Crocodile Nest at Flatdogs Camp
The Crocodile Nest has two ensuite bedrooms with separate indoor & outdoor living areas and private pool. The Croc Nest comes with private vehicle & safari guide.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc Nest deck laid up for lunch
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest view as dinner is served
The view of the river and stars above takes guests breath away. The sociable nature of the house allows a family of six or three couples who are friends to enjoy a private safari away from the rest of camp.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest at sunset showing position of third bedroom
This shows where we placed the third bedroom at the Croc's Nest - separate to the main house looking onto the pool and river.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest master bedroom main house interior
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc Nest bathroom main house
Semi open bathrooms in the main house
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest third bedroom view to pool
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest third bedroom interior
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest third bedroom interior
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest third bedroom bathroom
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Croc's Nest Living and dining room
Indoor and outside dining is possible at the house. Guests order their meals by radio and we deliver to their table!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse bedroom
Totally open at the front, looking onto a waterhole and acacia plain. Two ensuite bedrooms with living & dining area between, built around three African Ebony trees.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse view at dawn
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse bedroom
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse bathroom
The open air bathrooms in the Treehouse allow guests to feel at one with nature and the beautiful mature trees that surround them. 24/7 hot water and flush loos offer some modern comforts to their Swiss Family Robinson home!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry treehouse open air bathroom
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse ensuite
The bathrooms in the Treehouse have been re-designed so that they are on the same level as the bedrooms, for ease of the guests.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse bathroom
Made from natural materials, all hand crafted at camp, the bathrooms fit easily into their natural settings. Traditional thatching and building methods complement the live trees within.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse living and dining room
Open living and dining looking onto the waterhole in front to offer 24/7 game viewing to Treehouse guests.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry treehouse sunrise
The treehouse faces east so benefits from the beauty of each day's dawn.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Jackalberry Treehouse wide view
The house looks out over the dambo and waterhole, both of which attract game such as giraffe, puku, impala, elephant, baboon, monkeys, mongooses, bushbuck and many more.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Hide under the Jackalberry Treehouse
The perfect place to while away the afternoons in between safaris - game is perfectly relaxed at the waterhole, allowing photographers to continue getting shots all day and not just on safari!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Luxury safari tent at Flatdogs Camp
One of seven ensuite tents, six facing the river, one honeymoon tent on the lagoon behind camp.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Luxury safari tent interior
The tents have solar electricity 24/7, plus universal plug sockets, ensuite shower, toilet and basin and large gauze windows to see the wildlife wandering past.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
View from the luxury safari tent
Six of the seven tents (the honeymoon tent is the exception) are spread out along the bank of the Luangwa river, the opposite side of which is the National Park. An elephant crossing just opposite camp offers wonderful sightings from both inside and outside the Park.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Dressing room part of the luxury tent
Behind the bed is a dressing area with shelves for luggage and clothing, a hanging stand, lockable trunk and the door leading into the ensuite bathroom.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Luxury safari tent bathroom
The semi-open bathrooms have flush toilet, basin and shower, all in a natural setting. The hot water system runs from a special solar set up and hot water is available 24/7
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Luxury safari tent position
The tents are spaced out for privacy and peace and all have natural settings to attract wildlife and birdlife all through camp.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Chalet room interior
The downstairs bedrooms have ensuite facilities, gauzed verandah with sofa and table and chairs and extra single bed should you need a triple room or if one child prefer to sleep in the parents' room. We set up a mosquito net and frame for this bed when occupied.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Chalet room upstairs interior
The upstairs bedroom looks out towards the river and makes you feel up amongst the trees. The upstairs bedroom has its own private bathroom just downstairs. There is also an extra single bed upstairs in case a triple room is needed which is given its own mosquito net and frame when occupied.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Chalet room bathroom
The chalet bathrooms are fully enclosed with gauze windows, hot shower, flush toilet and basin.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Family chalet master bedroom
The larger family chalet (chalet 4) has two ensuite bedrooms downstairs plus a third kids bedroom upstairs in the loft with two single beds. There is not a third bathroom though, so anyone sleeping upstairs needs to use the bathroom in one of the downstairs bedrooms.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Family chalet twin or triple room
The second downstairs bedroom can be made up as a king, or two or three singles.
