Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Enjoy a luxury safari experience in untouched wilderness set along the iconic Luangwa River. Chikunto Safari Lodge is located less than an hour's drive from the South Luangwa National Park's Mfuwe gate. Flanked by rolling plains, plateaus, river banks and miombo vegetation our lodge is located in an area of distinctive natural beauty.
Chikunto Safari Lodge is definitely a gem in South Luangwa Park. Wonderfully comfortable accommodations, Michelin-worthy meals, a welcoming friendly staff, and some of the best bush guides I've ever met. I have stayed at other safari lodges in Africa at nearly triple the cost and Chikunto easily met those standards. My room was extremely clean and comfortable, the showers were wonderful with ample pressure and really hot water, the hot water bottle for keeping the bed warm actually stayed warm all night, and same day laundry service. I had failed to bring the correct electrical adapter, which might have been a bit of a disaster, but the lodge loaned me two adapters for my room. WiFi is bush wifi, but certainly good enough to keep in touch and make internet calls. Meals were beautifully plated, well-proportioned and absolutely delicious. Irene and the entire Chikunto staff could not have done a better job to make me comfortable and feel absolutely welcome. It was a joy to interact with each of them.
But I was there for photography and Chikunto exceeded my needs and expectations. They kindly catered to the early morning/late night game drives, all the time being flexible with times during the day to allow us to take the opportunity of good wildlife sightings. The seats in the jeep were very comfortable: a bit important given how much time you spend in the jeep. They include a nice warm poncho for the cold mornings of the dry season. However, most importantly was the outstanding quality of the guides. I had Rodgers and he was amazing in both his passion for his job, his knowledge of animal behavior, and his understanding of the development of the Zambian landscape. He knew exactly how to find the wild dogs, lions and leopards. He spotted the tiniest of birds. He tirelessly repositioned the vehicle to get us into the best lighting positions. Talking with him provided another level of understanding from subjects on conservation efforts, the development of the S. Luangwa ecosystems, to what the animals are likely thinking. And this was all delivered with a touch of humor.
Chikunto provided an excellent safari experience. I definitely hope to return and experience another safari with them again.
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Date of stay: June 2024
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Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:For the best sightings, definitely take advantage of arranging early morning game drives before...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Owner at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 27 Jun 2024
Dear Amy, Thank you so much for your stay with us and your wonderful and detailed feedback. I have read it at least 5 times and can only be happy again and again that we were able to offer you an unforgettable time in our little bush oasis. The entire Chikunto family is looking forward to your next visit in the hopefully not too distant future. :-) Warmest regards Jens
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We recently stayed and can honestly say it was one of the best travel experiences of my life. Everything about the facility is well thought out: the water is fully potable (drinkable), there is hot water in the room, there is a pop out usb connector in the room, etc. The food made by chef Jeff was absolutely top notch and the drives feel very exclusive having seen at most 6 other jeeps on the road at any time. Robert our driver and guide was incredibly knowledgeable. Staff overall is very friendly and helpful.
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Date of stay: May 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Definitely do the optional Mfuwe Town tour. It’s an eye opening experience.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 21 May 2023
Hello, It was a real pleasure to meet you both while I also happened to be there for a few days. Thank you for your great feedback and the praise for our little paradise in the middle of nowhere! We all look forward to seeing you again soon. :-) Warm regards Jens
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This is a small lodge (only 5 rooms) on the Luangwa river that provides exceptional service. We knew that we would have a great time on safari, seeing the animals in their natural habitat. But, the staff at Chikunto made it more that we ever expected. Benjamin and Irene waited on us hand and foot, serving us the gourmet food and always ready to top up our drinks. And they always did it with a smile and good humor. We had two guides over our 7 days, Rogers and Robert. They were the best. And, they know everything about everything: the animals, the trees, the river, the birds, the plants, and even the bugs!! A typical day at Chikunto was to wake up at 5am, have a continental breakfast out on their deck with a fire to keep you warm. Then, you head out for a morning game drive of about 4 hours depending on what you see. You do stop for snacks and to stretch your legs. When you get back to the game lodge, you are greeted with a clean, cold towel to wipe your hands and face (nice). You tell them when you want your gourmet 3 course lunch and you can rest or go to the pool. Then, you head out again between 3:30-4pm for an evening game drive. You do stop and do sunset and cocktails somewhere in the park, always with a nice view. Then, you do a night drive back to the lodge. Another gourmet 3 course meal and you are off to bed. It really is magical and you don't want it to end. Thank you Chikunto!!
