Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection

Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

A traveller's guide to Chichele Presidential, Puku Ridge, Lolebezi and Lolelunga Private Reserve

Chichele Presidential

Q: Where is Chichele Presidential located?

A: Perched atop Chichele Hill in South Luangwa National Park, the lodge offers 360-degree views over the Luangwa River, the Great Rift Valley, and the surrounding floodplains and forests.

Q: What accommodation does Chichele Presidential offer?

A: Ten luxuriously appointed Vista Suites, designed with natural materials and local craftsmanship, each positioned to make the most of the lodge's sweeping views. The lodge also offers one Safari Lounge with interleading access to one or two Vista Suites, at no additional charge when booked together with the two adjoining suites — an ideal private retreat for families or friends travelling together.

Q: What activities are available?

A: Morning and afternoon game drives and guided walking safaris, focused on the Park's abundant wildlife. Children under the age of 6 years are not permitted on game drives with other guests and need to book a private vehicle at the discretion of a guide. Bush walks are restricted to guests aged 12 years and older, at the discretion of the guide.

Q: How do I get there?

A: Chichele Presidential is serviced by Mfuwe International Airport (MFU). Flights from Lusaka (LUN) take between 1 hour 10 minutes depending on the route, followed by a road transfer of approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Q: Is Chichele Presidential suitable for children?

A: Yes, the lodge welcomes individuals, families with children of all ages, and groups. Children under the age of 6 years are not permitted on game drives with other guests and need to book a private vehicle at the discretion of a guide. We do not offer babysitting facilities but can assist with child-friendly activities during the day in conjunction with the Chichele Cubs. The Chichele Cubs programme offers an immersive, educational safari experience for children aged 4 to 11, rooted in the five senses, engaging them in tracking animal prints, identifying bird calls, and nature-based arts and crafts. Adults should accompany children at all times, as the lodge does not offer child-minding services. Bush walks are restricted to guests aged 12 and older, at the discretion of the guide.

Q: When is Chichele Presidential open?

A: Chichele Presidential operates on a seasonal basis:

Shoulder Season : 10 March – 31 May and 1November -2 January.

Peak Season : 1 June – 31 October.

Puku Ridge

Q: Where is Puku Ridge located?

A: Puku Ridge is set within South Luangwa National Park, overlooking the Kakumbi Plain — a wildlife-rich floodplain and watering hole. South Luangwa is known as the “Valley of the Leopard” for its exceptional leopard density.

Q: What accommodation does Puku Ridge offer?

A: Eight spacious, multi-level tented retreats, each featuring a star bed on the upper tower for sleeping under the African sky, a private plunge pool, an outdoor shower and an indoor sitting room.

Q: What activities are available?

A: Morning and afternoon game drives and guided walking safaris, focused on the Park's abundant wildlife. Bush walks are restricted to guests aged 12 and older, at the discretion of the guide.

Q: How do I get there?

A: Puku Ridge is serviced by Mfuwe International Airport (MFU). Flights from Lusaka (LUN) take between 1 hour 10 minutes depending on the route, followed by a road transfer of approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Q: Is Puku Ridge suitable for children?

A: Yes, but the lodge does not allow children younger than 12 years of age. Bush walks are restricted to guests aged 12 and older, at the discretion of the guide.

Q: When is Puku Ridge open?

A: Puku Ridge operates on a seasonal basis:

Shoulder Season : 1 April – 31 May and 1– 30 November.

Peak Season : 1 June – 31 October.

South Luangwa National Park

Puku Ridge and Chichele Presidential are both located within South Luangwa National Park, Zambia's premier wildlife destination. The Park lies largely between the Luangwa River to the east and the Mchinga Escarpment to the west, covering 9,050 sq. km (3,500 sq. miles) and home to over 60 mammal species and almost 450 bird species.

The Luangwa River follows a slow, meandering course down the valley, and the seasonal rise and fall in water levels create numerous ox-bow lagoons. The fertile soils associated with these lagoon systems support the wide variety and high density of species found close to the main river.

South Luangwa is regarded as the home of walking safaris, having offered them long before any other Park, and the high quality of guiding here makes it one of the best places to experience the African bush on foot. The walking safari was pioneered here in the Luangwa Valley: in 1950, the region's first photographic game-viewing camp was established in collaboration with Senior Chief Nsefu of the Kunda people, laying the foundation for modern walking safaris. South Luangwa is also a premier birding destination, with over 450 recorded species.

Night drives are equally popular, offering guests the chance to see nocturnal species and to watch predators hunting in the early evening. The valley provides an excellent habitat for leopards, leading to higher-than-usual concentrations, which are seen regularly both on night drives and during daylight hours.

