Beautifully decorated in muted, neutral colours with en-suite bathrooms and opulent mahogany furniture, the nine Meru-style tented suites at Chiawa provide private decks, gorgeous views and all kinds of luxuries. The six standard tents are raised on wooden platforms, and offer large open-plan rooms, and guests can choose between twin or four-poster double beds – all with mosquito netting. The en-suite bathrooms boast twin sinks and free-standing baths, as well as rain showers, plus the most delectable toiletries from Molton Brown on tap. Bright, breezy and ultra-spacious, the tents have a strong undercurrent of traditional safari tents – and evoke images of bygone days in the heyday of colonial safaris in Africa. For more opulent options there are three superior suites available with even more luxuries, as well as wonderfully secluded settings along the riverbank.
Ancient boabab trees dot the landscape while mahogany and acacia trees provide shade around this idyllic campsite with its impressive upstairs observation deck. What’s more, the fireside barbeque and reed-enclosed boma is the perfect location for long dinners and campfire stories, all under a canopy of stars.
With plenty of opportunities for anglers to try their luck (on a catch-and-release basis), as well as river cruises and canoe trips to experience the area’s wildlife from a water-based vantage point, Chiawa also offers day and night game drives, as well as several guided walks. The camp also features its very own hide, which overlooks the confluence of the dry riverbed of the Chowe River (often called the Chiawa River) and the Zambezi. Great for birdwatching, it’s also known to attract elephant, buffalo, warthog and various kinds of antelope for their midday drink.
Offering superior safari touches – from luxurious tents to incredible food – Chiawa’s wildlife experiences, both inside and outside the camp, provide magical memories of Africa.