Time + Tide Mchenja

Mchenja, the most luxurious of the Time + Tide bush camps, is hidden in an ebony grove overlooking the Luangwa River. It is a small and intimate bush camp that has all the luxuries you will need for an adventure in the bush. Each of the spacious light and airy chalets has large cosy beds, huge open-air bathrooms with a stand-alone bath, a walk in hot water shower and flushing toilet.

The camp has a large communal area with a library, a bar and a refreshing large swimming pool. It is a relaxing and opulent camp, perfect for those who want a little bit of extra comfort in the bush or need a bit more relaxation at the end of a trip.

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Why we love Time + Tide Mchenja!

Loved the luxury rustic vibe of the chalets, open-air bathroom, amazing view on the river, resident elephants, the photography hide in the forest, tasty food, fantastic hosts (Great to see Emmanuelle again, who looked after me so well), brilliant guiding, impressive well kept vehicles and most importantly the sensational wildlife in the area. NO doubt one of the best wildlife areas in the park.

Last visited by Mike Varndell – Managing Founder – November 2018

Fast Facts

Location

South Luangwa National Park (2-hour game drive transfer from Mfuwe Airport)

Rooms

5 double/twins suites and 1 family villa

Great for

Romance, luxury and birdwatching

Children welcome

Yes. Minimum age 8

Open

20 May – 07 Nov

Ideal length of stay

2-3 nights. Combine with another bush camp or Chinzombo for a luxurious treat

Fans

Yes

Wi-fi

No

(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

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  • mchenja-bush-camp-lodge-zambia-in-style-tours-safari-packages-lodges-explore-south-luangwa-national-park-bathtub-view
  • mchenja-bush-camp-lodge-zambia-in-style-tours-safari-packages-lodges-explore-south-luangwa-national-park-river-drinks-views

Romance

With the impressive beauty of the ebony grove behind and the river in front, this is the perfect place to enjoy the romance of the bush. The tented chalets have an open-air bathroom, a freestanding bath and a massive four-poster bed. Enjoy sipping cold drinks at the bar while watching the animals as they come to drink at the river before taking a refreshing dip in the pool.

With the large airy villas, you can gaze out at the stars as you gently fall asleep to the sounds of the hippos; as they come out the water to eat the vegetation.

We recommend combining Mchenja with Chinzombo for an absolutely luxurious and romantic adventure in South Luangwa.

Birdwatching

Mchenja is next to the river and several lagoons so the water birding here is tremendous. With an ebony grove behind camp and a large open plain there are many environments in a very small area which makes it the perfect place to base yourself for a spot of twitching. South Luangwa is famous for the migration of the colourful carmine bee-eaters, that nest along the riverbanks. You will see a variety of birds in their breeding plumage during the green season.

The elusive African Pitta is also occasionally spotted across the park! If birding is your thing we would highly recommend a stay here.

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Cool Pool

This is one of the few bush camps with a pool. A real treat in the hotter months. Even throughout the cooler months, during the heat of the day, it is a nice indulgence to be able to sink into the pool with a drink after lunch and see what creatures come to do the same at the river.

Client Reviews

  • Favorite part of our honeymoon!

    We stayed at three camps during our honeymoon in Zambia (all incredible experiences) but Mchenja was our favorite. Amazing staff, delicious food, accomodations, saw elephants lions and leopards with great guides, and everyone just went out of their way to make it a special experience for us on our honeymoon. It was just such a romantic special time, and we appreciated the extra touches like champagne and private dinners under the stars. The other two camps we stayed at had wifi and we actually really liked that Mchenja does not! We really felt more connected with nature in the amazing location and without any other distractions.

    Jillian K
  • THE REAL DEAL!

    Wow what an introduction to a safari! Right in the middle of the bush with no contact with the outside world! John, Emmanuel and team are the ultimate hosts on what is a stunning spot on the riverbank – hippos and crocs lazing the hours away on the opposite bank. Fantastic food everyday served by friendly people. A special shout-out to our guide, Friday – you really are the best – we saw everything, including a leopard eating a kill – at very close quarters! Miss you guys!

    Pauline T
  • Beautiful location on the river with hippos

    Mchenja was such a beautiful camp – right on the river overlooking hippos 24/7. We even had a few come in the middle of the night and “mow our lawn” right in front of the villa! The villa is very well appointed and even probably a bit nicer than we needed. All the villas face the river and there is even a swimming pool to cool down in the afternoon. The animals in this part of the park were unreal, and we often only saw other people from our camp and one nearby camp at some of the “big sites” of the trip (wild dogs, lions, leopard). As with all the Norman Carr camps, the guides, staff, lodging and food were top notch. This was probably our favorite camp in South Luangwa of the three we stayed at.

    staceytann
  • Stunning location and accommodation!

    What a fantastic spot – right on the banks of the Luangwa River in a beautiful ebony grove. We had two days here and on both days were able to watch a large family of elephants crossing the river just in front of our room. The rooms are large, beautiful and very comfortable. The family chalet accommodates 5 in two interconnecting rooms and has 2 lovely open air bathrooms (it’s also the closest room to the new swimming pool). The food was fantastic and we were extremely well looked after. Remote luxury!

    perdita947
See More Trip Advisor Reviews

Tours Including Mchenja

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Luxury Honeymoon
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Photographic Adventure
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