Croc Valley Camp

Croc Valley Camp is the place to go if you are wanting to visit South Luangwa on a budget. Cheap and cheerful it is everything a backpacker would need. From the campsite to the en-suite tents there are a variety of accommodations to suit any budget. Set on the banks of the Luangwa River at the edge of the park you can take daily guided game drives within the park or arrange for a walking safari. They have a pool, lively bar – where you will find local guides and camp managers having a well-earned beer – as well as a relaxing lounge. Although, outside the park, they regularly have hippos, crocs, elephants, bushbuck and monkeys in camp.

Why We Love Croc Valley Camp!

We love Croc, and, in fact, this was where the journey began, the first ever lodge that Malawian Style took clients to. It’s cheap and cheerful, with a stunning location on the river. The staff are friendly, the rooms are basic but comfortable, the food is tasty and although the vehicles are more mature they are reliable and very comfortable. If you are looking for a more budget sensitive option to Luangwa Croc Valley is perfect for you. Croc is great value for money.

Last visited by Mike Varndell, Managing Founder – Feb 2018

Fast Facts

Location

South Luangwa, Mfuwe area

Rooms

Chalets, River Front Tents, Turtle Rooms, Eco Tents and Family Rooms

Great for

A good value safari

Children welcome

Yes

Open

All year round

Ideal length of stay

2-3 nights and combine with a bush camp

Fans

In some tents

Wi-fi

Yes

(Rates 'from' pppn)

Pricing Category

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Pricing categories explained

The price categories give you an idea of the nightly cost of the respective lodges. Please note: the category is based on the starting from price.

Category Ranges:
$: USD 0 – USD250/pppn
$$: USD 251 – USD600/pppn
$$$: USD 601 – USD1,000/pppn
$$$$: USD1,001+/pppn

Lodge Key Features

Vibe

Croc Valley has a really fun feel to it, with the younger backpacker crowd as regulars! You will often meet intrepid explorers around the campfire sharing stories, or a lively group chatting at the bar. There are good amenities such as the pool, the bar, the gym and the lounge, you will often find valley staff here catching up with one another, which is great for self-drivers looking for sightings tips.

Wildlife

Despite being a cheap and cheerful backpackers, Croc is right next to the park so you often see many of the animals of the valley around camp or just across the river. With a river full of hippos and crocodiles, the cheeky elephants of the park traverse the river twice a day to go and raid the crop fields of the villagers nearby. With drives in the wildlife-rich Mfuwe area, you have a really good chance of seeing good sightings of leopards and lions-including the famous ginger and garlic and the rest of the animals of the park.

  • croc valley camp-zambia-in-style-tours-safari-lodges-south-luangwa-mfuwe-wildlife-giraffe-chalet
  • croc valley camp-zambia-in-style-tours-safari-lodges-south-luangwa-mfuwe-wildlife-elephants-camp

Guides

The camp is wild and rustic but the guides are young and enthusiastic and actually very good. Especially during the emerald season when the bush camps are shut you will find the guides from more expensive lodges here freelancing, which is a great time to get a top-notch guide at a very reasonable price! You will find that most of South Luangwa’s great guides started out here, or at least in this area. Although they are still learning, their eagerness and enthusiasm for the bush shows and is infectious. You will have some really fun drives and probably get some great sightings!

Client Reviews

  • Reasonably priced

    Croc Valley was perfectly adequate for what we were looking for, and reasonably priced. The place was clean and the staff was friendly.
    We stayed in the eco-tents with the full board package. The tours were good, though it seems like you’d get the same tour with any lodge. The food was always delicious.

    Kelly N
  • Great!

    Croc Valley Lodge is a great lodge where you could go for the real African experience combined with luxury. The safaris they host are great and have a fair price. This is the third time we have been to Croc Valley and we love it, I highly recommend it. While going to bed you might spot a hippo on your way and when you wake up you will definitely be surrounded by a group of monkeys. The Eco-tents and the Chalets are both amazing!

    Christi T
  • Good budget choice for SLNP

    We had booked a ensuite river front tent and were very happy with our choice. The tents are well appointed with a nice bathroom.
    The pool and bar area are fantastic and with a nice laid back feeling.
    Food was good, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
    The staff was always very friendly and helpful, big thanks to Wilson and Herbert.

    Uta K
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