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Date of stay: September 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 11 Nov 2021
Dear Teresa, dear Nathaniel, thank you very much for visiting our little peace of heaven and thank you for sharing your experiences with us here on TripAdvisor with such a wonderful review. I am very proud of my team, my african family :-), how they master the challenges of daily life on the one hand and the commitment and enthusiasm with which they approach their lodge and our guests on the other. I couldn't wish for better. I wish you all the best, stay healthy and one thing is for sure, should you plan to travel to Africa again, you will not be able to avoid another stay with us. We all are looking forward to it. :-) Warmest greetings Jens
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We purchased this safari lodge completely blind based on a choice largely driven by a travel deal during the height of Covid-19. But, Chikunto Lodge turned out to be an incredible experience; with exceptional safari guides, long and eventful safari drives twice daily, incredible dining experiences throughout the week and a staff that demonstrated kindness, care and knowledge. The lodge caters to a small number of guests which makes your experience even better. I have nothing negative to say about my stay and only wish I could plan another trip very soon.
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Date of stay: September 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:If you can swing it, this is a great choice for your family to experience
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Owner at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 25 Sept 2023
Dear Perutails travellers, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback about your visit to our lodge in Zambia. I have passed on your praise to our team and of course we all hope to welcome you back as our guests in the not too distant future. From my side, I can promise you that we will continue to work hard with the whole team keep on going providing our guests a unique and exclusive experience in the African bush. Take care, all the best and hopefully see you soon. Best reagrds Jens
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My wife and I spent the last week of April 2023 with Chikunto Safaris . What and AMAZING experience. Our guide, James, was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The entire lodge staff were also absolutely wonderful people. The food was delicious, too. At 6'7" and 300 pounds, the serving sizes concerned me at the first meal, but I was never hungry. The tap water was treated and drinkable, so that was a huge plus! We were told that since we were visiting at the end of the rainy season, the vegetation would be thick and animal sightings might be lower. But we saw a LOT of animals. They said the sightings in the dry season are higher numbers, but we had no complaints. We saw a lot of babies of all sorts which was a bonus. We are considering going back in the dry season to see the difference first hand. There are dozens of Safari lodges in and around South Luangwa National Park, and I'm sure they are all fine, but I can personally attest to the superb service, accommodations, and family atmosphere at Chikunto. HIGHLY recommend!!
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Date of stay: April 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The laundry service was nice, so next time I won't have to pack as much!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 21 May 2023
Dear Mike, Thank you for your lovely feedback following your stay with us at the African Bush. It is exactly this type of experience that my team on site, Gareth and I strive to inspire our guests every day. The CHIKUNTO family is looking forward to welcoming you back in the near future! :-) Kindest regards Jens
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Stayed here one week, something new every day. Advantage of having the lodge within the South Luangwa National Park is that you get to see more of the nocturnal activities of the animals, and you get to have longer drives so you can get to more places like the baobab forest. The food is excellent, make sure to ask for one meal of the local cuisine, otherwise it is more of a European/American style cuisine. The staff members are all so friendly and attentive, Mwansa the site manager makes sure everyone is taken care of excellently. Our guide Robert and our spotter Cephas took us to great places for wildlife viewing and they were so knowledgeable about the birds and animals and their habits. It was nice to have the same guide and spotter for our entire stay, really got comfortable with them. The optional tour of the town was very interesting, learned about the school system and also the anti-poaching efforts. This was the best trip ever!
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Date of stay: July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 10 Jan 2023
Dear Margaret, Thank you for your wonderful feedback on your stay at our lodge. We are happy to provide our guests unforgettable times and experiences in all individual areas. That's exactly what we're here for and I'm all the more pleased that we can show the world what Zambian villagers are able to do because, as many may not know, we deliberately only employ villagers from the Mfuwe region. I wish you all the best for 2023 and who knows, maybe we meet personally when you are coming back... :-) The whole CHIKUNTO family is looking forward to it! Kindest regards Jens
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Wow! What an absolutely breathtaking experience! Nestled in the valley of the leopard, we had the incredible opportunity to sleep under the twinkling stars on the sleep out deck. It was truly a surreal experience, feeling so close to nature and the vast African sky above us. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable, treating us to an amazing dinner and even introducing us to Zambia Gin, a delightful local specialty. And the best part? Hippos everywhere! It was like something out of a dream, with these majestic creatures gracing the landscape around us. And of course, we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the elusive leopards, adding an extra layer of excitement to our adventure.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 13 Jun 2024
Hello Birgit, Thank you for your great feedback and the lovely praise for our staff. I will pass this on immediately and would like to thank you again for your stay with us. I am a food lover myself and am always happy when our guests make positive comments about our cuisine in the bush, of course in addition to the safaris, the surroundings, etc. After 20 years of traveling in Africa, the topic of cuisine was a very special concern for me when implementing this project. I am happy when our efforts pay off with such positive feedback. Warm greetings from your Chikunto Family! We look forward to your next visit! :-) Jens
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Chikhunto and South Lungwe were a stunning experience.
The safari experience is breath taking with varied landscapes and amazing safari. Sometimes the guides tracked down animals, sometimes you turned a corner and....wow!
I won't repeat the comments people have already written. The quality of our experience here significantly contributed to us rating our trip to Zambia as the best ever travelling we have ever done. The animals and landscape are unbelievable. Many of the animals walked regularly through camp.
