Royal Chundu (Livingstone)

Lodge Facilities For Children

Rim flow pool
Lounge with Television, DVDs, Wildlife Shows, and Wii Games
Fun board games and puzzles of varying sizes and difficulties covering a broad age range
A selection of entertaining and educational children’s books
Life jackets for water activities

Children’s Club

Royal Chundu Luxury Zambezi Lodges offers a child-friendly getaway, affording families personal service in a relaxing atmosphere, where families can relax and play together. Upon arrival the host and/or guide will discuss activity options with the family taking the family’s size, children’s ages, and the weather into consideration. Each child will receive a River Safari Adventure Pack containing small gifts, some of which they can use during their stay at Royal Chundu.

Kids Activities

Parents are welcome to join their children in activities or choose to relax, while Chundu River Guides or Child Minders supervise children while doing the many activities offered in the supplied Adventure Passport.
A welcoming treasure hunt will help familiarize children with the Royal Chundu staff and surroundings, allowing you peace of mind throughout your stay.
Leaf and flower pressing
Frogging safari
Fishing tag and release from the deck, canoeing, or boat.
Cosmic safari (astronomy)
Insect capture and release
Butterfly capture and release
Birding
Sunset cruise
Village life lessons
Chundu chefs’ cooking lessons
Guide quiz
Certification and prize-giving

Royal Chundu Family Holidays Policy

• Persons aged 12 years and older are considered adults.
• 0-3 years old: accommodated at no extra cost and may share with adults, depending on availability of extra single beds and /or cots.
• 4-11 years old: accommodated at 50% (half ) of the adult sharing rate and may have their own suite or share with adults, depending on the availability of extra single beds.
• Child rates are applicable whether children share a suite with adults or not.
• Child-minding services are available at an additional minimal cost.

Parents must supervise all swimming activities at all times.
Children under the age of 2 will be cared for at the lodge by trained child minders while parents enjoy Sunset Cruises
Child minding is done by lodge staff and can be arranged with reservations prior to arrival at an additional cost
Chundu Children’s Club activities and participation are subject to the length of stay and the availability of River Guides
Please ensure that all children bring good walking shoes, a large hat and sunscreen, and any medicine used to treat allergies

Sunset River Cruises

The Zambezi is truly at its best when lit up at sunrise and sunset, with those fiery golds and reds, hot pinks, and deep purples. The colors of dawn and dusk create the most sensational backdrops on your guided river cruise. Board our spacious, pontoon boat and relax while our guides whisk you down one of Africa’s grandest rivers, a river of myth and romance.

Cruise down the beauty of the Zambezi as the sun sets in the African sky. Watch crocodiles slip off the banks underwater as you approach and listen to the snorting hippos. In the drier months, the skipper will anchor near “Ellie Corner”, where you can spot herds of elephants as they drink, play, and bathe on the river’s edge nearby. Other wildlife to be seen include baboons, impala, warthog, and buffalo.

Katombora Island Walks

Marvel in the miracle of nature when you enjoy a guided walk through the 23 Baobabs, python creepers, and 2,000yr old Jackelberry trees on the private Katombora Island. Untouched by development and undamaged by animals, this area creates the most perfect ecosystem at play. Experienced guides will share their knowledge with the guests on some of the local uses for the flora found on the island.

Photographic River Safari

The Zambezi River is full of photographic potential, a magical, moving destination for photographers of all levels to lose themselves in.

While floating down the river on a boat cruise, raise your camera to the scenes lit by the sunrises or sunsets, the golden light cast over the river and its banks. Or the elephant herds coming for a drink, and the other wildlife in the reserve on the opposite side of the river; the otters, waterbuck, hippos, and crocodiles wading in the water.

Guides will be on-board to take care of everything else, pointing out different bird species and special subjects you might miss. They will make sure you’re at the right place at the right time and will be on hand with coffee and biscotti, or G&Ts…

For a different view, take to the river on a canoe and capture the rapids and riverine vegetation close-up.

If your interest lies in food photography, there are plenty of opportunities to capture the art of dining and local foods and ingredients, as served by the Royal Chundu chefs. This could be on a private picnic, a romantic deck dinner, a lunch river cruise, or while enjoying the different courses of our special Zambian tasting menu.

