a true African wilderness without compromising on luxury and convenience.
"Chinzombo Camp is the perfect place from which to explore the majestic wilds of the Luangwa in style, luxury and exclusivity – all year round. (...) Here, for the first time, modernist architectural forms are combined with the organic geometry and regional materials of indigenous Zambian building methods to create an entirely new type of bush-camp on the site of one of Norman’s original camps." - normancarrsafaris.com
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Chinzombo is one of the six camps run by Norman Carr Safaris, one of the best tour operators in Zambia. Offering five star accommodation, world class dining, and splendid river views, this trendy camp is the perfect bush getaway and it certainly won't disappoint you.
During our short stay, there was nothing we could complain about - all requests were met with a smile and every staff member went an extra mile to provide the best service and the most memorable experience ever. Thank you! :)
DID YOU KNOW?
Chinzombo is the name of the Oncoba spinosa tree, referred to as the fried egg flower or wild rose.
Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Norman Carr, an adventurous British game ranger and conservationist, established Luangwa's first safari camp in 1950. 12 years later, in 1962, Norman set up Luangwa Safaris, the first hunting operation in Luangwa, from the "old" Mfuwe Lodge. In 1968, he started offering walking safaris.
Chinzombo Camp was established in 1977 and it was used for years as the green season base for Norman Carr. The newly designed Chinzombo was opened on 1 March 2013.
Throughout the years, Norman Carr Safaris have won several industry awards including Best Safari Experience in Africa 2015 and Best New Property in Africa 2015.
"Back in the 1950’s Norman Carr dreamt of a unique way to experience the African bush; a way of interacting with the environment respecting both the natural landscape and local Zambian traditions - conservation through tourism." - normancarrsafaris.com
Read more about Norman Carr here.
Local art at Kapani Camp (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
SAFARI EXPERIENCE
Having individual safari drives (with only one other guest in the car) was an incredible experience and an opportunity to fully enjoy the wilderness of South Luangwa National Park. During early morning and late afternoon game drives, we were able to see zebras, giraffes, impalas, kudus, baboons, warthogs, and elephants. We also spotted several crocodiles, hyenas, and wild dogs.
"The Luangwa Valley has one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa, making it a fantastic destination for a safari. The lush riverine vegetation is interspersed with fertile grazing lawns and numerous ox-bow lagoons close to the river itself.
Large pods of hippos occupy many stretches of the river particularly within the Park itself, there are estimated to be at least 50 - 100 hippos per kilometre in the most heavily populated stretches. South Luangwa National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see leopard, they are usually a secretive animal but in the Luangwa their habits have changed somewhat as a result of the density of their population and whist there’s no guarantee – guests staying longer than 2 or 3 days would be extremely unlucky not to see leopard." - normancarrsafaris.com
Not sure what to pack for your safari trip? Click here. Curious about a sample day on safari? Find out more here.
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Eva Fydrych in South Luangwa National Park
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
LUXURY BUSH-CAMP DESIGN
Designed by award winning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, Chinzombo combines ultra-luxury amenities with an authentic bush feel.
The camp’s communal space contains an open-plan bar, stylish lounge where you can relax on the comfy sofas, library, dining room, and a sun deck with a swimming pool. Simple and minimal décor is combined with oversized lamps and uniquely shaped coffee tables.
"Set back within the shade of ancient tress on a wildlife rich ridge which follows a C-shaped bend in the Luangwa River, the Chinzombo villas appear to float over the lush and tranquil landscape. A winding foot path connects the villas and lounge/dining area through the shade of the surrounding msikzi trees. The simplicity of the modernist steel framed structures in contrast to the natural materials used in the décor and interiors complements the surroundings in a unique way." - normancarrsafaris.com
One of the villas (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
Each of six trendy villas merges modern style and sophistication with materials unique to traditional Zambian buildings. Spacious indoor and outdoor areas allow guests to relax and absorb the sounds of the bush.
Natural materials used inside include locally produced leather, canvas, raw linen, timber, and copper. The colour palette is kept simple and neutral - mainly white, grey and beige with occasional brown accents. All design elements fit seamlessly into the environment.
“After many years of living on site, designing lodges and luxury island resorts throughout the world, we have refined the form of the bush-camp down to its most essential elements. This, combined with building techniques learnt from local craftsmen and an intention to push the boundaries of bush-camp architecture, means we have been able to create a camp that is both architecturally innovative and ideally suited to the landscape in which it finds itself.” – said Silvio Rech.
All six villas are located far away from each other giving guests a lot of comfort and privacy.
Welcome to my villa!
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Enjoying the river view in the morning
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Eva Fydrych (wearing a zebra print jumpsuit by bYSI)
DINING EXPERIENCE
Food at Chinzombo Camp is versatile and beautifully presented; it includes several healthy options (lots of salads!).
Dining area, located in the central part of the camp, overlooks the Luangwa River and offers excellent views during early breakfast and lunch. Dinner is served on the sun deck, next to the pool, where you can truly experience 'dining under the stars'.
"Norman Carr Safaris has earned a reputation for the quality and range of food served. (...) One of the most common requests we have from people staying with us is for a ‘Recipe Book’; our chefs' ingenuity in producing fantastic meals from the smallest of kitchens have won many accolades from our guests." - normancarrsafaris.com
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
WHAT WE LIKE
LOCATION
- luxury camp design
- sustainably sourced materials and natural colour palette
- cooled sleeping area and no insects inside the villa!
- spacious bathroom
- sun deck and plunge pool overlooking the river
- delicious food (including a private dinner on our last night)
- Wi-Fi inside each villa
- relaxing foot massage available at the camp
- variety of in-camp spa treatments
- private access by boat to the South Luangwa National Park
- experienced safari guides
- sundowners during afternoon game drives
- visiting Mulberry Mongoose store & workshop at the nearby Kapani Camp
Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine at Chinzombo Camp in January 2015
WHY ZAMBIA?
"Zambia is a large landlocked country located in Southern Central Africa. With just over 13 million inhabitants - it is quite sparsely populated. The country is regarded by many as one of the last true wildernesses and this continent's greatest secret.
From the mighty Victoria Falls to the world renowned National Parks of the Luangwa and Zambezi Valleys there are incredible opportunities to explore and a vast range of habitats, species, terrain and natural wonders.
Visitor numbers are small - Zambia is not on the main ‘tourist trail’. Her vast areas of pristine wilderness have remained unchanged for millennia and the opportunity to explore these areas and to see the wildlife that inhabits them without having to share the experience with too many others is a privilege hard to find these days." - normancarrsafaris.com
Read more here.
Chinzombo Camp and Tribal Textiles (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
LOCATION
Chinzombo is situated in 60 acres of private pristine Luangwa River frontage. The camp has its own access by boat to the South Luangwa National Park.
Thanks to its inaccessible location, South Luangwa manages to combine immense density of wildlife with limited visitor numbers, and it's also one of the few national parks that allow night safaris.
South Luangwa National Park is considered one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. There are over 60 different animal species and 400 different bird species - the concentration of animals around the Luangwa River is among the most intense on the whole continent.
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*Special thank you to Norman Carr Safaris for hosting Fashion Studio Magazine in January 2015.
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