Experience camp-to-camp walking
Only accessible by foot, Chikoko is a walking safari paradise
Location
Chikoko Tree Camp is one of those rare places that feels truly off the map. Tucked away in a remote corner of South Luangwa National Park, beneath a canopy of ebony and sausage trees along a seasonal riverbed, this peaceful hideaway offers a real sense of wilderness and solitude. The camp is only accessible on foot, after a short canoe crossing.
Rooms
With just three raised chalets built entirely from natural reed and canvas, Chikoko is wonderfully intimate. Each room is set on stilts, with a shaded bedroom upstairs and a private open-air bathroom below. You’ll shower beneath the stars, gaze out across the plains from your deck chair, and feel the gentle rustle of the trees around you.
Amenities
Life at Chikoko is refreshingly simple and surprisingly comfortable. The main lounge and dining area sit beneath a giant tree, where meals are shared around a communal table and lanterns cast a golden glow in the evenings. Power comes from solar, drinks are help-yourself, and there’s something quietly lovely about reading a book with nothing but birdsong in the background.
Activities
This is walking safari at its finest. Twice a day, you’ll set out on foot with an expert guide, armed scout, and tea bearer, exploring animal trails and learning to read the landscape up close. You might track elephants or spot lion prints in the dust, pausing for fresh coffee brewed over a fire.
Sustainability
Chikoko is rebuilt every season using natural materials, leaving barely a trace when it closes for the rains. Being part of the Tafika Fund, a meaningful initiative founded in 1998, means that every bed night contributes to community education (including scholarships), healthcare improvements, and wildlife protection efforts.
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Best places to stay in South Luangwa
South Luangwa Trip Inspiration
When to go to Zambia
Find out the best time to visit Zambia with our month by month guide.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
January
January is a good time to visit Victoria Falls, but the rest of the country is very humid and wet leading to many camps shutting during January.
February
February remains wet, so its a good month to visit the thundering Victoria Falls, however only a few camps stay open for boating and walking. The rains have created lush vegetation, during this time of year it is alive with the sound of migratory birds in their breeding plumage, an excellent time for birders to visit Zambia.
March
If you want to witness Vic Falls at its fullest, March is the month to visit, with huge volumes of spray often obscuring the view. The birding is still magnificent in March, and camps offer fantastic value for money as there are no crowds.
April
In April the weather starts to dry, however rain remains a prominent feature of April. In the Lower Zambezi National Park, lush vegetation is at its thickest making animals more difficult to spot. April is seen to be the best time of year to witness the rarely seen Wild Dog in South Luangwa National Park.
May
May is a mixed month, the onset of the dry season means rains are unlikely, however access to certain camps is tricky due to sodden grounds. Game viewing in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi begin to improve as the vegetation things and waterholes begin to dry up, forcing wildlife together.
June
June is a great time to visit Zambia, the ground starts to dry out and camps are offering excellent deals and there are few visitors to share safari vehicles so you may have some areas to yourself.
July
July is high season, temperatures rise and all the camps are officially open. If you want to see game then South Luangwa is the best option, whereas the Lower Zambezi is perfect for river cruises and fishing.
Victoria falls is at its best, without being overly wet and clouded with spray.
August
August's hot and dry weather kicks off what Zambia is famous for, walking safaris. It is the prime time to combine game viewing with Victoria Falls.
September
Temperatures sore in September reaching high 20's making the long days particularly pleasant. This month sees Carmine Bee Eaters arrive, flocks of hundreds nest in river banks providing a thrilling spectacle of colour and sound.
October
October sees temperatures sore again, game viewing is best done in the early mornings to avoid the hot midday sun.
November
November brings the start of the rainy season, but the good news is the sporadic showers are not too disruptive and visitors get to see dramatic skies and stormy skies brewing. Temperatures are high and it can be humid, but the mixed weather brings great value stays. Plus many young animals are being born, making it a fantastic time to see the parks come to life.
December
The rainy season is in full force in December, grasslands begin to lengthen, foliage thickens and game viewing becomes a little trickier. The rivers rise and dependant on water levels travellers can visit 'devils pool' at Vic Falls, providing high excitement and a head for heights needed if you want to get close to the drop off.
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Alistair
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