The Bushcamp Company – Mfuwe Lodge and the Director’s House

Mfuwe Lodge: Gateway to South Luangwa Safaris

In Zambia’s iconic South Luangwa National Park, The Bushcamp Company operates Mfuwe Lodge and the Director’s House, near the Main Gate of the Park, six exclusive Bushcamps in the remote southern part of the park, as well as KuKaya, our newest addition.

Mfuwe Lodge, an award-winning safari lodge set in the most prolific game area of the South Luangwa, is the perfect place to enjoy excellent game viewing, recharge your batteries, or to start and finish your journey to our Bushcamps. It comprises 18 chalets, a pool, curio shop, and spa.

Set inside the park, just five minutes’ drive from the main gate, the lodge’s allure is instantly obvious. Beneath a canopy of ebony and mahogany, its eighteen air-conditioned chalets are arranged around the banks of two lagoons. The open-plan reception, lounge, dining, and bar areas have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and are furnished in a contemporary African style, complementing the natural surroundings.

The Director’s House: Exclusive Family Villa

The Director’s House, on the grounds of Mfuwe Lodge, is a two-bedroom, two-bath family villa, with a private swimming pool, dining area, braai, firepit, and pizza oven. Perfect for families or friends wanting a little extra privacy and exclusivity.

Exceptional Wildlife Viewing

This region of the park is renowned for its prolific game – giraffe, hippos, buffalo, antelope, and crocodile are constant visitors to Mfuwe Lodge’s lagoon, whilst in November the local elephants regularly wander right through the lobby, lured by the wild mango tree in the courtyard.

The Phil Berry Centre at Mfuwe Lodge, comprising a library and photo studio, has its own viewing deck, providing a quiet place to read, edit photos or connect to the outside world.

Exclusive Bushcamps in Remote South Luangwa

Our six Bushcamps are all located in the remote southern part of the Park. The Bushcamps are small, with only 3 or 4 chalets each, sleeping a maximum of 6 or 8 guests. We are fortunate enough to be the only safari operator in this southern section of the park, and between the remoteness and the size of the camps, we offer a unique experience not found in many safari camps.

Our Bushcamps are all very different in terms of structure, location, design, and “personality.” Each has its own unique ambiance and team of very experienced and friendly staff who look after your every need. With both walking safaris and game drives on offer each day, there is something for everyone.

Walking Safaris and Guest Flexibility

South Luangwa is the home of walking safaris, providing a perspective of the bush that you don’t get from a vehicle. Many of Bushcamp Company guests prefer to do walking safaris each morning at the Bushcamps, and for the ultimate in walking safaris, guests can walk between several of the Bushcamps. Extra guides and vehicles are in camps, which provides flexibility for guests that may prefer to do game drives rather than walks. Private guides can be arranged for clients for ultimate flexibility. The average guest stay is 7 – 10 nights at a combination of properties.

KuKaya: A New Safari Concept

KuKaya is the Bushcamp Company’s latest addition, opening in mid-2022 and introducing a new concept of going on safari.

Conservation and Community Commitment

A critical part of the company’s ethos is its commitment to conservation and community activities. Andy Hogg, the founder and Managing Director, created the Luangwa Conservation and Community Fund (LCCF) nearly 15 years ago. A small amount is added to each guest’s stay. 50% of the amount collected goes to conservation projects, specifically, to support Conservation South Luangwa, engaging in anti-snaring and anti-poaching activities within the South Luangwa National Park.

The remaining 50% of the LCCF funds community activities. These have evolved over the years. Currently, we have three prongs to our community projects:

Commit to Clean Water – drilling boreholes in neighbouring communities. We have drilled nearly 200 boreholes so far, and each borehole provides fresh drinking water to roughly 300 people per day.
Meal-a-Day programme – we feed nearly 4000 students one meal per day during the school term. This programme has led to greatly improved test scores.
School Sponsorship – we sponsor nearly 400 students in primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

As a guiding principle, The Bushcamp Company recognises that protecting the natural environment means fully involving the local community in management and decision-making. Through close collaboration, we support projects in the Luangwa area that help conserve critical wildlife resources and benefit the local community at the same time, proving true the African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”