Set in a grove of magnificent ebony trees Time + Tide Mchenja Camp is a luxurious, elegant and stylish tented camp. It overlooks a huge sweeping bend in the Luangwa River, in the heart of South Luangwa National Park. Mchenja has been described as one of the most luxurious and romantic bush camps in Zambia.
Pull yourself away from camp to track big cats through the bush with hushed voices and beating hearts. Night drives are always rewarding, with the bush revealing a different nocturnal surprise every time. At the right time of year, this is one of the best camps in the park for seeing carmine bee-eaters.
Elephants are known to drink from the plunge pool in the main area and lions and leopard are frequently seen wandering around the nearby ebony grove and permanent lagoon.
The camp operates on solar power with British three pin plugs in the main lounge. There is WiFi in the rooms.
The 5 Time + Tide Mchenja Camp safari rooms are pure, natural elegance with grass walls, soft cushions and light as air curtains. The suites bring style and comfort to an authentic safari experience. Each has a feather-top bed, large picture windows and open air en-suite bathroom with a bath looking out onto the river. Between game drives unwind in your claw foot tub, watching the river meandering past through the floor to ceiling windows. From the comfort of your suite, listen to the bellowing hippos or watch as elephants feed on seed pods just outside your room.
Safari RoomsPicnic on the banks of Luangwa River
There is 1 x Family Safari Suite of two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.
Family 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.
The best family bonding on the banks of the Luangwa River
Activities
Mchenja Camp is in a superb game viewing area where walking safaris, game drives and night drives are always productive and exciting. Home to the original walking safari, Time + Tide South Luangwa is the perfect destination for adventurous and active travelers. With an award winning guiding team, you can explore as you please. Discovering the diverse tapestry of habitats of the South Luangwa.
The game viewing around Time + Tide Mchenja is superb. With leopards and lions sometimes wandering through the camp’s ebony grove in search of prey. Night drives are usually very rewarding, with the bush revealing a different nocturnal surprise every time. Expect large herds of elephants and rivers packed with hippos and crocs. Time + Tide Mchenja is also one of the best camps in the park for seeing the iconic carmine bee-eaters.
Elephants crossing the river
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.
Hyena on game drive
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 in the wild
Mchenja Camp Dining
At breakfast, listen to a chorus of birdsong and laughing hippos. Lunch is taken in the shady lounge. Dinner is more often served on the river bank under the stars. 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.
The best time to visit Mchenja Camp?
The best time for a safari at Mchenja Camp depends on what you are wanting to do.
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.
November is the green Season when 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!
How to get to Mchenja 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 Mchenja Camp is approx 2 1/2 hours.
Time + Tide Mchenja Camp Accommodation Rates
Mchenja Camp is open from the 20th May to 15th November every year.
2026 and 2027 Time + Tide Mchenja Camp Rates
Green Season: 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 Mchenja 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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