Best hotels in Lower Zambezi

Lower Zambezi National Park is well-loved for its diverse landscapes and, at its heart, the majestic, life-giving Zambezi River. This region of southern Zambia is a pristine wilderness, home to large numbers of Africa's animal icons, especially lion, elephant and leopard. And it's the setting of Anabezi Camp, a truly lovely place that provides everything you want from a safari holiday and more. The hospitality and guiding are first-rate, the array of activities both on ground and the river are exhilarating, the tented accommodation and interiors are quietly elegant. And the food – it's good, very good.

Living up to its name (‘amanzi’ means ‘water’ in the local Tonga language), this charming camp is tucked away in the waterways of the Zambezi River on the beautiful and secluded Ngwenya channel. Whether you choose to discover the wildlife of this watery paradise by boat, canoe, vehicle or on foot, a safari from Amanzi is intimate, exclusive and highly personal. And with only 4 perfectly stylish tents, the same can be said for the camp too.

Perched beneath ancient winterthorn trees where the Chongwe meets the mighty Zambezi, these two exclusive suites deliver pared-back luxury with a side of butler service. The Cassia Suite pampers honeymooners with river-facing romance, while the two-bedroom Albida welcomes families who fancy their own slice of wilderness. With private plunge pools, clawfoot bathtubs under the stars, and dedicated guides who'll paddle you past hippo pods at dawn, this is safari refinement without the stuffiness. Elephants regularly wade through the channel right in front of your suite – entertainment courtesy of nature while you sip coffee from your canopied lounge.

Tucked away on its own private island in the eastern reaches of the Lower Zambezi, Chula is where safari purists go to disappear. Just five mesh-walled tents beneath towering Natal Mahogany trees offer front-row seats to one of Africa's last true wildernesses. This is owner-run, passion-fuelled safari at its most authentic – think bucket showers under the stars, breakfast around a crackling campfire, and guides who paddle these channels like they were born to do just that. It's deliberately simple, refreshingly remote, and completely captivating; the kind of place where hippos provide the morning alarm and elephants might just wander through camp for afternoon tea.

Kutali Camp is a realisation of the dream of Luke Evans and Kyle Branch, two young men who have spent the past decade guiding travellers throughout southern and East Africa's most sought-after sanctuaries. They've come to know the essential ingredients of a great bush experience. A truly wild, beautiful and productive wilderness – in this case, Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park. Dedicated, knowledgeable guides – the owners themselves. And the atmosphere – there's certainly little to beat the under-the-stars campfire spirit, with good food and wine.

Welcome to Chongwe River House, a four-bedroom private house on the banks of the Chongwe River with more than a touch of the Fred Flintstone, accommodating a minimum of 4 people. Designed by renowned architect Neil Rocher, the house is a grand architectural medley of curving walls and enormous leadwood furniture – there’s barely a straight line in sight. But you’re not coming on safari for style we hear you say? Well that’s ok then as the house comes complete with a private guide, armed guard, vehicle, boat and kayaks for the ultimate exploration of all corners of the Lower Zambezi National Park.

There is a corner of the Lower Zambezi National Park where the rushing waters of the Zambezi meet the tranquil Chongwe channel, where curved ox-bow lagoons shimmer in the heat and where spiky winterthorn woodlands stretch endlessly to the horizon. And in the heart of it all is Chongwe Camp, a 9-roomed tented haven offering a variety of water and land based activities amid scenery that truly takes your breath away.