Track & Trail River Camp
South Luangwa National Park · Zambia
A small, owner-run camp on the banks of the Luangwa River, five minutes from the park gate - built by two photographers around slow mornings, close tracking, and a river full of hippo just below the pool.
Enquire about this LodgeKirsten Gottenkieny and Peter Geraerdts built this camp on the riverbank they fell in love with - nine chalets and a philosophy built entirely around the smaller, slower details of the bush.
On the Riverbank, Just Outside the Park
Track & Trail sits directly on the Luangwa River, opposite the national park and a five-minute drive from its main entrance - close enough for an early start, private enough that the riverbank feels entirely your own.
The camp was built by its owners around a single idea: safari at a slower pace, with photography and the smaller signs of the bush given as much attention as the big sightings.
The Luangwa, from the Lime Tree Lounge.
A Closer Look at Track & Trail River Camp
Double-storey and stilted chalets above the riverbank, an elevated pool, and hippo just below the deck.
Tracking the smaller signs of the bush.
Slow Mornings, Close Tracking
Guided walking safaris here go beyond spotting the big five - tracking, birdlife and the smaller details of the bush get equal billing, led by guides who built the camp around exactly that pace.
Day and night drives run alongside the walks, covering South Luangwa's leopard-dense terrain and the highest concentration of hippo and crocodile found anywhere on the river.
What Moves Along the River
Over forty mammal species and 400 recorded birds, with the valley's leopards and the river's hippo and crocodile setting the rhythm of every stay.
Chalets on the River
Nine chalets in two riverfront styles, each built to face the water.
Double-Storey Chalet
An upper-level lounge opens onto river views, with a private veranda below for the quiet hours between drives and walks.
- Upper-level lounge with river views
- Private veranda
- En-suite bathroom, hot and cold water
Stilted Chalet
Raised above the riverbank on stilts, with an uninterrupted line of sight to the water and the wildlife that moves along it.
- Raised private deck above the riverbank
- Uninterrupted water views
- Mosquito-netted windows throughout
A Day at Track & Trail River Camp
The pace here is deliberately unhurried - here's roughly how a day on the riverbank unfolds.
Onto the Water's Edge
An early walking safari or game drive along the riverbank, timed for the valley's coolest, most active hour.
Tracking the Smaller Signs
Continued walking with a guide trained to read the bush closely, at a deliberately unhurried pace.
The Pool, Above the Hippo
Lunch at the Lime Tree Lounge, then the elevated pool with a view straight down onto the river's resident hippo pod.
Night Drive, Then the Fire
A night drive for the valley's nocturnal life, dinner, and a fire on the riverbank under the stars.
Before You Go
Fly to Mfuwe, then a short transfer
The camp sits five minutes from the park's main entrance, on the opposite bank of the Luangwa River.
Open year-round, including the emerald season
Dry season (May-November) gives the classic game-viewing; the emerald season (November-April) turns the valley green and dramatic.
Riverside at the Lime Tree Lounge
Panoramic dining and bar over the Luangwa, with a fireplace lounge for evenings under the stars.
Walking safaris from age 12
A photography-led camp at heart, with guiding suited to serious and casual photographers alike.
Continue Your Zambia Journey
Other camps worth pairing with Track & Trail, all within reach of the same valley.
Kaingo Camp
Owner-run since 1992, with the finest photographic hides in Africa and never more than four guests per vehicle.
View Camp →
Mfuwe Lodge
The lodge the elephants walk through - eighteen chalets between two lagoons at the valley's gate.
View Lodge →Begin Your South Luangwa Journey
We arrange every detail - the transfer from Mfuwe Airport, the right chalet, and a pace built entirely around you.
Enquire About Track & Trail River Camp