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Family chalet upstairs loft room
The third bedroom (not ensuite) has two further single beds and nets and a door from this level leads out onto an outside viewing deck looking towards the river.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Classic safari tent on waterhole position
This classic tent has plenty of privacy and views onto the waterhole rather than the river. From July, this tent often has elephant surrounding it!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Classic safari tent on the river bank
One of 2 classic tents on the river bank with views of the Luangwa.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Classic tent interior and bathroom
The classic tents also have ensuite facilites, hot shower, flush toilet and basin. The bathrooms are semi open.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs A la carte Restaurant
Guests booked on the safari package are able to choose from our varied menu for all their meals including the daily specials board taking advantage of what's available seasonally and from the kitchen garden.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs homemade cherry tomato & basil pasta
Everything served in our restaurant is made from scratch using the freshest ingredients grown or sources as locally as possible. We give seeds to local growers and then purchase them back from them in order to ensure a wide variety of options for the restaurant.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs Camp "pho"
After a visit to Vietnam, Jess & Ade have brought back some lovely fresh new flavours to the restaurant, the chicken, pork or vegetarian phos being some of them!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs pannacotta with hibiscus coulis
Our pannacottas always have the required wobble and are a variety of seasonal flavours, often inspired by local fruit and nuts like Mkongongo. We grow our own hibiscus for use in sauces and cold drinks/teas.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs bar
Wifi is found in the main area along with our cocktail menu and other icily cold drinks. Just the ticket on a hot sunny day!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Swimming pool at Flatdogs
In the main area, there are two swimming pools available to guests as well as plenty of loungers and places to sit and watch the animals go by...
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs Swimming pool area
To sit in the sun or not the sun, that is the question!
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs garden and pool area
A lovely Lamu-style hanging swing is the place to enjoy the river flow by...
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Pool sitting area at Flatdogs
The shaded sitting area is the ideal place to enjoy lunch or a cold drink during the middle of the day.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Flatdogs campfire on the river bank
During winter months, we make a fire from our wood offcuts from the carpentry department so guests can enjoy bush tv after their safaris..
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Game drive
We use open six seater vehicles, seven of which have roofs as well if guests prefer to have a roof between them and the sun. We prefer vehicles with no roofs as it allows better birding and viewing for guests if there is a leopard in a tree for example.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Morning game drive
Morning drives start at 0600 until around 1000 and afternoon safaris from 1530 until just after 1930 so that guests have a chance to enjoy a night safari as well, using a spotlight to view nocturnal species after dark.
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Game drive sunset
At sunset, guides stop for a sundowner drink - guests can choose their preferred tipple and we send out delicious snacks for them to enjoy while watching the sun dip below the horizon.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Game drives with lion
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Game drive with puku on the river
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Walking safari South Luangwa
The minimum age for walking safaris here in the South Luangwa is 12 years. No children younger than this are allowed to walk for safety reasons. Walks are most commonly done in the mornings when it's cooler but we can organise in the afternoons too if guests are particularly keen.
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
Walking safari South Luangwa
Photographer credit: Stevie Mann
One of the only camps in Zambia to be Fair Trade Tourism certified, Flatdogs Camp aims to protect the wildlife and people of the Luangwa valley. Flatdogs offers a host of different accommodations right on the Luangwa River. The luxurious Crocodile Nest is a three bed-roomed tented house with private pool, as well as private vehicle and guide. The wilder Jackalberry Treehouse is two bed-roomed house built around four live Ebony trees, over-looking a game rich waterhole. The chalets suit families perfectly with solid walls and connecting rooms. Luxury tents are spread out along the riverbank and are the real “Africa under canvas” experience, along with the slightly smaller but even better value classic tents.
The food at Flatdogs is renowned in the safari world as the a la carte restaurant serves a wide range of delicious & creative meals catering to all diets, serious allergies and individual preferences!
Safaris are led by expert guides who have studied all facets of the natural world. They can explain in detail the inter-locking ecology of the Park and use nature’s alarm calls to find interesting sightings for guests rather than following the herd!
There are four main chalet buildings, each of which has two separate guest bedrooms; the downstairs room is a double room with ensuite and a verandah, the upstairs room can be a king, twin or triple room with bathroom and verandah downstairs from the bedroom but entirely private. In between the 2 bedrooms is the small "kitchenette" where there is a fridge, kettle and tea/coffee making things. This works as an inter-connecting door for families so that kids can walk through to their parents room without having to go outside.
