We stayed at the beginning of April, so the end of what is known as the Green or Emerald season. The place was quiet, although we had the company of the directors in & around camp, we never felt they intruded on our experience. We stayed at Chinzombo at the end of a 12 day trip to Lake Malawi & South Luangwe. It was absolutely the perfect place to end a trip, to finish with a flourish and on an all time high. We definitely didn’t want to leave, in fact two weeks on & we’re already plotting our return.
Our time at Chinzombo was utterly perfect, I apologise now as I may run out of superlatives to describe our incredible time.
If you’re looking for a rustic bush camp experience then don’t book Chinzombo. However, if you’re looking for something sassy, stylish & more then a little bit different, then its the place for you. The rooms are exquisitely furnished & equipped with everything you could desire & more (if you think of something else I’m sure the staff would be more then willing to supply it if they could). The “cool breeze” air cooled bed makes sleeping a pleasure and is incredibly quiet & un-invasive for an air-conditioning system, something I would normally avoid in the bush because of the noise, but I am now a convert. The rooms are well spaced so you have privacy without total isolation. The private plunge pool was lovely & something we made use of everyday, as was our own private outdoor lounge area where we could spot the wildlife on the river, sometimes at close proximity, like the hippo that came to graze our lawn in the evening. The main-lounge area has lots of beautiful “spaces” to enjoy & experience too.
The guiding quality is exceptional, I have worked in the lodge industry in South Africa & travelled extensively throughout Southern & East Africa and our guide Abraham is amongst the best that I have encountered. It was a privilege to be in the company of such a knowledgable guide who showed a deep passion for not only his industry but also the beautiful Luangwa Valley and the flora & fauna that call it home.
The food at Chinzombo is delicious! My only criticism is that you are guaranteed to eat far too much. The thai fish cakes at lunch & the beautiful array of side salads at least made me feel healthy in my indulgence. Dinner was a delight, an array of delicate flavours & presentation that certainly wouldn’t be out of place in a top London restaurant.
The staff had that perfect balance you would expect of a luxury establishment, attentive but discrete. Katie, the host and manager, was always on hand, nothing was too much trouble & her bubbly enthusiasm for both the camp (which she has been involved with since it’s conception) the company & indeed the Luangwa Valley is completely infectious.
From the moment Abraham collected us to the moment we left, we felt utterly relaxed & cocooned by people who took pride in their work & always went the extra mile to make us comfortable & welcome. Actually beyond our departure this feeling remained, as Katie was thoughtful enough to send us off with a packed snack for our layover in Lusaka, which was very welcome because when we arrived at the airport late on a Sunday evening for a 5 hour layover, everything was shut and we were unable to check-in for 4 hours.
Would we return…Definitely….Would we recommend to our friends & family…without hesitation. It’s one of those “once in a lifetime” places that is so fantastic you know that just once will never be enough.