Nkonzi Camp is a classic Zambian bush camp perfectly suited to safari experts. Nkonzi is owned and run by Gavin Opie, a highly experienced safari guide who has lived in Zambia for over 20 years. Together with his small and dedicated team, Gavin prioritises exceptional safari guiding. Guests will be immersed in the safari experience – unforgettable wildlife experiences are guaranteed. This isn’t just ticking animals off a checklist; Gavin offers safari guiding at its very best.
Nkonzi Camp itself is small but perfectly formed, with just four en-suite safari tents offering all the comforts you’d expect without detracting from the romance of a safari under canvas. Tented en-suites offer flush toilets, hot bucket showers, ceramic basins and guest amenities. Safari tents have twin or king beds, 100% cotton linens, warm duvets and hot water bottles in winter and cooling fans in summer. Solar lighting and charging stations are available in each tent.
The central Meru safari tent at Nkonzi Camp is the epitome of old-world safari charm. Here you will enjoy steaming cups of fresh-brewed coffee in the morning, a cold gin and tonic in the afternoon, and atmospheric candle-lit suppers under star-studded night skies. This is the perfect place to relax and share safari tales while listening to the serene sounds of the African wilderness.
Intimate
At Nkonzi Camp, every moment offers an authentic safari experience. From toast cooked over the campfire in the morning to stargazing over supper and desserts baked in the ground oven, this is a hidden gem of the Zambian safari circuit. Game drives and walking safaris are a highlight of your stay with Gavin himself or one of the excellent guiding team leading each activity.
Hidden in a secluded area of the park, you are unlikely to come across any other guests, which allows you to revel in each wildlife sighting. Whether it’s the lions, leopards, elephants and giraffe that the park is famous for, or the special birdlife and rarer mammal species, the best part is that you will share these experiences with a maximum of 7 other guests!
Nkonzi is remote and unspoiled yet accessible; the South Luangwa main gate is a 45-minute drive from camp and Mfuwe Airport is approximately 1.5 hours from camp.
Safari activities
The wilderness experience at Nkonzi is incredible. Being so deep inside the national park you are surrounded by wildlife day and night. From the moment you step outside your tent, you are on safari. The camp is set in the animal rich Luwi River area which puts you in a fantastic position to set off on a walking safari beginning and ending at the camp.
Game drives can head north, east, south or west into untouched wildlife habitats. Stargazing is also amazing from Nkonzi camp, with zero light pollution and panoramic views of the Milky Way.
Top tip: to see the valley lit up at night, time your stay with a full moon.
Expert guides
Gavin Opie is more than just a renowned safari guide; he has a passion for Zambia borne of his many years living and working in this incredible country. Gavin knows the South Luangwa like the back of his hand, but he is also a wonderfully entertaining host with enthralling stories to tell. Gavin’s guiding team can introduce you to the wild animals of Luangwa, including 4 of the big 5 (rhino aren’t found in South Luangwa), while also passing on their love for the smaller species, birds, trees and plants that make the Zambian landscape so special. If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a great guide look no further than Nkonzi Camp and their wonderful guiding team.
The price categories give you an idea of the nightly cost per person for this accommodation.
Amazing Adventure.
We had an amazing adventure with Gavin and Abram on our 7 day stay at Nkonzi at the beginning of September 2018. We had daily game drives and night drives. 2 Full day drives and a walking safari. We saw 3 Leopards and lost count of how many Lions we saw. Elephants everywhere all with Baby’s- pure joy watching a baby elephant playing in the mud. Gavin and Abrams knowledge of the animals and the local eco system is inspirational. The camp team took great care of us and Jacob always had a cold Mosi waiting for us when we returned to camp. Lovely food and lots of it. We saw 30 + species of mammals and 117 species of bird including hundreds of Southern Carmine Bee eaters. The Tents were great, really comfy and huge bed.
c0deye
Incredible and unforgettable experience in South Luangwa
We could have hardly wished for a better Safari experience (our first, but we feel this will be hard to beat). Prior to our trip, my girlfriend spent a great deal of time looking for the right park. Despite reading about the fantastic sighting you can find in the most common ones (in Tanzania, Kenya etc.) we were very keen to find a less crowded park, yet see a lot of wildlife. South Luangwa seemed to tick all the boxes. Next step was to find camp which, for a reasonable price, would offer a more authentic and close to the nature environment than most of the luxurious lodges we could find (with an unnecessary level of confort). We couldn’t have found a better fit. South Luangwa is a fantastic park, with very varied landscapes and a fantastic wildlife (we saw Lions, Elephants, Leopards, Hippos, Crocodiles, Giraffes, Hyenas and more).
Erwan L
Real African bush experience
We spent 5 nights at Nkonzi Camp at the beginning of July, a wonderful experience of being immersed in the bush, yet with all the comfort of a well appointed safari tent under big mahogany trees, atmospheric open air bathroom attached, and excellent food. The camp has views over the dry riverbed to forest and expansive skies, with the ever present possibility of bird and animal sightings while not on safari. The safaries and walks each morning and evening were a special delight for the bigger and small animals, birds and the insights Gavin, and his guide Abraham, gave us to the plants and ecology of the South Luangwa.
Michael A
A truly remote gem
Our most remote safari stop proved to be a real winner! Gavin has created something very special by a dried riverbed in the National Park. Nkonzi felt like proper camping but with all the comforts including delicious food and comfortable beds, an authentic safari experience.
Due to it’s remote location within the park we found that on safari we saw far fewer vehicles than we did in other accommodation – this made the experience feel more intimate and was nice to have sightings to ourselves rather than to share with multiple trucks full of people.
It was just our family of 4 and another couple staying at the time so everything about the experience felt intimate and personal.
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