Lolebezi is a contemporary-design, upscale safari lodge located on the banks of the Zambezi River in a remote and wildlife-rich wilderness area that is protected as a national park.

There are a very limited number of safari camps in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park, and Lolebezi is situated on a private stretch of Zambezi Riverfront, giving guests here a very exclusive safari experience with no other tourists seen on safari activities. Read more about the Lower Zambezi below.

Wildlife is seasonally abundant around the camp, particularly along and the floodplains that extend inland from the river. Elephants are here in abundance and can often be seen without leaving the camp as they come to the river to drink and frolic in the water. Herds can sometimes be seen crossing the river to and from the Zimbabwe side, which is protected as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The elephants in the Lower Zambezi region are typically quite relaxed around game drive vehicles and they often amble slowly right through the camp, allowing for up-close viewing, both in vehicle, on nature walks, and from the camp.

Other species that are commonly seen at Lolebezi include buffalo, eland, waterbuck, greater kudu, impala, zebra, and others. Predators that are likely to be seen on a typical visit include lion, spotted hyena, leopard, African wild dog, and black-backed jackal. Cheetah are present, but seen less often. Hippo and crocodile are abundant in the river. Birding in the area is extremely good, with over 400 species recorded.

Activities at Lolebezi include twice-daily (or full-day) game drives in customized, open Land Cruisers, walking with an armed guide, canoeing on the Zambezi River, fishing (catch-and-release from the shore), and power-boat safari outings and sunset cruises on the Zambezi River. Wildlife viewing from the camp's main lodge area and guest suites (which look onto the river) can also be very good throughout the day between activities.

Lolebezi offers six, well-appointed, African-chic-design suites, two of which are two-bedroom units that are ideal for a family (children of any age are welcome, but walking and canoeing are age-restricted activities).

The guest suites merge comfort with a contemporary design and feature an outdoor deck with lounge seating offering superb views of the river and a private plunge pool. The indoor space includes the bedroom and fully-plumbed bathroom facilities offering both indoor and outdoor showers, a bathtub, double-basin vanity, and flush toilet.

The main guest area consists of two-levels of both indoor and outdoor living space comprising wooden structures constructed atop slightly-elevated wooden decking that overlooks the river and offers views all the way across the Zambezi River to the Zimbabwean side. The lodge features indoor and outdoor dining, a bar, several lounges, and viewing decks on both levels. The indoor spaces have floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors that open onto the outdoor decks, which are used for dining and relaxing.

A walkway leads down to the river and one of two campfire areas with lounge seating that offers a lovely spot for watching the sun fade while enjoying a drink after a day on safari. The main lodge also offers a swimming pool with loungers for cooling off between activities.

For those wishing to do more than relax during the midday hours, there is a full-service spa, a gym with exercise equipment, and a yoga deck. There is also a safari shop offering African curious and safari gear.

Lolebezi Lodge is an eco-friendly safari accommodation that operates primarily on solar energy (guests can tour the impressive solar-panel array behind the camp), but a generator provides a backup power source and there is 24-hour electricity in the guest tents and the main area.

Lolebezi is owned and operated by African Bush Camps (ABC), a company founded by a professional African safari guide, who has a passion for protecting remote spaces and the wildlife that lives there.

African Bush Camps operates safari camps in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The ABC camps are fully sustainable, with minimal impact on the environment. The African Bush Camps Foundation runs local projects that empower the local communities wherever they operate safari camps. The company's aim is to conserve and preserve wildlife and natural areas in Southern Africa.

About LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) covers 1 600 square miles (4 143 sq kms), extending along the Zambezi River in the south from the Chongwe River in the west to the Mozambique border and the Luangwa River in the east. Directly across the Zambezi River to the south of LZNP is Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park. Wildlife densities in the national park are best along the river and its floodplain.

Most of the Lower Zambezi National Park is comprised of the Zambezi Escarpment. The escarpment traverses roughly east-west through the park at an elevation of 3 950 feet (1 200m) and between 3-5 miles (5-8 kms) north of the Zambezi River. There is another such escarpment on the Zimbabwe side, south of the river.

Rich floodplains and open grasslands cover the valley floor along both banks of the Zambezi River. The changing course of the river has, over time, created oxbow lagoons and back flows, which are favored by the myriad wildlife species that live in the valley.

Four of Africa's Big Five animals are found in the Lower Zambezi, including elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo. Black rhino once existed here, but they are now gone.

LZNP is perhaps most known for its elephants, especially the good number of extraordinary big bulls, which are very relaxed by nature and often wander through the safari camps, casually feeding while taking little notice of any humans. One popular sight which you may be lucky to see is one of these big bull elephants standing on only its two rear legs to reach high into a tree for tasty seed pods.

Buffalo are seen in good numbers, either in breeding herds or small groups of old bulls. Like the elephants, buffalos freely cross the Zambezi River back and forth between Zimbabwe and Zambia, often stopping on one of the numerous river islands to graze.

Lions are not difficult to find, especially during the dry season when they remain near the river floodplains, which are teeming with wildlife during the winter months. Leopards are more elusive but are seen regularly. Spotted hyenas are here in good numbers, as are black-backed jackal. Cheetah are present, but only seen occasionally.

Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) is one of the best places in Africa to see African wild dogs, with several oft-seen packs traversing the area. These entertaining predators are seen regularly as they hunt the floodplains along the river in the early morning or near dusk.

Besides the abundant predators, LZNP is home to a large variety of herbivores, including impala, zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, greater kudu, and warthog. The region is one of the best places in Southern Africa to see eland, the continent's largest antelope. Giraffe are not found in the Lower Zambezi and there is no evidence that they ever existed here.

The Zambezi River itself is home to a huge number of hippo and crocodile and anyone canoeing or boating on the river is sure to see plenty of both species. Pods of hippo can be seen sunning along the river banks are more often just wallowing in the shallows along the banks.

Bird life is abundant in the park, with over 400 species recorded. Large colonies of beautiful carmine bee-eaters use the river banks for nesting holes and African skimmers use sand flats for their nesting.

Chiawa GMA
Bordering Lower Zambezi NP to the west is a protected area called the Chiawa Game Management Area (GMA), which acts as a buffer zone for the national park. Chiawa covers 925 square miles (2 400 sq kms) and is managed by the safari camp operators located here. The game viewing gets progressively better the further east one goes, and is best inside the national park, which begins at the Chongwe River.