Time + Tide Kakuli Camp is a seasonal bush camp that offers some of the best game viewing and night drive safaris in South Luangwa, Zambia. Kakuli, meaning old buffalo bull, was the nickname given by locals to Norman Carr, the pioneer of Zambia walking safaris. A lovely thatched main area is on an elevated wooden deck. This overlooks the grazing lawn that leads down to the two rivers and is a perfect spot in which to relax and watch the river and the wildlife meander by.
A wildlife hide is directly under the main deck. This cozy hide has a comfy couch and prime views of the wildlife that stop by the Kakuli waterhole. Among the visitors are elephants, buffalo, puku, impala and giraffe. This is the perfect place for guests who just can’t get enough wildlife to hang out between their activities.
The camp operates on solar power with British three pin plugs in the main lounge. There is WiFi in the rooms.
Its five bright and airy safari tents (including a two bedroom, two bathroom family safari tent) under shady thatched roofs. Perched high above the Luangwa River, Time + Tide Kakuli offers impressive vistas of the river and this hippo packed stretch of the Luangwa. A stay at Time + Tide Kakuli is an awe inspiring experience that allows you to reconnect with nature in a magnificent way.
Freshly redesigned, the suites offer comfort in all seasons. Offering shade and airflow in the hot winter months and a cozy hideaway from the occasional thunderstorms of the green season. Each offering a feather-top bed, indoor and outdoor showers and a covered open seating area to take in the panoramic views of the river. Listening to the calls of nearby hippos and watching the giraffes and elephants that stop by for a drink. Marvel at the aerial acrobatics of emerald green bee-eaters hunting outside your tent. Slow down, unwind and fully immerse into this extraordinary wild land.
Sit on your swing chair spotting wildlife around the riverBathroom with a viewFamily tent
Zambia Family Safari
Spend time in the places you love, with the people you love. Time + Tide believe in introducing children to the wonders of the wild from an early age. The team takes great care in sharing a deep appreciation for the land, wildlife, and culture with every guest. Including the youngest explorers. Unforgettable encounters, immersive experiences, and inspiring stories help families connect with nature. Whether simply enjoying time together or diving into fun filled activities on safari.
Children’s experiences at Time + Tide will spark curiosity and wonder for all kids. Beyond thrilling game drives, younger guests can track wildlife with the guides, try their hand at cooking with the chefs, and enjoy a host of other engaging activities.
Children of all ages welcome in all Time and Tide camps. When sharing with an adult, children under 18 years old are charged 50% of the nightly adult rate. Children 3 and under are free of charge when sharing with an adult. Families of four or less including at least one child younger than 12 years, are required to pay for the use of a private vehicle. Adults are responsible for supervising children at all times. Minimum age for walking, canoeing and sleep out is 12 years old and at the discretion of the guide. The children’s menu delights younger palates with flexible meal times for kids.
Activities
Safari activities from Kakuli Camp will usually be a mixture of game drives and walking safaris. With a resident lion pride, a seasonal colony of jewel like carmine bee-eaters and the most sightings of leopards in a single drive every year.
Normally, Kakuli Camp also operates in the secret season, 1st January – 31st March but due to heavy flooding, it is not opening in 2026 for this period. This is when the Luangwa rivers water levels are high, and boating activities are offered. This is a totally different wildlife viewing experience along with dramatic skies as a backdrop.
Verreaux’s eagle-owls
Walking Safaris
Discover the delicate balance of the natural world as you explore the unspoiled wilderness of Zambia on foot. Back in the 1950’s Norman Carr pioneered walking safaris and conservation-based tourism in Zambia. His aim was to track big game on foot in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. Home to some of the continent’s greatest concentrations of game.
Guides offer guests a raw, authentic safari experience. Slow down and trace a leopard track in the sand through early morning mists. Watch the delicate dance of an ox pecker on a zebra. Listen to the sunrise call of a lion. Breathe in the wild African air. Delight in learning something new on each activity.
Walking safaris are immersive, sensual and peaceful. In Zambia, an armed wildlife ranger or “scout” leads each walking group, followed by the trained walking guide. Having a walk led by two wildlife experts was conceived by Norman and a 60 year+ track record of safety speaks to the effectiveness of this approach.
The difference between a vehicle safari and walking safari is on the walks you can see, hear, smell and feel the bush. You begin to understand the interconnections of the flora and the fauna. How each small part plays an important role in the greater ecosystem. Small mysteries of the bush are unlocked and explored. Tracks are investigated; and the wide variety of animal poo becomes an unexpected and fascinated learning experience! While generally speaking, walks are more focused on the little things in the bush, tracking big game on foot is not uncommon and always thrilling.
Zambia’s wild places are rich with life at every turn. In the South Luangwa, the landscape shifts from riverine forest to open plains, teeming with zebra, puku, giraffe and wildebeest.
Driving safaris are all in open 4X4 vehicles (Land Cruiser or Land Rover). At Chinzombo, Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli and Mchenja generally have 4, with no more than 6, people on a vehicle ensuring everyone has a ‘window’ seat.
Night drives are generally an extension of your afternoon game drive or walking safari. As the sun begins to set we stop to watch the day come to a close and as dusk falls set off to explore as the nocturnal animals start to emerge.
The best chance of seeing genets, civets, elephant shrew, porcupine and the fierce honey-badger is after sunset and the large predators, with the exception of wild dog, are most active at night. Night time birding can be very rewarding with nightjars, owls great and small, dikkop, bat hawk and coursers are all abundant.