You can also practice your portraits, of friends, family, and other travel partners, with the Zambezi as your backdrop.

Consider adding a day trip to Victoria Falls to your photographic adventure, for a chance to capture the Smoke That Thunders for yourself.

Picnics

Picnics along the banks of the river just as picnics were in the past: Persian carpets, hammocks, Pimms upon arrival, picnic tables, and sumptuous tapas lunches or breakfasts which will find you restoring your soul in a relaxed fashion while listening to the rapids of the mighty Zambezi coursing past you. Loll about in a hammock or lie back after your meal on the Persian carpets and soak up the magical surroundings.

Canoeing

Inflatable Canoeing
An exhilarating trip, this adventure activity involves transfer by vehicle to the launch point near the Katombora rapids. The rapids are at their best when the river is low. Guides paddle guests over the rapids amidst stunning scenery and through the channels of the islands in the Zambezi. There is plenty of opportunities to enjoy the lush island vegetation and abundant bird life. Approximately 2–2 1/2 hours.

Motorized Inflatable Canoeing
Experience the beauty of the river by idling along the Upper Zambezi. This trip is a combination of a 5hp motor to gently propel you along as well as a paddle to give you the canoeing experience. A refreshing way to canoe and explore the stunning Zambezi River. Cost includes an experienced guide per canoe, refreshments & return transfers. Half Day: 15–17kms | Full Day: 25-45km

Village Walk & Community Tours

This village tour is highly recommended. The tour gives guests a rare opportunity of interacting with the villagers in a truly authentic environment where everyone continues with their daily activities. Your guide, who resides in the village, will be well versed in all the traditions and customs in the village and will be able to advise you on what plants and herbs are used for traditional medicine, making cooking oil, soap, and other necessities. Those wishing to make a donation to the village fund can discuss this with the guide of the trip. The trip starts with a journey in a Makoro (traditional canoe). Paddled by an experienced guide and then a walk around a village in the area, once the walk is finished you will return via Makoro back to the lodge.

Fishing

Royal Chundu is renowned amongst the professional angling fraternity for its superb fly fishing and has become the venue of choice for the serious fisherman while offering an exciting introduction for the novice. The unstressed waters vary from virgin island eddies and shallow rapids to deep flowing channels which boast the notoriously powerful Tiger Fish, numerous species of Bream, and the prized Upper Zambezi Yellow Fish. One of the biggest celebrations in Africa, the Parrot Fish Run runs from June
to August. It sees millions of fish swimming for miles down the Zambezi as they get caught in the mainstream. Royal Chundu hosts the event, letting guests take part by either spectating or trying to catch the likes of prized African Tiger Fish and Parrot Fish. Local fishermen get involved too, using hand-woven reed and palm tree leave baskets to catch the fish. There are a variety of different fishing options available, all prices cover boat hire, fuel, and an experienced skipper/fishing guide. Tackle, rods, and general fishing equipment are available for hire at the lodge.

Excludes December to March, as this is spawning season.

Bird Watching Safari.

Choose from a morning (sunrise), late afternoon (sunset), nighttime, or full-day birding safari.  These safaris are tailored to individual requirements. The full-day safari includes guided vehicle transfers to the plains and other indigenous forest areas and/or river transfers to the islands. This tour is catered specifically to birding specialists who want to look for specific birds. The shorter safaris last for approximately 2 1/2 hours.

The calls of the African fish eagle and the sounds of the bleating warbler have formed the background music to stays at the Royal Chundu.

On a birding cruise down the Zambezi, guides will impart their knowledge of nature with you, pointing out the range of birdlife waiting to be sought out. Spot the Finchlarks and flufftails tempting birdwatchers from the riverbank trees or the jacanas and kingfishers normally found beside hippos and crocodiles in the shallower reaches.
The Zambezi River is the home of many strange and awe-inspiring creatures. Some consider the flowing waters as their permanent residence and others only come to play. The flowing water, the sun-baked banks, and the overhanging trees provide respite, a refuge for all species of birds. It sustains, replenishes, and invigorates.

Spa Treatments

Sisters of Africa Spa is a true African Spa with a concept that bonds modern and local healing treatments. Holistic treatments are offered, from mild facials using our local beauty products, to natural Arabica coffee scrubs. Sisters of Africa Spa brings a whole new meaning to tranquility.