Time + Tide Mchenja occupies one of the very best locations of any camp in the South Luangwa National Park; overlooking a huge sweeping bend in the Luangwa River and in the deep shade of a beautiful grove of ebony trees. Mchenja translates as “ebony” in local Chinyanja dialect. The whole camp has fantastic wide views of the river, and is situated in a superb game-viewing area where walking safaris, game drives and night drives are always productive and exciting. Elephants are known to drink from the plunge pool in the main area and lions and leopard are frequently seen wandering around the nearby ebony grove and permanent lagoon.
Time + Tide Mchenja is in an excellent game area and guests can choose to view the wildlife on foot or from an open game-viewing vehicle. Most activities are operated around a walking safari in the early morning and a combination of walking and driving in the afternoon, when guests can extend through to a night drive in search of the nocturnal animals. Generally the game drives head north, towards the Lion Plain area, or south into the north side of the park’s main network of roads around Mfuwe Lagoon. The walks usually weave in and out of the ebony groves which run alongside the main Luangwa River. The game viewing areas of Lion Plain and Fish Eagle Lagoon are spectacular and are very close by. There is a high population of lion, leopard and elephant in the area, wild dog are occasionally spotted, and birding highlights include saddle-billed and yellow-billed storks, Pel’s fishing owl, Lillian’s lovebird and fish eagles. One aspect of the camp that is hugely appealing is the amount of wildlife which can be seen within camp. Elephants are commonly drawn in by the seed pods which fall from the trees, and can often be heard munching at night.
Guest accommodation comprises five stylishly designed thatched suites with polished concrete floors and spectacular views along the Luangwa River. Each tent leads on to a lawn that stretches out before dropping off into the Luangwa River. One of these is a family tent consisting of two ensuite tents. The main area has open sides and a thatch roof. Here the the dining area, a well-stocked bar, a small library and a comfortable lounge area are located. Guests can cool off in the small shaded plunge pool and in front of the main area there’s a fire pit surrounded by chairs for pre-dinner sundowners. For the more adventurous guests, a private sleep-out can be arranged, where guests head out on a walk into the bush, in the company of an armed ranger and guide. This simple camp consists of bedrolls around a campfire and guests enjoy a delicious supper prepared on the fire, sharing stories whilst
listening to the sounds of the bush under the stars. This is a truly enjoyable and an unforgettable experience.
per person per night
