In May and June, two new eco-friendly safari camps will open in Zambia – Chisa Busanga Camp in the Busanga Plains, and Shawa Luangwa Camp in the South Luangwa National Park.
Both camps will be completely off grid, instead relying entirely on solar power and prioritising composting, recycling, and sustainably sourced materials.
They also offer a ‘silent safari’ experience with their electric vehicles. This is a first for Zambia, ensuring completely noiseless safaris for an immersive and environmentally friendly experience.
The concept is ideal for the South Luangwa National Park in particular. Known as the ‘Valley of Leopard’, it has one of the highest densities of leopards in Africa.
In addition to electric safari vehicles, Chisa Busanga Camp will offer electric mountain bikes for guests, while Shawa Luangwa Camp will have a motorised boat for trips down the nearby Luangwa River.
Jacob Shawa, whom some locals regard as one of Zambia’s top safari guides and a ‘walking encyclopaedia’ of Luangwa, was behind the choice of location for Shawa Luangwa Camp and guiding the silent safaris.
The camp comprises five en-suite canvas tents, each mounted on a wooden deck and erected around tall trees.
Chisa Busanga Camp, ‘The Nest’, features accommodation modelled on weaver birds’ nests.
Each ‘nest’ is raised among the trees on private wooden decks, to offer a bird’s-eye view of Busanga Plains. The nests all have canvas tenting on the inside, with a king-size bed, en-suite bathrooms and either indoor or outdoor showers.