Tena Tena Camp
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
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TENA TENA
CAMP -
SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA
This remote and small camp (only 10 beds) lies within the South
Luangwa National Park and enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping
bend of the Luangwa
River.
Tena Tena - meaning 'temporary
home' - is the flagship camp for the highly acclaimed Robin Pope
Safaris. The camp is located
on a wide sweep of the meandering Luangwa River, in the quiet
Nsefu sector of the Park. The camp is located high on the banks of
the
river, near the spectacular Buca Buca lagoon.
A grove of mahogany trees shade
the large custom-made tents. From the thatched dining room and bar,
guests can watch the elephants, hippo and antelope on the river banks.
Near the camp there is a spectacular lagoon, Buca Buca, where a whole
morning can be spent quietly sitting while the game comes down to
drink. With the camp being remote and small, guests have these scenes
to themselves.
For
its all-round strengths - secluded location, style, owner involvement,
and game-viewing, Tena Tena is undoubtedly one of the best
camps in Zambia. In fact,
Tena Tena has been described in The Times,
London, as "altogether beyond superlatives and must be one of
the best safari camps in the whole of Africa."
The camp is open
from June through October.
Accommodation  For
images of Tena Tena Camp, click Tena
Tena
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The world renowned Robin Pope Safaris camp, Tena
Tena has been redesigned and rebuilt. With the maximum number of guests
decreasing from 12 to 8, the camp provides an even more personal
and intimate safari
for visiting guests.
Tena Tena
has a reputation for being a 'temporary home' in the the
bush - and
the atmosphere at this wonderful remote
tented camp certainly contributes to this. The
interiors are stylish and elegant, beautifully
furnished in rich colours, and are reminiscent of Hemingway's
Africa. The
Persian rugs, hand-dyed Indian cotton bed-spreads and Bedouin
cushions create a homely and attractive environment. There
are also heavy linen bathrobes in each en suite open-air bathroom,
along
with a complete array of quality toiletries.
The bathrooms
are made from woven bamboo
and join the tents under a large grass archway - Marsh-Arab style.
Each tent has been carefully positioned to incorporated a stunning
view of the Luangwa River or waterhole, where game is often seen
coming down to drink. The front of the tent is designed to
roll up completely
allowing the guests to watch and admire from the privacy of their
own veranda.
Dining & Facilities
The bar and dining room are situated under an
old established
Natal Mahogany tree; they remain in a similar style to before,
built entirely from local materials - grass, bamboo and Mukwa
(local hardwood).
Meals are served in the dining room, overlooking the Luangwa river.
The camp also includes
laundry services. Activities
Apart from being well removed from the busier Mfuwe
sector of the park, one of the great highlights of the Nsefu sector is
the abundance of 'Luangwa Wafwas' (literally 'dead Luangwas'). These
are dried out oxbow lakes that have been replaced by lush grasslands,
and attract game in large numbers. This sector of the park is famous
for its concentrations of plains game (which in turn attract predators),
especially huge herds of buffalo that move around in the area.
Activities
at Tena Tena center around this abundance of game,
and guests are offered the opportunity to enjoy
game-viewing from open safari vehicles (both day
and night drives are conducted), as well as game
walks. The camp is located along a very game-rich
stretch of the Luangwa River, and there is always
game in the vicinity of the camp, more often than
not elephant and buffalo. An absolute highlight
of a stay at Tena Tena is the possibility of going
walking with Robin Pope himself, who spends most
of his time at this his flagship camp.
South
Luangwa game walks, considered by many to be the
best in Southern Africa, are led
by a qualified guide and
accompanied by an
armed game scout, offer an
even
more intimate
bush
experience.
Walking Safaris
Robin Pope Mobile Walking Safari
The Robin
Pope Mobile Walking Safaris have become famous for their adventure and "true
Africa" experience.
The mobile walking safaris venture to the remote area of the Mupamadzi
River in the north of the South Luangwa National Park. This safari runs
ten nights and includes a four or five day walking portion which explores
diverse habitats - hills, woodland and vast
grassy
plains as well as the river. Walking safaris encourage guests to
use all their senses while in the bush - from hearing to smell,
as
well
as sight.
The anticipation of what is around the corner keeps your focus keen.
The game is less concentrated and unused
to man's presence, so approaching the animals is that much more rewarding.
The fully staffed mobile camp has everything you'll need, including
walk-in tents, mattressed camp beds, a shared long-drop loo and a hot
bucket shower. The safari includes 2 nights at Nkwali, 5 nights walking
in the mobile tented camp, and 3 nights at Tena Tena. These walking
safaris run from mid June through the end of September.
North Luangwa Walking Trail
Th ten-day North Luangwa Walking safari starts
at Nkwali Camp for three nights. Guests will then transfer to Tena Tena
for three
nights,
and
the safari
will end with four nights at Kutandala.
The transfer to Kutandala Camp in the
North Luangwa is by light aeroplane. The North Luangwa National Park
is very remote and wild - a place for real bush lovers to visit.
Made of reed, grass and poles, and taking only six guests, the camp is
intimate and natural. As well as the walking safaris there is the chance for an all day drive to
the confluence of Mwaleshi and Luangwa rivers.
Excursions can also be made to the Chipopoma
Falls where there are clear water pools for a dip. The safari accommodates
only 6
guests and runs on set dates
from June - October.
Other Walking
Trails
The Nsefu Walking Trail runs for 7 nights - 2 Nkwali, 3 Walking Camps,
and 2 Nsefu.
The Lundu Walking Mobile Safari runs for 9 nights - 2 Nkwali, 4 Mobile
Camp, and 3 Nsefu.
Wildlife
The South Luangwa is an area of superb gameviewing. On game drives and
walks, guests explore the bush at many levels. From the termites
crossing the road, to a bee-eater catching a butterfly, to the
family of
elephants drinking at a lagoon, everything is part of the experience.
Tena Tena's safari vehicles are open and this provides for excellent
game viewing and photography.
Tena Tena also offers night drives which allow you to see different
species and observe their behaviour.
The game is
always in the vicinity of the camp. With three distinct
habitats, the river, the adjoining lagoons, and the plains where
there is a wide diversity of game. Amongst the species, waterbuck,
zebra,
warthog and greater kudu are common place. The wandering herds
of elephant are amongst some of the largest left in Africa. Buffalo
continuously move in search of fresh pastures and water. In their
wake come the predators, the lion and hyena. Leopard hunt the smaller
game under cover of darkness.
Elephants
often cross the Luangwa River, seen from the bar, or come
to the waterhole
near the thatched dining room. The area around Tena Tena Camp is
also famous for leopard and giraffe
sightings.
Special
features of the South Luangwa National Park:
•
Thornicroft's Giraffe
•
14 different antelope species
•
Plenty of leopards
•
47 migrating bird species from Europe and Russia
•
Birds of prey (i.e. Steppe Eagles and Buzzards)
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