Flatdogs Camp | South Luangwa National Park
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!
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- Rooms
- Units
- Facilities
- Activities and Services
- Restaurants
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.
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Room Facilities
Cooking Equipment, Electrical Outlets, Fan, Fridge, Fridge/Freezer, Kitchenette, Microwave, Mosquito Nets, Mosquito Netting, Portable BBQ, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Smoke Alarm, Table, Tea / Coffee, Verandah, Wardrobe
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.
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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.
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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.
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Drinking Water Filtration System, Electrical Outlets, Family Safari Tent, Fan, Fridge/Freezer, Lounge, Mini Bar, Mosquito Nets, Mosquito Netting, Private Lounge / Sitting Area, Private Pool / Jacuzzi, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Sahara Style Tent, Smoke Alarm, Verandah
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.
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Property Facilities
Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Electrical Outlets, Fan, Fridge, Laundry Service (Available), Lounge Area, Mosquito Nets, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Available Services
24-hour Security, Airport Shuttle (Available), Credit Card Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Meal on Request, Private Vehicle (Available)
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Game Drives, Game Viewing Hide, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Natural History Tours, Night Drives, Safaris, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours
Activities Nearby
Child Friendly Activities, Cultural Tours
We leave camp at 0600 after a light early breakfast of toast, cereal, yoghurt, tea and coffee from 0530. We do our safaris in open game viewers so that guests have an all round view of the birds, trees, wildlife and beauty of the Park.
Midway through the drive there is a tea/cold drink stop so guests can stretch their legs before carrying on, looking for new sightings, or following alarm calls to a predator or a kill.
Morning game drives usually return to camp at around 1000 depending on the season.
We leave camp at 3.30pm for our afternoon safaris, after tea in the courtyard. The safaris head out again after the heat of the day, when animals and birds start to get active again after the midday stupor! Your safari guide will aim to stop at a scenic spot just before sundown, so you can enjoy an infamous African Sundowner! Once the sun has set, you will continue on with a spotlight, operated by your spotter, who looks for interesting nocturnal creatures that you are unlikely to see during daylight hours. There is a chance to see nocturnal birds like night-jars, owls and bathawks as well as nocturnal mammals such as honeybadgers, civet, genet, porcupine, leopard and hyaena.
Afternoon drives return to camp at around 7.30pm depending on what you are seeing but the National Park's gate closes at 8pm.
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The South Luangwa is renowned as the "home of walking safaris", this is where Norman Carr first offered the idea of visitors exploring the Park on foot rather than by vehicle, escaping the noise of the engine and experiencing the thrill and excitement of being at one with the wildlife and habitat at a slower pace. Our safari guides will explain the smaller details of the bush which you can see, hear and smell when on foot, from bird calls to alarm calls to trees and plants which have medicinal uses and tracks of the wild, so you can interpret what you are seeing and hearing with more clarity. Walking is usually enjoyed in the mornings when the temperatures are cooler, but can be enjoyed through the year for longer periods during cooler months. Each walk is usually 3-4 hours long at a gentle pace.
Unlike many "Traditional Village" projects, Chundu Village is really a living working African village where the local residents have agreed amongst themselves to invite visitors to show them their lives. They then use the money raised by visitors & donations to help the disadvantaged and for their co-operative farming programmes. During the visit, guests can see and help villagers preparing maize for meals, collecting water and visiting their nearby school if lessons are not in progress. The day trip including a local style lunch costs $40 per person. Transfers to the village cost US$75 per vehicle for day trips. Overnight stays at Chundu village are also possible, for a more in-depth experience, meeting the villagers and spending the night in a traditional local hut. Overnight stays cost $80 per person per night including all meals (entirely authentic local dishes – you eat what the villagers eat). Transfers for an overnight stay cost $75 per vehicle each way. If the village visit is chosen to be done instead of either a morning or an afternoon game drive, then there is no extra charge for the transfers for groups or four or more.
Flatdogs a la carte restaurant
Guests at Flatdogs camp are treated to an a la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Jess & Ade love their food and source the best local ingredients to make delicious fresh & seasonal dishes with the 10 Flatdogs chefs. From free range eggs & organic chickens to dry aged beef and locally grown vegetables, they use the best of what's available in the Province for the daily specials board. There are full vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus available as well. For guests booked on our safari package basis, all meals on an a la carte basis are included.
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Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
Fast Facts
4 Star
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish
No. Rooms: 20
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Gourmet, Hiking, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife
Chikoko Tree Camp | South Luangwa National Park
Chikoko Tree Camp is situated 8km upstream from Tafika. Here three chalets are raised above the ground ensuring that they sit, rather romantically, within the surrounding tree canopies. The ground floor is the bathroom and changing area and stairs alongside the chalet lead up to the bedroom area perched on the raised platform.
The Chikoko Tree Camp's uniquely raised en-suite chalets enhance the views of the spectacular surrounding acacia grove, the array of wildlife that frequent it and the ongoing wildlife activity that unfolds throughout the day.
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Chikoko Tree Camp has two twin chalets which are built in a tree-house fashion with the bedroom upstairs and bathroom downstairs. The front is open to views of the trees and the plains beyond. The bathroom is setup up downstairs with an outdoor safari shower open to the stars and a private changing area.
Chikoko Tree Camp has one double chalet which is built in a tree-house fashion with the bedroom upstairs and bathroom downstairs. The front is open to views of the trees and the plains beyond. The bathroom is setup up downstairs with an outdoor safari shower open to the stars and a private changing area.
Property Facilities
Bar, Battery Charging Facilities, Communal Dining, Eco Friendly, Restaurant, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Dressing Gowns, Fireplace, Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe
Available Services
24-hour Security, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Room Service
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Canoeing, Game Viewing Hide, Game Viewing, Game Walks, Gourmet Picnic, Safaris, Walks (Guided), Wildlife Tours
Activities Nearby
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Drinks (excl Premium Brands) Included
Fast Facts
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 3
Special Interests: Adventure, Birding, Flora, Hiking, Nature, Star Gazing, Wildlife