Lolebezi

Q: Where is Lolebezi located?

A: On the banks of the Zambezi River within Lower Zambezi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over one kilometre of private river frontage.

Q: What accommodation does Lolebezi offer?

A: Four Luxury Suites and one Luxury Family Suite, plus the two-bedroom Lolebezi Villa, which is taken on an exclusive-use basis at a per-villa rate. Each suite has river frontage, a private plunge pool and deck, and a private sala.

Q: What activities are available?

A: Game drives (day and night), guided walking safaris, boat cruises, canoeing, and catch-and-release fishing for tiger fish.

Q: How do I get there?

A: Via Jeki Airstrip (open April to November), reached by a 2-hour flight from Livingstone or a 30-minute flight from Lusaka, followed by a 15-minute road transfer. From December to March, guests fly to Royal Airstrip (30 minutes from Lusaka), followed by a 1 hour 30 minute boat transfer; a surcharge applies for transfers during this period.

Q: Is Lolebezi suitable for children?

A: Yes, children of all ages are welcome, with a dedicated children's activity programme. Walking safaris are restricted to guests aged 12 and older and Boat cruise / canoeing are restricted to guests aged 16 and older, depending on water levels.

Q: When is Lolebezi open?

A: Lolebezi operates on a seasonal basis:

Emerald Season : 1 December – 2 January

Mid-Season : 1 April – 31 May and 1 October – 30 November.

High Season : 1 June – 30 September.

Lower Zambezi National Park

Lolebezi is located within the Lower Zambezi National Park, which lies on the northern bank of the Zambezi River. The Park stretches back through the hills to the north, though most of the game is found on the fairly narrow strip of land between the river and the hills. Only six safari camps operate inside the Park itself, so visitors never feel overcrowded.

While the Park does not offer a large variety of habitats, one of its most popular features is the range of activities on offer: a river that is navigable year-round allows for boating and canoeing alongside the more usual driving and walking safaris. This stretch of the Zambezi is also considered one of the best areas in which to fish for the notorious tiger fish, Africa's most exciting freshwater sport fish.

Lolelunga Private Reserve

Q: Where is Lolelunga Private Reserve located?

A: Lolelunga lies on the banks of the Lunga River and is a fully fenced, 30,000-hectare private reserve in Zambia's Kasempa district, 30 km north of Kafue National Park Main Gate.

Q: What accommodation does Lolelunga Private Reserve offer?

A: Lolelunga accommodates just 14 guests, in a choice of King rooms, Junior suites, and a Family suite, offering an intimate, exclusive-use style experience.

Q: What activities are available?

A: Game drives, guided walking safaris, and water safaris on the Lunga River, with opportunities to spot the reintroduced cheetah, lion and the sitatunga antelope as Big Fish sitings along the banks of the Lunga River. The Ngoma Deck can be booked for private dining or a starlit sleep-out.

Q: How do I get there?

A: Private charter flights operate from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (Lusaka), Livingstone, Mfuwe, and the Lower Zambezi airstrips, with flight times of 45 minutes to 2 hours. A short five-minute drive from the airstrip brings guests to the lodge.

Q: When is Lolelunga open?

A: Lolelunga operates on a seasonal basis:

10 May – 15 November.

Booking, Insurance & Communications

Insurance

It is essential to purchase cancellation and comprehensive travel insurance, including medical evacuation and hospitalisation cover.

Force Majeure

It is essential that all guests purchase comprehensive travel insurance, including cancellation cover, medical evacuation and hospitalisation, prior to travel.

Chichele Presidential, Lolebezi, Lolelunga Private Reserve and Puku Ridge of the Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection, together with their agents, representatives, owners and employees, accept no responsibility for any claim arising from disappointment, delay or cancellation of part or all of a safari booked through the Collection, where this arises from circumstances beyond their control.

Communication

Puku Ridge: intermittent cell phone coverage, VHF radio, and Starlink internet in all guest Retreats.

Chichele Presidential: intermittent cell phone coverage, VHF radio, and Starlink internet in all guest Suites.

Travel Arrangements

Chartered flights or road transfers can be quoted on request through a third party.

Chartered Flights

Things You Need to Know Before You Travel

Funds

The currency in Zambia is the Kwacha. It was re-based in January 2013, a process that involved removing three zeros from the currency and issuing new notes and coins. At the time of writing (January 2026), the exchange rate is approximately US$1 = ZMW 22.

Hard currency is accepted at most tourist facilities, so guests on fully inclusive safari holidays do not usually need to purchase local currency. For those who do want or need Zambian Kwacha, money can be changed at banks or bureaus, though the easiest way to obtain local currency is from cash-point machines, found at all major airports and in urban centres throughout the country.

