Time + Tide Luwi

a gorgeously authentic and exciting little place

Time and Tide Luwi Camp is located in the South Luangwa North area of eastern Zambia.

The camp is set in a remote position alongside the usually dry river after which it is named, some 18 km as the crow flies from the main Luangwa River. This is an extremely quiet part of the reserve, so you really can expect to have the place largely to yourselves, even during peak season.

It is an authentic small camp in a lovely shady position below some large ebony trees. Although there is a modest open-sided bar building under thatch, the main lounge and dining area are simply outside under the trees, with a nice campfire out front.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Luwi Camp is in just four rooms, which are reedwork and thatch constructions on polished concrete floors. The honeymoon suite has an unusual front wall which can be opened out to provide a private verandah area. The bedroom itself is quite rudimentary inside and the bed is fitted with a large mosquito net. To one side there is a large private outside bathroom, with reed matting on the floor and a conventionally plumbed basin, shower and toilet.

Note that there is no air-conditioning and no fans in the rooms, so you may be exposed to some uncomfortably high temperatures towards the end of the season in Oct-Nov. Earlier in the season extra blankets and hot water bottles will be provided.

Animals in camp

Because Luwi Camp is so small, it is very common for animals to wander through and even hang around for prolonged periods, notably kudus, waterbucks, impalas, pukus and warthogs.

Some guests have even reported sightings of leopards, honeybadgers and hyenas.

There is also a lone bull elephant called Gray who likes to come into camp from time to time, generally he is very gentle, but he does occasionally break the odd reedwork fence when reaching up into the trees for seed pods.

Activities

Luwi Camp provides the following guided activities …

• vehicle safari
• walking safari
• night vehicle safari

South Luangwa is a very high quality safari area that often serves as the primary location in a trip.

The stay duration tends to be 5-8 nights split between two camps, or more occasionally 3-5 nights at one camp. Three camp combinations are also possible.

Seasonality

The best time to visit South Luangwa is during the May-Oct dry season, when the wildlife is focused on the riverine areas and easy to find.

Within that period, May-Jul is pleasantly cool at night, but the animals may not yet be fully migrated back into the river.

Towards the end of that period, Oct-Nov the wildlife should be at its strongest, but the weather is likely to be uncomfortably hot, especially at night. Bear in mind that most camps do not have air-conditioning.

Getting around

South Luangwa lies to the east of the country and is usually accessed by light aircraft services from Lusaka or Livingstone.

From Mfuwe Airport it is three hours by road into camp.

usually combined with Livingstone and other safari areas