Entirely off-grid and about an hour’s drive upstream through the Zambezi National Park, the 1.4km long Chundu Island is peaceful tented retreat designed to allow guests to slip into the rhythms of river life and explore the park, or canoe, bird watch or simply chill and detox completely. Wake to the calm beauty of a morning mist rising above the water and fall asleep to the ‘whoop whoop’ of a hyena on shore. Go canoeing (keep an eye on the hippos!) or take a guided walk to the end of the island before breakfast.
The drive to the lodge passes a few stately baobabs (look out for their beautiful flowers in season) and often offers superb viewings of elephant who often come down to the sandy beaches of the river to drink in the late afternoon. One of the benefits of being this far inside the Zambezi National Park is that you’re often alone on game drives, which is a treat. Ask about doing a guided walk off the island in the Park – there’s nothing more exhilarating that being on foot in the wild!
What we love!
• That this camp functions off solar and is off-grid. Even the palm thatch is made of recycled plastic and every effort made to touch the earth lightly
• Its remote setting – yet you can get back to Vic Falls faster by boat if you need to
• Being surrounded by constantly flowing water – the power of the Zambezi River never fails to impress
What you need to know…
• It’s best to visit the Rain Forest and do the Falls activities at the beginning or end of your stay – it’s quite far to go back into town
• Accommodation is tented but wonderfully comfortable and surprisingly toasty in winter