The 2025 Safari Awards Winners Announced:  Best Safari Operator in Africa - Jack's Camp ........ Best Safari Experience in Africa -  Sirikoi ..........Best Safari Property Location in Africa - Greystoke Mahale..........Best Family Safari Experience in Africa - Sirikoi ..........Best Marine Safari Experience in Africa - Azura Benguerra ..........Best Safari Guiding Team in Africa - Cottars 1920's Camp .......... Best Safari Cuisine in Africa - Chem Chem .......... Most Romantic safari Property in Africa - Jack's Camp .......... Best Safari Spa in Africa - Royal Malewane .......... Best Riding Safari Operator in Africa - Ride Botswana .......... Best Mobile Safari Operator in Africa - Nomad Tanzania Mobile Safaris .......... Best Walking Safari Operator in Africa - Robin Pope Safaris .......... Best Value Safari Property in Africa - Flatdogs .......... Best New Safari Property in Africa - Onguma Camp Kala .......... Best Safari House/Villa in Africa - Mkombe's House Lamai .......... Best Ecologically Responsible Safari Property in Africa - Grootbos Garden Lodge & Qorokwe Camp .......... Best Community Focused Safari Property in Africa - Singita Pamushana .......... Best Wildlife Conservation Organisation in Africa - Mara Elephant Project .......... Best African Tourism Board - Rwanda Tourism Development Board .......... 

Puku Ridge

16 Awards

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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

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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

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.

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

Property Type
Safari Tented Camp ( less than 20 tents)
Average Stay

3 nights

Average Price

U$1500

Child Policy

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
Safari Tented Camp ( less than 20 tents)
Best Safari Cuisine

07-04-2025 @ 5:33pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Excellent guides and the best wildlife sightings of any of the lodges I've been to.... ever

PR from Zambia
05-04-2025 @ 11:26am
Best Safari Cuisine

I really had a wonderful time at this best camp, the guides where extremely good

05-04-2025 @ 2:29am
Best Safari Property Location

Overlooking the waterhole is simply magical

04-04-2025 @ 4:59pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

The best guide we gave ever had (Andrew)

04-04-2025 @ 4:59pm
Best Safari Property Location

Can’t beat it!

04-04-2025 @ 3:56pm
Most Romantic Safari Property

Very romantic setting and nice private rooms

04-04-2025 @ 3:56pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

So welcoming and informative!

04-04-2025 @ 3:56pm
Best New Safari Property

Will never forget the views from my stay here!

04-04-2025 @ 3:56pm
Best Safari Cuisine

Every meal was amazing!

04-04-2025 @ 3:56pm
Best Safari Experience

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Best Safari Cuisine

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Best New Safari Property

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Best Walking Safari Experience

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Best Safari Guiding Team

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Most Romantic Safari Property

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Best Safari Property Location

Excellent

04-04-2025 @ 6:44am
Best Safari Cuisine

The restaurant-style cuisine is incredibly delicious!

CT from United States
02-04-2025 @ 6:25am
Best Safari Experience

Absolutely everything is exquisite and delightful.

CT from United States
02-04-2025 @ 6:25am
Best Safari Property Location

We could gaze out at that marshy grassland, covered with animals, all day!

CT from United States
02-04-2025 @ 6:25am
Most Romantic Safari Property

The plunge pool and super-king sized bed; the private star tower above; the private dinners under the stars!!

CT from United States
02-04-2025 @ 6:25am
Best Safari Guiding Team

We had fantastic sightings, and lots of private viewing.

CT from United States
02-04-2025 @ 6:25am
Best Safari Experience

Everything about Puku Ridge is excellent

02-04-2025 @ 5:51am
Best Safari Property Location

The lagoon out front is filled with animals!

02-04-2025 @ 5:51am
Most Romantic Safari Property

The chalets are stunning … with plunge pools and roof-top decks for star gazing!

02-04-2025 @ 5:51am
Best Safari Guiding Team

Absolutely fabulous sightings. Very private!

02-04-2025 @ 5:51am
Best New Safari Property

We’ve been a few times and can’t go back this year!

02-04-2025 @ 5:51am
Best Safari Cuisine

Incredible restaurant-style land meals!

02-04-2025 @ 5:51am
Best Ecologically Responsible Safari Property

Very mindful

30-04-2024 @ 9:21pm
Best Family Safari Experience

Team is great with children. A great product

30-04-2024 @ 9:21pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

Knowledgeable team

30-04-2024 @ 9:21pm
Best Safari Property Location

What a location, that star bed over looking the plains

30-04-2024 @ 9:21pm
Best Safari Experience

100% all inclusive experience

30-04-2024 @ 9:21pm
Best Safari Experience

outstanding game and lodge experience

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Safari Property Location

amazing location and view

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Most Romantic Safari Property

in-suite picnic the best

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

outstanding team

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

great guides

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best New Safari Property

what a stunning property

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Family Safari Experience

amazing for families

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Safari Cuisine

great chef

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Ecologically Responsible Safari Property

like the how what they do

30-04-2024 @ 2:18pm
Best Safari Experience

It is a mesmerising experience. What a wonderful team of staff. Real luxury loved the Star Bed. Guiding and game-viewing 100% top notch!

11-03-2024 @ 8:54am
Most Romantic Safari Property

Star beds for each bedroom seal the deal aside from the superbly luxurious tents and lodge.

GC from Zambia
19-02-2024 @ 2:33pm

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