Owner-run Kafunta River Lodge is located on the floodplains of the Luangwa River and features 10 chalets with viewing decks, as well as a spectacular lounge and dining area, an infinity pool and a natural hot spring tub. In combination with its little Island Bush Camp or it's luxurious tented camp Three Rivers Camp, you will experience the best of South Luangwas's superb wildlife. The lodge was entirely renovated in 2019.
Kafunta River Lodge
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Kafunta River Lodge - Lounge and deck
- Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta River Lodge - Standard room
- Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta River Lodge - Lounge and deck
- Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta River Lodge - Standard room
- Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta River Lodge - Lounge and deck
- Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta River Lodge - Standard room
- Kafunta Safaris
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All you need to know
Intro
Highlights
Luxurious chalets overlooking the floodplains of the Luangwa River, complemented by a beautiful infinity pool to relax in after a sumptuous brunch. Excellent team of professional guides for game drives and bush walks. Access to a most remote bush camp for added authenticity
Need To Know
Anke and Ron, the camp owners, have made South Luangwa their home for over 20 years and are keen to share their passion with you
Safaris
Game drives in open vehicles and bush walks under the guidance of our safari professionals and park rangers. Whether you are a keen photographer, an enthusiast birder or a first timer on safari, our guides will focus on your interests and share with you their extensive knowledge and passion
Wildlife
Kafunta is located on the floodplains of the Luangwa River with a natural waterhole where wildlife thrives at all time of day and night. Wildlife highlights will include lions, leopards, hyenas, buffalo, elephants, many varieties of antelopes and possibly elusive wild dogs. Island Bush Camp and Three Rivers Camp are located in the southern part of South Luangwa in total wilderness with no other operators around. These 2 camps are best for bush walks and total communion with nature
Quick Facts
Best of South Luangwa with an 8-night stay combining Kafunta River Lodge, Three Rivers Camp and Island Bush Camp
2020 - All inclusive with park fees
Kafunta River Lodge Shoulder Season $465 per person per night / Peak Season $610 per person per night
Island Bush Camp $590 per person per night
Three Rivers Camp $620 per person per night
Discounted rates for a stay of 5 nights and more.
We offer between 25% and 50% children discount when sharing with two adults, depending on the child's age.
Accommodation
Kafunta River Lodge: 2 Luxury Suites with en-suite bathroom featuring a stand alone bathtub and separate shower. The very spacious room offers an upstair mezzanine with the option to add one or two single beds. There is also a viewing deck. 8 Standard Rooms with ceiling fans and en-suite bathroom, and a private viewing deck. Rooms were renovated in 2019. Island Bush Camp: 5 open-sided reed chalets built on stilts overlooking the river, with en-suite bathroom featuring a bucket shower. Three Rivers Camp: 5 luxurious semi-open tents with unique individual sleep out platforms connected to the tent. En-suite bathroom with indoo and outdoo showers.
Accolades
Best value safari property in Zambia!
Season
Opened from Easter until the New Year, offering the option to see South Luangwa at the peak of the dry season, or during the Emerald season.
Region
Property Type
Love the way they help and support the community especially the work they do with Project Luangwa
Very integrated with the local community, a wonderful synergistic relationship.
The most wonderful experience, heading for a 3rd visit this year. The levels of Integration with the local community is outstanding . We get to embrace both nature and the animals and the locals.
R
Amazing facilities
Supports local villages
The most caring teams at Kafunta Lodge did everything to ensure we had the most wonderful and magical family holiday
very experienced Safari Guides with total Hospitality
Best experience ever :)
Incre
Very hard working Safari Guide with Total Hospitality
Wonderful experiences on every visit and great local staff.
The best Lodge if Zambi
Best guides
Best chefs
Very good eat
We had the best guide Andrem
Best Safari in the Bush Camp and walking
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Simply, Sincerely THE BEST
Simply, Sincerely THE BEST
Simply, Sincerely THE BEST
Simply, Sincerely THE BEST
Simply, Sincerely THE BEST
Simply, Sincerely THE BEST
Elegant & Beautifully maintained
John became part of the family and went above and beyond to create fabulous memories.
Just outside the park; it was an easy ride to see it all!
Such an outstanding lodge that we stayed there twice this season!
A wonderful happy holiday - it could not have been better. We were so well taken care of by the staff.
All round excellence.
After 14 visits to Kafunta we know the place very well
alleen positieve reactie op elk vlak wat deze accomodatie te bieden heeft. het ganse team is geweldig, zowel voor als achter de schermen.
eco verantwoorde lodge.
locatie top , drivers met kennis top..
van ontbijt tot lunch sundowners en diner, zeer goede en lekkere keuken.
wij hadden zeker geen klagen over onze driver, sympathiek geduldig en met uitgebreide kennis van fauna en flora, hij maakte er een geweldige safari ervaring van.
locatie is top ,langs beide zijde van de rivier kan je op safari.
A very satisfying journey and stay
The food is mouthwatering
Experienced and friendly guides
A place and experiences to dream of for a long time
Very knowledgeable and helpful guides
Abundant amount of wildlife and wonderful safari experience
Absolutely amazing experience
Best Safari ever.
6 star experience at a 3 star cost. Far exceeded our expectations for a comparatively modest cost
Absolute respect for the environment instilled in all guests
Genuine care for the community and so many projects always in hand to share tourism benefits
Gourmet food at bush camps from a hole in the ground with hot stones! Amazing!