Game drive vehicle
Return to the Wild Sleep Out
The sleep out is an unforgettable experience where you can fully immerse yourself in nature and spend a night in the wild. You are joined by private chef, guide and scout. It is available between June to November.
After tea at camp, you will venture out to find a spot to camp. Enjoy the camp fire and dinner which you can even help to cook yourself. Sleep out under the stars in the spectacular and extremely remote Luwi dry river bed. Retreat to your gossamer tent and cozy bedroll sheathed beneath a transparent netting. Let the sounds of the bush and crackling fire lull you to sleep. The guide and scout keep a watch for predators till morning. Experience the thrill of the first safari pioneers, including Norman Carr himself, as they discovered the wonders of the South Luangwa.
Wake up with sun and enjoy a cooked breakfast before returning to camp or a walking safari to your next camp.
Sleep under The Stars
Kakuli Dining Experience
The reed and thatch bar and dining area forms the center point of camp. Norman Carr Safaris has earned a reputation for the quality and range of food served and you can expect cuisine of the highest standards.
Days in the bush usually start early so a light breakfast is available at dawn before your first safari. A lavish buffet brunch will be awaiting your return to camp at around 11am with the rest of the guests in camp, your host and guide. Afternoon tea and cake is at about 3.30pm before the evening safari and dinner for everyone is between 7pm and 8.30pm. Dinner in the camps consists of a three course meal freshly prepared, cooked in camp and served to you at your table. All meals, comprising breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner, are included in the price of your safari.
The chefs have been trained in-house and they are more than happy to cater to any personal requests. If your food preferences could possibly be regarded as out of the ordinary then it would be easier if you informed us in advance of your arrival.
Main area for dining
The best time to visit Kakuli Camp?
November and from January to April (Green Season), the scenery is lush green and you get the best sunsets. There a fewer tourists and cheaper rates. The rains bring birds and baby animals in abundance so excellent time for everything!
May and June is time of less rain (with June having almost none) and the scenery is still lush. The weather is cooler making it ideal for walking safaris. This is a fantastic time for photography.
July to October is the dry season. The bush gets less dense therefore it is easier to spot the wildlife. They also congregate at the fewer water sources so generally this the peak safari season in the South Luangwa National Park. Temperatures are lovely and warm during the day but chillier in the evenings (especially July and August). Again, this makes it ideal for walking safaris.
How to get to Kakuli Camp?
Mfuwe is the gateway to the South Luangwa National Park. There are regular flights from Lusaka to Mfuwe International Airport (MFU), just outside the park. The drive from Mfuwe Airport to Kakuli Camp is approx 2 hours.
Time + Tide Kakuli Camp Accommodation Rates
Kakuli Camp is open from the 20th May to 15th November every year. In years when the flooding isn’t too bad, it also opens from 1st January – 31st March.
2026 and 2027 Time + Tide Kakuli Camp Rates
Green Season: 1st January – 31st March, 20th May – 30th June & 1st – 15th November
Safari Season: 1st July – 31st October
Per adult sharing
$ 880
$ 1,200
Single Supplement: 50% of the nightly rate
Children 3 and under stay for free. 4 – 17 years old pay 50% of the adult rate.
The rates include:
Accommodation and all meals.
Standard drinks (soft drinks, house wine, beer and spirits).
Transfers to/from Mfuwe Airport.
Local inter camp road transfers, laundry and service charge.
Two daily activities: Game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits.
These rates exclude:
Reserve spirits, wines and champagnes.
Entry visas, flights.
Meet and Greet in Lusaka.
Spa treatments.
Gratuities, personal expenses and extras.
Park Fees and Conservation Levies.
Time + Tide Kakuli Camp Special Offers
Stay/Pay Offers
Stay 10, pay 8, stay 7, pay 6 or Stay 4, pay 3* at all Time and Tide camps in Zambia (see below under Jet Set Safari).
*Valid all year except the 4 for 3 offer which is only available in the green season (1st – 15th November and 1st April – 30th June).
Spontaneous Safari
A wildly generous offer that allows you to follow the road less traveled and enjoy this exceptional, untouched and uncrowded wilderness. The Spontaneous Safari rates are valid for travel until 30 June 2026. With the exception of Time + Tide Luwi and Time + Tide Nsolo, valid until 15 November 2026. This offer can be combined with the Stay Pay offers, which give you complimentary nights to enjoy more time on safari.
Spontaneous Safari Rates
Green Season: 1st January – 30th June 2026
Safari Season: 1st July – 15th November 2026
Chinzombo
$ 950
–
Chongwe Suites and Chongwe House
$ 700
–
Chongwe Camp, Mchenja, Kakuli, Nsolo, Luwi
$ 600
$ 800 (Nsolo, and Luwi only)
Jet Set Safari
Stay a minimum of 5 nights at any Time + Tide Safaris camps in Zambia and 5 nights at Time + Tide in Madagascar and receive 2 nights complimentary.
Valid all year.
*For stays at Miavana, you also get complimentary return helicopter transfers from Diego Suarez / Nosy Be.
South Luangwa Honeymoon
Stay a minimum of 5 nights at any Time + Tide Safaris camps in Zambia within 6 months of your wedding and receive 50% off your partner’s accommodation.
Valid all year.
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