Hippo Lodge
Stone-and-thatch chalets and safari tents, self-catering possible · East bank of the Kafue River, northern sector · David and Elke Chivers
Mid-range
Inside the park
Owner/family-run
A rustic independent lodge that wears its history: the stone in the walls came from Zambia's oldest copper mine nearby. Walks go out with African Parks rangers, and the self-catering houses make it one of the very few in-park addresses you can do on a modest budget. David and Elke Chivers bought the lodge in November 2024 and told us so themselves. Two things to plan around: the lodge takes no cards at all, so bring cash in dollars, euros, sterling or kwacha, and a booking needs 50 percent down with the balance 30 days before you arrive. Book through hippolodgezambia.com; the old hippolodge.com domain is now a parked sale page.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A geothermal hot spring about a kilometre from camp
- Chalets built from stone salvaged from the old Hippo Mine
- Self-catering houses with park fees already included in the rate
- Self-drive packages with clear directions from Lusaka
- Game drives run on both banks of the Kafue River
Cons
- No card payments: cash only, in dollars, euros, sterling or kwacha
- Children under sixteen only by arrangement
- Wi-Fi only in the main lodge, not at the chalets
- 50 percent deposit due upfront, balance 30 days before arrival
What's here
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Boat trips
- Guided walks
- Birding
- Fishing
Read from Hippo Lodge's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
What the activities cost
Game drives, river safaris and sunset cruises are already in the rack rate, two a day. These are the ones you pay for separately, and none of them carries VAT on the fishing licence. Rates from Hippo Lodge's own 2027 sheet, 17 September 2026.
| Activity | Detail | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Lusaka to Hippo Lodge transfer | 4.5 to 6 hours with stops, one way, refreshments included | $140 pp ex VAT |
| Boat hire, Sun-tracker | Half day with a coxswain, 20 litres of fuel included | $120 ex VAT |
| Boat hire, Sun-tracker | Full day with a coxswain, 20 litres of fuel included | $200 ex VAT |
| Boat hire, Kingfisher | Half day with a coxswain, 20 litres of fuel included | $95 ex VAT |
| Boat hire, Kingfisher | Full day with a coxswain, 20 litres of fuel included | $150 ex VAT |
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Kafue National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entryThere is no self-drive surcharge here.
- $20per person, per day
- VehicleForeign-registered vehicle under 3 tonnes.
- $15per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $165 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The full fee schedule for Kafue National ParkRates at Hippo Lodge
From $380 pppn all-inclusive. The 2027 rack rate is $380 per guest per day for international visitors, excluding 16 percent VAT, and $260 for Zambian residents and citizens. That covers the room, an early light breakfast, brunch and dinner, snacks with tea and coffee through the day, two activities a day and soft drinks, with no single supplement. Park entry and bed night fees of $30 per person per night are on top and are not subject to VAT, as is the bar. Children under sixteen by arrangement only. Self-catering in Stony House or Mukango House is the cheaper way in at $120 per person per night excluding VAT, which already covers park fees, bed levies, a kitchen assistant, firewood and gas and one game drive a day. Rates supplied by David Chivers, 17 September 2026. Hippo Lodge also quotes a lower agent rate; we publish the rack rate, which is what you pay booking direct.
It depends which package you book. This camp sells more than one basis, from self-catering up to fully inclusive. The rates note says what each one covers.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Indicative 2026 rates from operators' own rate cards and published tariffs, gathered July 2026. Many Kafue camps quote on enquiry only. Watch two things when comparing: whether park fees are included (Mayukuyuku and Konkamoya include them, most others do not), and conservation levies of $30 to $40 a night at some camps. A caution on older guides: Lufupa River Camp, Lufupa Tented Camp, Leopard Lodge and Puku Pan all appear closed or dormant, Mukambi Plains Camp is simply the old name of Busanga Plains Camp, and the Jeffery & McKeith brand merged into Classic Zambia Safaris. We list none of them as live options.
Questions about Hippo Lodge
Is Hippo Lodge good for families?
Owners David and Elke Chivers told us children under sixteen stay only by arrangement, so check before you book if yours are younger. The self-catering Stony House or Mukango House, from $120 per person per night with park fees already included, is a practical option for a family travelling on a budget.
Can you self-drive to Hippo Lodge?
Yes. Hippo Lodge's own site lists self-drive packages and gives detailed directions from Lusaka, alongside the option to fly into its own airstrip in the north-east. The lodge sits on the east bank of the Kafue River in the northern sector, with drives running on both banks.
What does the rate at Hippo Lodge include?
The 2027 rack rate, supplied directly by the owners on 17 September 2026, is $380 per guest per day for international visitors, excluding VAT, covering the room, meals, two activities a day and soft drinks. Park entry and bed night fees of $30 per person per night are on top, as is the bar.
Does Hippo Lodge take credit cards?
No. The lodge takes no cards at all, so bring cash in dollars, euros, sterling or kwacha for your stay. A booking also needs 50 percent down with the balance due 30 days before you arrive, so plan the cash and the payment schedule together.
Does Hippo Lodge have Wi-Fi?
Only in the main lodge area. Hippo Lodge's own site describes internet access there by design, so the chalets and surrounding bush stay quiet and disconnected. The lodge also runs fully on solar power, in keeping with its deliberately off-grid, rustic character.