Filled us with confidence for our safety, and filled our heads with knowledge and insights.
Wonderful location - isolated, in the wild, but accessible to the community
It has been over 5 years, and still the best vacation we had.
Wonderful stay at Kafunta in April 24.
Best experience by far of all the places I’ve been in Zambia, Zim and Botswana
Fabulous Lodge
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
We visited in 2012 with friends. That still rates as our best ever travel adventure.
Our trip to Kafunta's three lodges was the best holiday we have ever had! Atttentive, fun, knowledgeable staff, excellent food, perfect lodges, wonderfully abundant wildlife, etc, etc.
The stay at 3 Rivers really showed this both from accommodation and impact on animals.
Kafunta and 3 Rivers fabulous food every day
Paul at Kafunta and 3 Rivers amazingly knowledgeable, fun and found us everything everything everyday Small vehicles excellent choice
Kafunta fabulous for south Luanga park but 3 Rivers even more private for safaris
Kafunta River Lodge
Knowledgeable, good english skills
Close to park increased viewing time
Stayed at Kufunta and 3 Rivers in Sep 23 faultless
AMAZING EXPERIENCE
Kafunta River Lodge
Kafunta River Lodge
Kafunta River Lodge
Kafunta River Lodge
Kafunta River Lodge
9
You get more than you expect.
In the bush camps you learn to live near nature.
Staff members share their knowledge about the community with visitors
Top meals, 5-star dinner in the bush.
Best team ever.
Beautiful Locations
Comfortable and beautifully maintained
All guests given a personalised reusable water bottle to eliminate the need for plastic ones.
Kafunta has projects set up to benefit the local community
Food is exceptional and locally sourced
The guide on my last visit, David, was incredibly knowledgeable and excellent at explaining things.
Kafunta has stunning views from all the lodges and from the communal area where game can be viewed easily drinking and grazing.
I have been twice and best safari property. I have been on 10 safaris.
A memorable holiday in a glorious spot filled with wildlife - leopards guaranteed, lions, wild dogs, porcupines and lots more. Fantastic guides, great accommodation and food.
Haggai Mposha
Extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff and a great cook!
Wonderful place with great staff.
The staff people are very friendly and the multitudes of animals are amazing.
What an exclusive experience to be at Kafuntas locations!
Be a guest among the nature, that's what Kafunta Safari shows you. To visit the bush camps you'll find out what's necessary and what not!
Learned a lot about the community from Kafuntas staff members.
Who else can prepare a 5-star dinner in the bush?
Never met a better team!
Island Bush Camp, Three River Capm and Kafunta Lodge -you name it! More than 5 stars!
The value given is amazing for the price paid.
Their approach to being ecologically integrated is world class
They have a dedicated and passionate focus on involving and promoting the local community
Every dish served was like it came from a Michelin starred restaurant
The insight the guide team had is unmatched. They really went above and beyond to make every tour a cultivated and special experience.
Wonderful location with stunning views and convenient access to the park.
Best viewing, service, accomodation, guides & passionated owners
So good going back in May
Kafunta River Lodge
In harmony with nature
Consistently excellent food crafted by a wonderfully happy team
All guides were very knowledgeable, capable and proud of their profession, their country and their skills
Outstanding!
All the staff, accommodation, setting, meals, safari game drives & walking safaris were superb, couldn't ask for anything more.
Kafunta Safaris first class food accommodation and guides
6
Great experience
Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta Safari Lodge, Zambia.
If you a lover of nature and animals best place.
Absolutely stunning - nothing compares to holding a chilled G&T while sitting in a hot tub fed by a natural hot spring and watching wallowing hippos just below - sheer safari magic!
My experience was amazing ????
I have safari drive
Oh my, we had the best of the best here. Very deep knowledge of fauna and flora from the mightiest to the tiniest.
Outstanding food and drinks. Bar included, food like that in a fine restaurant.
Fully involved in community, including promoting community products and helping educate the local people.
Natural setting, no need for air conditioning and light use of electricity
Great rates, all inclusive
In a wonderful friendly country and a site abounding in wildlife
we have travelled a lot but never we had the feeling of coming home . This is how we felt there at the moment we arrived and we still feel the same , so we will come back. We also arranged a charity ,repeated
everything you need , you will find here the best place to calm down i have ever experienced
where human meets animal without border, without fence , in peace and in harmony in untouched nature
Martin and his spotter were a brilliant team both day and night.
The food that gets produced at Kafunta, Island Camp and Three Rivers is amazing. Considering much of it is produced in bush kitchens it is a credit to Ron and Anke and the local chefs.
Ron and Anke Cowen support the local community by being one of the main sponsors of Project Luangwa, the local Football team in which their son plays in and also by employing local people from Mfuwe.
Anke and Ron Cowen are trying their hardest to make the least impact on the wildlife yet still provide a memorable experience for their guests.
Value for money is great as everything is included, and for a full African Safari experience with brilliant accommodation and food it is hard to beat for value.
The new decking and observation deck where you can have all your meals means that you can still watch game while you are dining.
As Kafunta is located by the main waterhole on the Luangwa river during the summer you don't have to go looking for game it comes to you !!
Abel found Wild dogs for us!