The camp is so chilled and relaxed. You feel you are a guest in a home. All the staff take the time to remember your name and engage in passionate conversation about your trip or indeed anything. We particularly enjoyed sharing a drink at the end of the day with the guides.
Chikhunto is a small independent camp and its individuality shines through in everything they do. Attention to detail, passion and service without being obtrusive. It is clear that every member of staff wants to you to enjoy their amazing landscape and food.
We were impressed by our guide's knowledge and enthusiasm. We learnt so much. We were even more impressed by Chikhunto when he told us he was a barman in another camp and got talking with the owners. He obviously impressed them with his wildlife knowledge as they started him as a barman and then let him scout while he studied for his guiding qualification. They also paid for his college course so are clearly committed, in addition to buying locally, to developing the skills of the local Mfuwe area.
Go on the walking safari (we ended up tracking 2 leopards and a hyena) and also use the sleeping deck. Memorable experiences. Find out how to access the hide under the pool so you get amazing photos when the elephant, giraffe, zebra, hippo come into camp.
Only 5 tents here so it's small and personable. Every member of the team made this a reason to revisit.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Find out where the hide is for close up pics of the animals in camp.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 26 Sept 2024
Dear PMandLW, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are incredibly pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us so much. I'll pass on your praise to the team as well as Ben (the barman ;-) in person. Be assured such praise motivates our entire team to continue to do everything they can to offer our guests unforgettable experiences. Your Chikunto family is already looking forward to welcoming you back soon! Kindest regards Jens
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Had the most amazing stay At Chikunto Safari Lodge. The location within South Luangwa National Park was incredible. We could see the river, hear hippos every day and had elephants close by as well as other animals right near the lodge entrance. Each cabin was very nice with top of the line water filtration and very comfortable beds.
The staff at Chikunto was outstanding. We had such a great time with Mwansa, Irene, John, Cephas, Benjamin, and all the security staff were so attentive and helpful and just a joy to spend time with. The massage therapists, Sarah and Eveling were wonderful as well. Additionally, chef Jeffery and the kitchen staff provided the most delicious food and snacks. Can’t say enough about this crew. Very special group!
And then, we had the best Safari guide in the park if not all of Zambia in Rogers! He was incredible in finding every animal from lions, leopards, elephants, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, wild dogs, hyena, zebra, impala, puka, warthogs, the list is huge, along with the smaller mammals and birds. On the evening safari, we had Sam as our spotter and light keeper who was great and he with Rogers together were amazing. We spent 7 days at Chikunto and if this were all we had visited in Africa, we would have been more than fulfilled by our safari. We saw SO MUCH!
With an outstanding team, wonderful location, and Safari guides, Chikunto Safari Lodge is not to be missed!
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Date of stay: July 2022
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Room Tip:All cabins were wonderful! For a special treat, try the room with the under the stars open air loft.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Owner at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 24 Jul 2022
Dear 836gaylew, Thank you very much for visiting our lodge and for this wonderful review! What you have described is exactly what we want to offer our guests, many of whom may only visit Africa once or twice in their lifetime. With our team consisting exclusively of local residents, we try to make the stay for our guests and the experience of Africa as authentic as possible at a high level. Thank you again for sharing your experience with other travelers around the world. We hope you will have the opportunity to visit us again in the not too distant future. Warmest greetings from your Chikunto family! :-) Gareth, Jens and our african team
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We spent 1 week at this great lodge with 9 family members. We had a great time. We were amazed with the amount of animals we saw everyday. Our guide Manny was so knowledgeable and we could tell he loved being in the bush and teaching us all he knew. Chef Jeff and his staff were wonderful and did a great job accommodating our dietary needs. Can't wait for his cookbook to be published. Irene was so kind and did a wonderful job making our stay a comfortable one. The lodge did a great job with our large group. The extra lunches and sundowners they did for us were fantastic. Our "tents" were very comfortable and housekeeping did a great job with our laundry. All in all we were very pleased with our whole experience and would recommend this lodge to anyone. If you get the chance while you are there go visit the school that the lodge sponsors. Those kids will melt your ❤.
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Date of stay: September 2022
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Room Tip:Visit this lodge in the dry season. There were no bugs at all! Mid September was the perfect time.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jens Kant, Inhaber at Chikunto Safari Lodge
Responded 01 Nov 2022
Dear Sue Ellen, Thank you very much for your visit and the time to write such a wonderful review. My team remembers your group very well and how much they enjoyed being there for you. Many regards to the whole group from your friends at Chikunto like Irene, Jeff, Mwansa, Ben and Manni and everyone else! Take care and all the best! Kindest regards from me as well! :-) Jens
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There are more places to choose from in the South Luangwa National Park area.
PRICE RANGE
R 24,166 - R 24,239 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
ZambiaSouth Luangwa National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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