Lion Camp

Luxury Suite

Lion Camp offers 7 Luxury Suites, all raised on wooden walkways and positioned to look out over the surrounding bush.

The suites are built with canvas walls and thatch roofing and are comfortably laid out with either twin or king beds, en-suite bathrooms and private decks. The overall style is simple and in keeping with the environment.

Cooling is achieved through natural airflow and evening breezes rather than full air-conditioning, which works well given the camp’s location.

All suites are designed for a maximum of two adults sharing. However, Suite 9 can be used in conjunction with the Ebony Suite to create a family setup, with a shared lounge area between the two units. 

Deluxe Suites

Lion Camp has three Deluxe Suites - the Lagoon Suite, Sunset Suite and Ebony Suite, which are slightly larger and offer a few additional features over the standard suites.

These rooms include outdoor showers and open-air bathtubs, and are more spacious overall, with the same canvas and thatch construction seen throughout the camp. The Sunset Suite also has a rooftop sleep-out deck, which can be used for a night out under the stars.

The Ebony Suite includes a separate lounge area and, when combined with Luxury Suite 9, can be used as a family setup with a shared living space.

As with the rest of the camp, the emphasis is on a simple, comfortable stay, with natural airflow used for cooling rather than air-conditioning.

Family Suites

Lion Camp offers a family setup which combines a Deluxe Suite with a neighbouring Luxury Suite, connected via a shared lounge area.

This configuration works well for families or friends travelling together, allowing for both shared space and privacy. The central lounge includes comfortable seating, a coffee station and an outdoor shower, while each bedroom retains its own en-suite bathroom.

The overall layout is practical and in keeping with the style of the camp, providing a more flexible option for those not wanting to book separate, unconnected rooms.

This camp has ten rooms (7 luxury, and 3 deluxe) sleeping 20 guests and is the northern most camp on the west bank of the Luangwa accessible from the main Mfuwe area. Its position is one of its strongest assets, by the time you reach camp you have left the Mfuwe area, which at times can become quite busy, a long way behind. There are lagoons in the vicinity of camp and the rich riverine vegetation and mixed woodland has a high carrying capacity so game-viewing is usually very good. 

The tents are raised on stilts overlooking an ox-bow lagoon that dries towards the end of the season, and the dambo beyond, each is connected to the central area by a wooden walkway that is several meters above ground. 

There main area is a large open, spacious and airy thatched area with private nooks, seating areas and a beautifully designed pool, There is a well-stocked bar, real size snooker table, coffee station, shopping area and reading corner in the main area. The openness of the lodge affords spectaular views of the plains with the constant presence of wildlife. The suites have been designed to maximize the spectacular views of the plains with plenty of wildlife passing, allowing guests the opportunity of constant viewing, from either the main lodge decks or the luxury of their own private suite deck.

Activities are either on foot or by vehicle but those that may have experienced a night drive or two in the busier, central Mfuwe area will thoroughly enjoy the after dark activities from this camp as you are not likely to see another vehicle whilst patrolling the area close to camp and the opportunity to see nocturnal animals should not be missed. 

Children under 12 are usually only accepted when the whole camp is booked. 

Due to its remote location it is only open from the 1st of June through until the end of October and the management are quite strict about enforcing a minimum stay of 3 nights. The rates at Lion Camp are a little more reasonably priced than most of its high end competitors, this fact combined with its remote location makes it, in my mind, an excellent inclusion in any Luangwa itinerary.