It is recommended that you bring a small amount of cash US Dollars as a “back-up” to allow for exchange rate fluctuations. Be sure to bring notes of varying denominations, since change is often a problem in Africa, and all notes must have “large heads” — older series notes with small heads are no longer accepted anywhere in Zambia.

International credit cards are accepted in most places, but it is safer not to rely on a single card. Visa is the easiest card to use in Zambia, followed by Mastercard and American Express. You may need to alert your card provider that you are travelling, so they do not lock your card upon seeing unexpected transactions from Zambia. Take advantage of the “meet and greet” service at Lusaka Airport — the extra cost is well worth it to ensure things go smoothly.

Tipping

When staying in a hotel or camp, or when eating in a restaurant in Zambia, it is a statutory requirement for a 10% service charge to be added to your bill (or, more usually, incorporated within it). This is passed on to staff and is designed to replace the optional gratuity.

Having said this, it is customary to tip staff a small amount if you feel the service has been up to scratch. In a hotel restaurant or bar this would usually not exceed 10%. Whilst staying in safari camps, one is not expected to tip staff during the course of the stay but rather to leave something with the camp manager at the end. As a guideline, we suggest $10–$15 per guest per day in camps, though this is entirely discretionary. If a particular guide has looked after you, it is customary to give a small gratuity separately, given only on merit.

Health

Please note that this is a disclaimer: no one at Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection is qualified to give any form of medical advice. The information below offers general traveller guidelines and tips only. Medical insurance, preferably including air evacuation, should be regarded as a pre-requisite for any safari holiday. You are strongly advised to consult your doctor prior to travel for accurate, up-to-date advice on inoculation requirements and anti-malarial precautions.

There are currently no specific inoculation requirements for visitors arriving in Zambia, and Yellow Fever vaccination is not mandatory.

Common Medical Concerns on Safari

Malaria: caused by a mosquito-borne parasite and endemic in Zambia. It can be contracted at any time of year and in virtually any area of the country. The best precautions are physical barriers in the early evening and at night — long trousers and sleeves, with a liberal application of repellent. The incubation period is 12–14 days, so watch for symptoms after you return home; if you develop flu-like symptoms, seek a quick blood test without delay. Consult your doctor prior to your safari for a course of prophylactics.

The Sun: the African sun can be very strong, and sunburn can occur through cloud cover or even a light T-shirt. Use sun cream and wear a hat.

Dehydration: fairly common in the hotter months in its mild form, and not dangerous so long as the symptoms are recognised and addressed. Keep fluids up by drinking plenty of water; if nausea or vomiting occur, seek medical attention. Consider packing rehydration salts.

Diarrhoea: a common problem when travelling anywhere in Africa. Hygiene standards at safari camps booked by Zambian Ground Handlers are generally very high, but individuals may still react to a change in diet or water. Be sensible about food and drink, and bring suitable medication just in case.

Travel Partners & Visa Information

International Airline Partners into Lusaka

Regional Flights

Chartered Flights

Visa Information

A number of countries are exempt from visa requirements, and most nationalities can purchase visas on arrival in Zambia. Some nationalities require pre-authorisation to travel to Zambia; a list of these can be found on the Zambian Immigration website, www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm.

If you plan to purchase a visa on arrival, it is advisable to bring the correct amount of US dollars in cash — credit cards should be accepted but cannot be relied upon, and change is a notoriously rare commodity.

Current visa fees for nationalities not exempt from requirements:

Double entry visas are valid for three months. Multiple entry visas can only be obtained from Zambian Missions abroad, or from headquarters in Lusaka, and not at point of entry. If in doubt, refer to the Zambian Government website at www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm.

What to Pack

Most domestic flights around Zambia have a check-in baggage allowance of 15–23 kg, depending on the operator. Always travel with soft bags rather than hard suitcases, as many itineraries include small light aircraft that cannot accommodate large hard cases.

Clothing

Most safari camps in Zambia offer a daily laundry service, so you needn't bring too many clothes. Try to keep clothing khaki or neutral in colour — dark colours stand out less in the bush than light ones. Loose clothes are preferable, and layers are always useful. Evening dress at all camps and most lodges is casual, but bring long trousers and shirts for eating out in the bush, against mosquitoes. A sweater or light jacket is useful year-round; if travelling in June or July, a warm jacket will be necessary.

Sandals or open shoes are often favoured, but bring a covered pair for any walking in the bush. Even on proper walking safaris, comfort is usually more important than size and sturdiness.

Essentials