This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Chichele Presidential Reopens Luxury Safari Lodge
A new standard of luxury for Zambia safaris
The highly anticipated reopening of the historic Chichele Presidential Lodge in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is finally upon us.
Chichele Presidential is perfect for visitors looking for luxury safari comfort without sacrificing immersive bush camp experiences. Thanks to the vision of architects, designers and local artists, in collaboration with the owners and Chiawa Safaris, Zambia and South Luangwa now boast premium safari experiences like no other.
Chichele Presidential have crafted a new age of luxury safari lodges with a conservation ethos at its heart. This environmentally friendly camp features clean hydroelectric power, air conditioning and WiFi, ensuring maximum comfort with minimal impact on the environment.
Upon arrival, Chichele’s experienced hosts will welcome you through its magnificent arched entryway. Your home during your stay will be one of ten Victorian-style suites with grand French windows, plush furnishings, private sitting areas with cosy armchairs and luxurious four-poster beds, draped in crisp white linen.
The bespoke design and construction of Chichele ensures it blends seamlessly with the landscape to create an immersive experience with your surroundings. Enjoy your own private terrace, plunge pool, outdoor shower and dining area for total privacy, whilst you take in the jaw-dropping views over the flood plains and listen to the sound of the bush and its predators.
This family-friendly lodge provides a Safari Lounge which interlinks two of the rooms, ideal for luxury family safari retreats that let you enjoy precious time together.
Zambia is a country renowned for its excellent, rustic bush camps without compromising on premium standards and hospitality. At Chichele Presidential Lodge guests can make the most of their downtime in camp by enjoying the world-class spa, yoga deck, gym and an infinity lap pool.
Steeped in history
Chichele was originally created for Zambian president, Doctor Kenneth Kaunda in 1972 as his private holiday home before falling into disrepair. The lodge is situated high up on the aptly named, Presidents Hill, ensuring it is exposed to stunning 360-degree views over the Luangwa River.
The Luangwa River is one of the major tributaries of the famous Zambezi River and one of the four biggest rivers in Zambia. Luangwa River is not deep enough for water safaris in the dry season however this is made up for by the volume and diversity of wildlife traffic along its banks during this time.
Luxury game drives and walking experiences shaped for you
Chichele Presidential Lodge is located in the heart of the South Luangwa National Park which occupies 9,050 sq. km along the banks of the Luangwa River, one of Africa’s largest undammed rivers.
This world-famous wildlife location is home to several endemic species such as the Crawshay’s zebra, Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest which are not found anywhere else on the planet.
South Luangwa National Park is renowned for its vast quantity and diversity of wildlife with four hundred species of birds, over sixty mammal species, lion prides, wild dogs, herds of buffalo and one of Africa’s largest hippo populations.
The area has been protected since the 1930s largely thanks to the work of Norman Carr who pioneered the walking safari we know today and spent much of his life protecting ‘The Valley’. Thanks to years of protection this area boasts an unspoilt ecosystem with varying habitats and a plethora of wildlife.
“You don’t know a place until you have walked it” – Norman Carr
Guests looking for a dose of adrenaline can enjoy private field walking safaris. The lodge also provides day and night game drives in custom luxury Land Cruisers with knowledgeable, friendly and experienced guides who will ensure you get maximum exposure to wildlife. Safari game drives in the evening culminate with sundowners overlooking the stunning landscape, before returning to camp using animal-friendly red spotlights to observe nocturnal wildlife not visible during the day.
Visiting Chichele Lodge
Chichele Presidential Lodge is now open for reservations and our team at The Luxury Safari Company is here to ensure you have the best experience possible.
The best time to visit for wildlife sightings is during the dry season (May to November) as the bush and water supplies dwindle. If you don’t mind higher temperatures September to October are also good months for game spotting.
Contact us now to start planning your dream luxury safari experience >
Kokoko Camp Luxury Expedition Safaris for Explorers
For those who like to embrace their inner explorer and engage the senses.
Kokoko Camp is one of the newest additions to southern Tanzania’s luxury safari offerings and it has created a huge buzz amongst guests. This exclusive-use camp for up to six people emphasises exploration, taking safaris back to their roots by making nature the star of the show.
Authentic luxury safari tents
Accommodation consists of three uniquely designed expedition-style tents, immersed in the vast landscape of baobab trees and dense forests overlooking the dry Mwagusi Riverbed.
Each tent features an en suite bathroom, hand basin, secluded verandas and traditional outdoor bucket shower. The best feature of all is the retractable, weatherproof tended ceiling that allows you to stargaze from the comfort of your plush bed.
Kokoko’s chefs will treat you to luxury meals cooked over an open fire and even provide secluded dinners near the riverbed, surrounded by romantic lanterns and first-class service.
Untamed wilderness for an authentic safari experience
Kokoko Camp is based in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, one of the world’s finest locations for exhilarating game viewing due to its reputation for plentiful wildlife traffic. Thanks to the seclusion of the location and private use of the camp you can enjoy an intimate and secluded safari experience that allows you to reconnect with nature.
Private guides will ensure visitors get the most out of their time in the park. Guests have the opportunity to take part in some of the best walking safaris in Africa, which is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the wilderness and see wildlife not otherwise visible from the road. Private guides will also offer day and night game drives to explore wildlife gathering at waterholes dug earlier in the day by elephants or while predators wait to ambush prey.
Mindful safari conservation
The owners of Kokoko Camp believe in the power of tourism to establish lasting positive change. Guests of the camp become an integral part of local wildlife conservation and community initiatives. As part of a sustainable approach to luxury safaris, guest visits help contribute towards the preservation of the precious wilderness areas of East Africa as well as the tradition and lifestyle of the people who live there.
Visit Kokoko Camp with the Luxury Safari Company
This stunning safari camp is open between July and October, if you would like to know more about visiting please get in touch. Our team retain unrivalled knowledge of Africa and can help ensure you plan the dream luxury safari of a lifetime.