Mukambi Safari Lodge
Thatched river lodge and luxury tents · Kafue River bank at the M9, central sector · Mukambi Safaris
Mid-range
Outside the gate
Owner/family-run
The natural first stop: on the riverbank where the M9 crosses the Kafue, reachable in an ordinary car about four hours from Lusaka. Founded in 2001 by a Dutch family and still independently owned. Sources disagree on whether the lodge stands inside or just outside the gazetted boundary. Either way its game drives run in the park.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No 4x4 needed: the most road-accessible camp in Kafue
- Infinity pool above the Kafue River
- Family chalet with two bedrooms and a private lounge
- Outdoor baths and a wood-fired pizza oven at the tents
- About four hours from Lusaka in an ordinary car
Cons
- No minimum age found for children
- Wi-Fi only in common areas and dining decks, not rooms
- Activities such as game drives are priced separately
- No exclusive-use option described
What's here
- Swimming pool
- Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Family rooms
- En-suite bathrooms
- Spa or massage
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Boat trips
- Guided walks
- Fishing
Read from Mukambi Safari 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 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 Mukambi Safari Lodge
From $360 pppn. 2026 fully inclusive: chalets $360 low to $490 peak; safari tents $440 to $585.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
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 Mukambi Safari Lodge
Is Mukambi Safari Lodge good for families?
Yes, it has a dedicated family chalet with two bedrooms, a master with a queen bed and a second room with two singles, plus a private lounge, Mukambi's own page states. We found no published minimum age for children, so confirm what age the lodge accepts when you book.
Can you self-drive to Mukambi Safari Lodge?
Yes. It sits on the riverbank where the M9 crosses the Kafue, about four hours from Lusaka in an ordinary car, making it the most road-accessible camp covered in this guide. Game drives then run inside the park itself, even though sources disagree on whether the lodge sits just inside or outside the boundary.
What does the rate at Mukambi Safari Lodge include?
Mukambi's own page confirms full board with a three-choice set menu that meets any dietary requirement. Activities such as game drives, boat cruises, walking safaris, fishing and massages are listed separately, so their cost and whether any are included is not stated and should be confirmed when you book.
Does Mukambi Safari Lodge have Wi-Fi?
Yes, but only in shared spaces. The lodge's own page lists Wi-Fi in the common areas and on the dining decks, not stated as reaching the rooms or tents themselves. Expect connectivity around the lodge building rather than throughout your chalet or tent.
Is Mukambi Safari Lodge good for a honeymoon?
It can be: the lodge's own gallery shows a treetop chalet with a private deck and a freestanding tub, a setup suited to a couple rather than a family unit. Combine that with the infinity pool above the river for a quieter stay, and confirm which chalet type you are booking.