Kaingo Camp
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
 Return
to South Luangwa
Camps & Lodges Image © Shenton
Safaris
View images of Kaingo Camp: Kaingo
Images
KAINGO CAMP
- SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA
 Kaingo,
meaning leopard, is a family-owned camp run by Dereck Shenton,
the second son of Barry Shenton - a former ranger in South Luangwa
National Park and warden of Kafue National Park. Kaingo has many
attributes from the Shenton family ranging from the camp's stylish
design and practical
layout to the homemade soaps, textiles, and farm produce.
Overlooking the Luangwa river in one of the most prime areas of the
South Luangwa National Park, Kaingo's relaxed, personal and friendly
atmosphere offers its guests fantastic game-viewing opportunities within
an area of stark beauty and varied terrain.
This well established ten bed brick and
thatch lodge opens each dry-season from May to October. Accommodation  For
images of Kaingo Camp, click Kaingo
Images
Accommodation at Kaingo Camp comprises of four
twin bedded chalets and one honeymoon suite. All the rooms have en-suite
facilities,
are
well ventilated,
mosquito-proofed and silently lit by solar power. These brick and thatch
chalets are set discretely apart, each with a view over the Luangwa
river.
A special feature of Kaingo is the unique wooden deck built out over
the river. From this relaxing vantage point one can view game coming
down to drink, basking hippos, water birds fishing, and daily elephant
crossings.
Central to camp life is the large
open-sided sitting room. This beautifully thatched 'chitenge' includes
a dining area, library, and Kaingo's renowned leadwood bar.
A special feature of Kaingo is its
unique hides/blinds. The elephant and hippo hides offer spectacular
close photographic opportunities and unobtrusive observation of
animals in the natural environment.
Dining
Meals are varied and of a high international standard using abundant
fresh produce from the Shentons' farm. Ice-cold drinks are
always available from the bar and drinking water is drawn from
a borehole.
Activities
Game-drives and walks from Kaingo provide exciting
photographic opportunities for its guests. The
varied terrain around the camp includes the spectacular Fish Eagle
lagoon, one of the largest ebony forests in the South Luangwa National
Park, Lion Plain and the Mwamba River.
Setting out in the crisp early
dawn to follow a lion's call or track elusive Cookson's Wildebeest
through mopane forest, an armed scout and professional safari guide
will introduce you to this diverse wilderness.
Game drives are from
open 4WD safari vehicles with elevated seats and excellent all-round
viewing and photographic opportunities, plus easy communication with
your guide. The roads and tracks in this section of the Park are regularly
maintained by a Kaingo grader to ensure comfort and minimum sound disturbance
on game drives. Derek Shenton, John Knowles and "Wellis" (who
is considered one of the safest and most experienced National Parks wildlife
scout/trackers in the valley) are able to combine their skills and intimate
knowledge of the area to provide exciting and thought provoking safari
walks and game-drives.
Afternoon walks meander along the unspoiled
river or across Lion Plain following herds of elephant, buffalo and
zebra. Bush skills and local myths are always a part of the walking
safari whether tracking cats or caterpillars, hornbills or honeybadgers.
An afternoon walk can be met by a vehicle at sundown to provide a short
night drive back to camp or a night drive.
Night drives may follow on from the afternoon
drive or walk after stopping for drinks as the sun sets. A powerful
spotlight illuminates moments in the lives of Luangwa's nocturnal animals:
leopard, lions on the hunt, hyena, civet, genet, porcupine and nightjars.
The day ends with superb bush cuisine
under a canopy of stars, drinks around the fire, and sounds of the
African bush. Wildlife
Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the greatest
wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration
of game around the Luangwa river and it’s ox bow lagoons is
among the most intense in Africa.
Kaingo is located opposite the game-rich
Nsefu sector of South Luangwa National Park. Kaingo's location
allows its visitors to experience this ancient valley without interference
from any human settlement. Regular sightings of some of the regional
"specials" like Cookson's wildebeest, eland, and serval are one
of Kaingo's attractions.
Two frequently viewed lion prides live in the area and an average of
9 out of 10 visitors will see leopard. There are both elephant and hippo hides close to camp, which afford
visitors close-ups of these great mammals.
Kaingo also offers excellent
birding opportunities. The area has two beautiful lagoons that
attract
large fishing parties of yellow-billed storks, pelicans and marabous.
In late August/September there are also a number of nesting sites
of the carmine bee-eaters in the area. Pel's fishing owl, bat
hawks, pennant-winged nightjars, Western-banded snake eagle,
moustached warbler and Red-billed quelea
in
their thousands
are
among the birding highlights of the area.
(For more on South Luangwa
and its wildlife, click the National Parks of Zambia link below).
 Top Return
to South
Luangwa Camps & Lodges Return
to Map
of Zambia
For
History and General information about Zambia, click More
Zambia
For
further information about the National Parks of Zambia, click Zam
Parks
|
