Mfuwe Lodge

Located along the banks of the lagoon lie eighteen unique and authentic safari lodges. All come complete with thatch roofs, and are made of materials which blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment. The lodges come in twin, double and family configurations, and are all comfortable and spacious. Large beds sit in the centre of the room and are covered in crisp white bed linens with patterned scatter cushions and are draped in mosquito netting. Natural elements run throughout the design, with stone flooring and exposed thatch ceilings which add character and dimension to the lodges. Traditional wicker furniture sits in the room, and floor-to-ceiling doors fill the space with bright natural light. All lodges come with their own ensuite bathroom, which includes twin basins, a flush toilet and a shower. At the end of a long day, the private decking offers the perfect space to gaze over the lagoons and rolling grasslands and watch for wandering animals.

A modern and spacious open plan central area of the lodge is where guests will find the dining and bar area, as well as a comfortable lounge area. Meals are served here, and are creatively prepared and inspired by local flavours and ingredients. Mfuwe’s fully stocked bar is the perfect place to grab a drink after a long day, with a choice of refreshing beers, cooling cocktails or fine wines.

For a traditional and exciting safari adventure guests can join a game drive to explore the diverse South Luangwa National Park. Set off in the early morning or afternoon with a knowledgeable guide and drive through the park to see animals, such as herds of elephants and zebras, and view them undisturbed and in their natural habitats. Every game drive is unique and will offer guests a new way to view the stunning national park. Also available are night game drives, this is a perfect opportunity to see some of the more elusive nocturnal creatures of the bush, such as leopards and owls.

For a more intimate way to explore the national park guests can set off on a guided walk. With an experienced and friendly guide, wander through the park and get up close and personal with the smaller workings of the area. Track animal footprints and marvel at micro-ecosystems. These walks are also perfect for bird watching. Your guide will be able to point out bird nests which might have otherwise been missed, and guests can marvel at the diverse species of bird they may come across.

Relax, refresh and rejuvenate in the specialised bush spa at Mfuwe Lodge. Offering a range of massages, treatments and a jacuzzi, this is the perfect place to unwind after a long day spent exploring. With stunning views over the wild bush, guests can spend time looking after their mind, body and soul while surrounded by nature at its finest.

For guests who wish to have a better understanding of where they have travelled to, then trips to the local village, local school or local textile factory can be arranged. These outings are the perfect way to understand and meet the people of this area of Zambia, and guests will leave feeling enlightened about a different culture and way of life.

The Luangwa Community Fund was founded in 2009, by Andy Hogg of Mfuwe Lodge and a group of knowledgeable tour operators all operating in South Luangwa. They were all of the opinions that no wildlife or habitat in Luangwa would lead to disastrous effects on the land and their businesses. They created long-term sustainability projects which involved the local communities, and focused on education to help educate the younger generations on the importance of wildlife diversity and protecting the habitats. With the help of guest donations, the money given towards this community fund is divided evenly between community and conservation projects.

To aid in local education The Bushcamp Company have a sponsorship programme for primary and secondary school students, from a starting number of 100 students, they now have 350 students being sponsored throughout their education. Guests of Bushcamp lodges can donate to the Education Fund if they wish to help educate a pupil. Donations are always pooled, to make sure the fund always has enough resources to successfully sponsor a student. The aim of the fund is to “commit to sponsored students from an early stage and see them all the way through tertiary education where possible.” This programme has had many success stories and guests are kept up to date with students’ progress throughout the year.

Intertwined with providing educational help to local communities is the need for good nutrition. 2,500 meals a day are provided to Chiwawatala Primary School, Aunt Mary’s Academy and Mfuwe Day School. The Bushcamp Company understands that correct nutrition is vital for a child’s development, and to help children focus and concentrate in class. If this wasn’t already proven, you could see the positive link in the fact that ‘attendance and academic results have increased significantly as a result of these meals.’ Another major success of this project is ‘during the first year of the programme, Mfuwe Day School had the highest number of Grade 12 final exam passes in the District, an increase of 40% in one year.’

A project was launched in 2014 to help provide clean water to villages in the local community. Currently, it is estimated that in Africa, “over 345 million people are without access to clean water.” With women collectively “spending 2oo million hours a day collecting water.” Due to a rapidly growing population, communities in the Luangwa Valley are struggling to have “convenient access to safe, clean water.” One way to provide clean water is by creating boreholes.

The Bushcamp Company have planned to provide boreholes to the local communities, this project has already started “but with continuing donor support, the plan is to continue extending the project.” This project has been a great success so far, by the end of 2019 they “had provided 115 new boreholes, with 20 more planned for 2020,” this is a project which is “considered to be vital for the well-being of the local communities, providing tangible benefits to thousands of people.”

Living in such close contact with wild animals can be difficult at times so The Bushcamp Company “is committed to ensuring that the community around the Park has a reason to conserve it.” They are doing this by educating both children and adults, on the importance of conserving this wildlife. With donations, The Bushcamp Company has been “able to pay teachers’ salaries, build classrooms and staff houses, provide access to clean water, and take school children into the Park on game drives.” Many initiatives are supported through The Bushcamp, they provide support to the Kakumbi Community Clinic – making sure health care is provided when and where it is needed – and they also support a local theatre group, that performs plays about human-wildlife conflict.

Staff at The Bushcamp Company properties are predominantly employed from local communities, and full training is provided, with encouragement on developing and progressing through the company. Staff benefits include “assistance with medical costs and access to a programme that pays for one of their children to attend school” as well as HIV and AIDS awareness courses.

The diverse landscape of the Luangwa is under increasing threat from growing populations, poaching, a lack of information about the animals and “a lack of training, education, and employment opportunities for local people who need to learn how to conserve their wildlife resources.” Recently, an endangered elephant population has started to increase again after extreme poaching in the 1970s and 1980s. However, Luangwa’s “natural heritage remains under threat from poaching and other illegal activities.” The Bushcamp Company supports Conservation South Luangwa, the Zambian Carnivore Programme and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to help aid and support anti-poaching initiatives and protection of the local wildlife.

The Bushcamp Company runs a number of tree planting initiatives at local schools throughout the year. Planting trees “provides fun and motivation for pupils, simultaneously teaching them about the importance of the environment, primarily focusing on the issue of deforestation.”