Furthest from the main area, is the larger family chalet which has three bedrooms in total but just two ensuite bedrooms, both of which are on the ground floor. There is also a kitchen area between the two bedrooms. There is a spiral staircase from the kitchen leading up to the "loft room" and upstairs viewing deck. The viewing deck looks towards the Luangwa river, the perfect place to relax and watch the sun set... The loft room has two more single beds but has no ensuite bathroom, guests sleeping here need to use a bathroom in one of the other bedrooms.
There are seven Luxury ensuite safari tents, six of which are pitched permanently on the banks of the Luangwa. These tents have a thatched roof for extra shade, ensuite facilities (hot shower, flush toilet and basin) with a canvas half roof over the bathroom, full-sized king or single beds, large mosquito nets. The tents have electric lights, a fan and universal charging points. There is also a room safe and tea & coffee making facilities. Six of the luxury tents including the family tent look straight out onto the river, one tent (tent 11, the honeymoon tent) has plenty of privacy and looks out onto a pretty lagoon, which attracts plenty of birdlife as well as elephant for their daily mud baths and giraffe and bushbuck when they are thirsty.
The Family Tent (a luxury tent) is a little different to the others, this is a specially designed tent which has space for a king bed and two single beds, with a large bathroom at the back of the tent, shared between the family. The family tent is on the river bank, with lovely views of the river.
There are three “Classic” en-suite safari tents available which are Meru style tents, three windows long with ensuite bathrooms with semi-open shower, toilet and basin. The Classic tents are smaller than the Luxury tents and are even better value. They work well for single travellers or guests who are on a tighter budget. Two of the three classic tents are on the river bank, the other looks directly onto the same water hole as tent 11 (the honeymoon tent) and has more privacy. The classic tents have full beds (one king or two singles), large mosquito nets, Universal charging points and stand up electric fans. The standard tents do not have tea and coffee making facilities or safes and have smaller verandahs than the luxury tents.
CROCODILE (CROC'S) NEST – 1 private tented house with 3 ensuite bedrooms The main tent has been split into two en-suite tented bedrooms , plus a third bedroom off the main deck towards the river with one king bed inside. All 3 rooms have Evening Breeze solar cooling systems over the beds. The bedrooms in the main tent have semi-open air bathrooms with hot showers, flush toilets and basin. The third bedroom has a fully enclosed bathroom. There is a generous living room/dining area in the Main tent with sofas and a dining table for guests to eat privately at the house. The living room and bedrooms open onto an outside deck and sitting area, with views onto the Luangwa River. There is a private swimming pool built into the deck too, just for Croc's Nest guests, which also looks onto the river. The house has 24/7 power & universal sockets as well as Wifi and a fridge for cold drinks and a mini bar. Guests staying in the Croc's Nest also have a private guide and their own safari vehicle so they can plan their activities depending on their particular interests.
Set in a private spot away from the rest of camp, the Jackalberry Tree House is a special treat indeed. The “house” is made up by three joined platforms built around three mature Mchenja trees (African Ebony or Jackalberry tree). There are two en-suite bedrooms with an open sitting/dining deck in-between them. The Treehouse is entirely open at the front.
The bedroom platforms have romantic and rustic four poster beds (one queen and one king which can be split into two twin beds), open front walls and uninterrupted views of Africa. Each bedroom has an open air bathroom platform down a short flight of steps with hot shower, flush toilets and basin. A large sofa, armchairs and throw cushions are spread out on the middle deck for relaxing during the heat of the day and watching the game which wanders past the house, oblivious to your presence. There is also a dining table should guests prefer to dine at the house. A fridge and bar are provided in the treehouse as well as tea and coffee-making facilities. A hand-held radio is provided, so that guests can call for a vehicle to bring them to the pool, restaurant or bar, or in case there is a problem of any kind. Their safari guide will otherwise plan with them when they would like collecting from the house and their preferred activities.
The tree-house is on mains electricity, ideal for re-charging cameras or laptops. Giraffe, bushbuck, puku and elephant are commonly found all around the Treehouse and it is wonderful to wake to the sounds of elephant feeding below you or having a mud bath from the waterhole in front of the house.
