Completely rebuilt and reopened late 2019 this is the South Luangwa's most luxurious safari camp. Puku Ridge offers an immersive safari experience in South Luangwa, blending luxury and eco-friendliness with stunning views, exceptional wildlife encounters, and expert-guided adventures.
Puku Ridge
Awards
Winner - 2024 World Travel Awards - Zambia's Leading Safari Lodge
Winner - 2023 World Travel Awards - Zambia's Leading Safari Lodge
Winner - 2024 Luxury Lifestyle Travel Award - Best Luxury Wilderness Lodge in Zambia
CN Traveler 2023 Readers' Choice Awards - Winner
What's Special About Puku Ridge
Luxury safari camp, each tented suite has a sleepout starbed tower, plunge pool, and air conditioning for the hot months, and superb guides for walks and day/night game drives.
Safari Awards
Not yet but we are brand new ... soon hopefully!
Parks
South Luangwa National Park
Would you like to share your experience with us? Vote
Puku Ridge photo hide
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge Tented Suites
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge Service with a smile
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge tent with aircon over the bed
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge sleep out tower and huge views
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge guest room plunge pool and deck
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge Main Area al fresco dining
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge photo hide
- www.chiawa.com
Puku Ridge Tented Suites
- www.chiawa.com
- Next
- Prev
Newly renovated with no aspect left unattended, this South Luangwa safari lodge blends style and comfort seamlessly with nature. Recently updated, Puku Ridge is wilderness refined – from the elegant architectural lines to the thoughtfully outfitted game viewing vehicles and the perfectly-positioned photographic hide in front of the camp’s private watering hole.
Located well inside the incredible South Luangwa National Park with an outlook onto a private floodplain and watering hole, this remote and elevated landscape is enriched by the rolling gait of giraffe, the heart-shaped nose of the puku, and the midnight whoop of the hyena.
This is a Zambia luxury safari from start to finish, and every detail in between.
A collaboration between its owners, Chichele Safaris, and the Cumings Family of Chiawa Camp & Old Mondoro – the reimagined Puku Ridge is situated on one of the Park’s prime sites.
The well-known and much loved facilities, service and guiding have been upgraded to the highest of standards for which the Cumings Family’s own safari camps have become renowned. Unique in design but traditional in outlook, it has been completely rebuilt with a lighter footprint.
Elements from the South Luangwa bush camps of old have been combined with traditional village life and authentic, local art works complement crucial creature comforts making for one of the most appealing and welcome safari camp launches for many years.
Previous guests of the old Puku Ridge will feel that everything has changed, but nothing has changed, as many special touches from the past have been retained for the ultimate combination of past and present in our South Luangwa safari lodge.
All you need to know
Intro
Highlights
Luxury Accommodations: Spacious, elegantly designed tented retreats with private decks, plunge pool, and sleep-out tower
Culinary Delights: Delicious meals made from locally sourced ingredients, enhance the overall experience.
Stunning Views and Location: Panoramic vistas of the South Luangwa, overlooking floodplains and watering holes to encourage the nearby wildlife sightings.
Expert Guides: Knowledgeable guides provide insightful safari experiences and walking safaris.
Eco-Friendly Design: Sustainable architecture that blends seamlessly with the natural environment.
Need To Know
Co-managed by Chiawa Safaris of Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro repute (on offer are incredible combo itineraries). A stunning location, diverse wildlife, gorgeous tents, delicious meals and world-class guiding. About 1 hour south of Mfuwe bridge means fewer vehicles yet access to all the best game vieiwng in the central part of the Luangwa.
Safaris
Experience thrilling game drives and immersive walking safaris at Puku Ridge, where expert guides unveil the wonders of South Luangwa’s wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
All night drives are conducted with Red light filters to ensure the wildlife is not disrupt and not put in harm's way.
We offer combination safaris with Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro giving you the best of Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa.
Wildlife
South Luangwa is known as the home of the Leopard.
The Luangwa River and its vast seasonal floodplains, oxbow lakes, and smaller tributaries nourish the South Luangwa National Park.
While elephant herds, hippo pods, Puku and sleek big cats enchant you, look out for the wildlife species endemic to the greater region or unique to the South Luangwa Valley – Unique animal species to the South Luangwa NP Crawshay’s zebra, Thornicroft giraffe, Cookson’s Wildebeest.
Quick Facts
3 nights
U$1500
12+
Accommodation
8 tent/thatch/timber safari suites, each with sleep out tower, plunge pool, aircon and ceiling fan over the bed, huge bath, his & hers wahsbasins, indoor and outdoor shower.
Accolades
CN Traveller Readers Choice Awards - Winner 2023
Zambia/s Leading Safari Property - 2023 World Travel Awards.
Zambia/s Leading Safari Property - 2024 World Travel Awards.
Winner - 2024 Luxury Lifestyle Travel Award - Best Luxury Wilderness Lodge in Zambia
Season
01 April - 30 November
Property Type
Excellent guides and the best wildlife sightings of any of the lodges I've been to.... ever
I really had a wonderful time at this best camp, the guides where extremely good
Overlooking the waterhole is simply magical
The best guide we gave ever had (Andrew)
Can’t beat it!
Very romantic setting and nice private rooms
So welcoming and informative!
Will never forget the views from my stay here!
Every meal was amazing!
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
The restaurant-style cuisine is incredibly delicious!
Absolutely everything is exquisite and delightful.
We could gaze out at that marshy grassland, covered with animals, all day!
The plunge pool and super-king sized bed; the private star tower above; the private dinners under the stars!!
We had fantastic sightings, and lots of private viewing.
Everything about Puku Ridge is excellent
The lagoon out front is filled with animals!
The chalets are stunning … with plunge pools and roof-top decks for star gazing!
Absolutely fabulous sightings. Very private!
We’ve been a few times and can’t go back this year!
Incredible restaurant-style land meals!
Very mindful
Team is great with children. A great product
Knowledgeable team
What a location, that star bed over looking the plains
100% all inclusive experience
outstanding game and lodge experience
amazing location and view
in-suite picnic the best
outstanding team
great guides
what a stunning property
amazing for families
great chef
like the how what they do
It is a mesmerising experience. What a wonderful team of staff. Real luxury loved the Star Bed. Guiding and game-viewing 100% top notch!
Star beds for each bedroom seal the deal aside from the superbly luxurious tents and lodge.