Set under riverside mahogany trees, Chula Island Camp lies in a wild and remote area of Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. Step out of your tented suite and you see sandy beaches running down to the swirling channels that feed the nearby Zambezi River. The air rings with bird calls and the snort of hippos. It is a park famous for its big game – lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard – and at stay at Chula puts you at the epicentre of the experience.

Chula Island Camp has been designed for safari travellers looking to explore the wilderness by foot and on the water as well as by game-drive vehicle. Expert guides and armed rangers accompany you on exciting bush walks while canoe safaris and boat cruises take in the smaller details like frogs (for which the camp is named), water lilies and kingfishers. The Lower Zambezi is an area of especially high biodiversity and boasts abundant wildlife: antelope, baboons and monkeys, warthogs and small carnivores are all commonly seen and birdwatching is excellent year-round.

Chula is open from mid-May to November, taking in Zambia’s dry season and most of the year’s mildest weather, which is also the best time for game viewing. With four tented suites on offer, it is a small, intimate and relaxed camp – perfect for adventurous couples, nature photographers, and solo travellers. Because Chula can be booked as a private camp it is ideal for groups of friends or families with older children.

Highlights

• Unspoilt island setting in Lower Zambezi National Park
• Open during the most rewarding and comfortable time of the year
• Highly experienced safari guides and camp hosts
• Explore the river by canoe or enjoy a leisurely boat cruise
• Great birdwatching for both beginners and experts
• Four en suite tents only – intimate, relaxed and peaceful atmosphere
• A low environmental impact, solar-powered accommodation

Activities

• BIRD WATCHING
• CANOEING
• FISHING
• GAME DRIVES
• GUIDED WALKING SAFARIS
• NIGHT DRIVES
• SUNDOWNERS

Nature lover’s paradise – pristine beaches, vibrant coral reef and protected forest. This resort has everything you need for a relaxing beach stay.

Rooms

Tent

Chula Island Camp has only four tented suites, each designed to give you amazing views. Overlooking a wilderness of water and woodland, the tents are made of insect-proof mesh netting – perfect for simply lying on your bed and watching the Zambezi wildlife go past. When you want more privacy, simply draw the curtains. A pair of comfortable chairs sit outside the door.

Each suite at Chula has a twin or double bed made up of crisp linen and there is a bedside table, a luggage rack and clothing shelves. Flick the switch and you have solar-powered electric light. Each suite also has its private bathroom, accessed directly from your bedroom and complete with a flush toilet, basin and a classic safari open-air bucket shower with towels and toiletries. Staff supply hot water on request.

Facilities

A large, open-sided canvas tent makes up Chula’s main meeting and socialising area. Step inside and you will find a dining table with director’s chairs, a small but well-stocked bar and a drinking water dispenser to refill your supply.

If you would like to read about the Zambezi and its wildlife then the camp has a small reference library to browse through. A nice touch is the free laundry service provided by the camp and there is also a battery recharging station in the main tent for your electrical devices.

Dining

Three meals a day are served a day at Chula Island Camp, with most dietary requirements catered for with advance notice. You sit down with your fellow guests at a communal table either outside or in the communal tent depending on the weather. Local soft and alcoholic drinks are included and filtered drinking water is always available in your suite and at the main camp.

An early start on safari is always best and so the day begins at dawn with a friendly wake-up call and a light breakfast by the campfire that consists of toast, cereals, fruit and porridge with tea, coffee and fruit juice. After your morning activity, you return to a lunch buffet with meat and vegetable dishes plus salads and desserts. The timing of lunch is flexible to accommodate sightings on game drives. In the evening you can look forward to a lantern-lit table with a set 3-course meal.