Camping in Zambia

Zambia, with its expansive wilderness, beckons to overlanders and nature enthusiasts alike. After an exhilarating journey through various Zambian national parks last year, Alta Wessels shares her top camping spots.

When we journey to a country like Zambia, our primary focus is to explore the national parks and immerse ourselves in the wildlife. The amenities at the campsites take a backseat to the thrilling journey ahead. We are quite comfortable with off-grid camping and some of our favourite campsites ever have been no more than a number on a tree.

During a recent journey, we explored several Zambian national parks, primarily immersing ourselves within the park boundaries, though occasionally venturing just beyond them. To discover what awaits you at the campsites and gather insights for a smoother experience, keep reading.

Here are the campsites we loved the most, listed in the order we explored them:

Liuwa Plain National Park

We camped at Kwale, Mukalabumbu, and Katoyana sites within the park. These campsites were similar, each offering plenty of shade, yet lacking any grass. They offer shared facilities with flush toilets and hot showers – not particularly remarkable, but tidy and practical.

The slender oribi stands out as a remarkable highlight in the vast expanse of Liuwa Plain.
It is worth mentioning that the sand has a gritty texture, and your feet are likely to end up quite dark and messy. Climbing into bed with clean feet turned out to be an unexpected quest. Although the campsites were not the main attraction, we had a fantastic time exploring Liuwa Plain over a few delightful days. We encountered numerous impressive hyaenas that the park is famous for and observed the beginning of the spectacular blue Wildebeest migration. We experienced our first sighting of oribi, which are akin to steenboks but distinguished by their black tails. Even though the access road posed quite a challenge during our visit, we wholeheartedly suggest exploring Liuwa Plain.

Kafue National Park

During the initial phase of our time in Kafue, we set up camp at Kasabushi Campsite. Nestled along the banks of the Kafue River within the park, this became one of our most cherished locations. The campsites offer a good amount of space, and while there is plenty of shade, the ground is bare of grass. The shared ablutions are a standout experience. The architecture is whimsical and harmoniously integrates with the surroundings. The showers feel like being beneath a cascading waterfall – absolutely breathtaking! You will find ample supplies for your toiletries, towels, and fresh clothes. You will discover toilet paper in the ablutions – a delightful surprise that is not always guaranteed. The owners were away during our visit, but they provide exciting boat trips on the river and are said to be very skilled bird watchers.

Another intriguing detail at Kasabushi was the Doom station, located roughly 50m before the entrance to the campsite. Here is the moment to pause and tackle the swarm of tsetse flies that have gathered around your vehicle before continuing on to the campsite. It truly made a difference in reducing the presence of tsetse flies at the campsite. We embraced this approach throughout our journey and collected a variety of giant cans of Doom.

Busanga Plains

From Kasabushi, we journeyed to Bongololo Campsite, which is part of Mozhi Bush Camp. The campsite was quite simple, offering shared facilities with flush toilets and hot water. In our view, this campsite is essential since it offers the nearest camping experience to Busanga Plains. All the other campsites are notably distant, and the plains are an experience not to be overlooked – we encountered three different leopards, lions, side-striped jackals, and Lichtenstein hartebeests all in a single day.

A thrilling encounter with wild dogs on the Busanga Plains.
The individuals at Mozhi and the guides we met while exploring were exceptionally warm and accommodating. We are not accustomed to guides directing solo adventurers on where to discover the wildlife! The following day, as we were leaving the park, we experienced what was likely the highlight of our entire journey – a pack of at least 20 wild dogs. The experience was truly remarkable, especially since we had the entire sighting all to ourselves.

Tip: Departing Kafue National Park before 09:00 allows you to skip the park fees for that day.

It was fascinating to discover that the officials at Kafue park embraced adaptable travel arrangements. If you are uncertain about your length of stay, they will probably say, “If you decide to extend your time, just settle the remaining balance when you leave.”

For glimpses of the journey and additional details about these parks, check out the YouTube video Zambia: Liuwa and Kafue.

North Luangwa National Park

Mushika Campsite is nestled along the riverbank, offering a stunning vista. The amenities consist of a long drop toilet and a hand pump for water, though there is no shower enclosure available. The campsite’s simple facilities were of little concern to us. The location is charmingly isolated, offering you the complete freedom of the entire area.

Similar to Mushika, the other wilderness campsites in North Luangwa feature a spacious clearing, a hand pump, and a long drop toilet.

South Luangwa National Park is a place brimming with excitement and exploration.

Within South Luangwa, you will find only lodges, as there are no campsites available. Our journey to the Nsefu Sector began with a stay at Zikomo, nestled just outside the park near Milyoti Gate. We discovered it to be quite costly at USD50 per person, with tiny campsites closely packed together. Track and Trail Campsite (USD17 per person per night), located just outside the Mfuwe Gate, offered a more budget-friendly option.

Track & Trail Camp offers campers lush greenery, cool shade, and excellent braai facilities.

At Track and Trail, you set up your camp on lush grass, surrounded by plenty of shade provided by trees and charming thatched shelters. A low electric fence stands guard, ensuring that hippos stay away from the campsite. Sadly, it does not seem to deter the monkeys, but the lodge staff are quite skilled at keeping them at bay. The facilities are contemporary, roomy, and well-maintained. Campers can explore all the lodge facilities, including the swimming pool. The restaurant offers a delightful experience at a fair price. Track and Trail is conveniently located near the park’s main entrance gate, making this campsite an excellent option for exploring South Luangwa.