Time + Tide Chongwe River House

Information

Chongwe River House is award-winning safari design at its finest. This stunning two storey, four bedroom private house is set on a tranquil stretch of the Chongwe River against a beautiful mountainous backdrop. The Chongwe area is famous for large elephants, and they will frequently wander through camp in search of seed pods from the winterthorn trees or cross the river right in front of the house.

Chongwe River House blends effortlessly into the tranquil river setting. The design’s flowing curves and bends evolve into open living spaces that celebrate the surrounding wilderness. Waterfall showers, private open air bathtubs, furniture carved from a winterthorn tree and ceilings studded with river pebbles complete the inspired design. Throughout your stay, a dedicated staff and guiding team will ensure your experience is wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable.

During your stay, enjoy our impressive variety of safari activities, created for the ultimate exploration of this magnificent African paradise. By land, you can enjoy game drives and walking safaris, or take to the rivers and explore with boat cruises, canoeing safaris and tiger-fishing. At the nearby Chongwe River Camp, a brand new wildlife hide is great for photography, especially rare nocturnal creatures.

Rooms

Time + Tide Chongwe River House – 4 rooms

The bedrooms, equipped with either king-size or twin beds under huge mosquito nets, are arranged on two floors and have their own private outdoor sitting area. Private, open-air bathtubs on the upper floor allow bathers to completely immerse themselves in the wilderness experience. Innovative ‘waterfall’ showers on the upper floor echo the waterfalls of the upper river, whilst guests on the lower floor can enjoy the experience of ‘rainfall’ showers.

Facilities

Chongwe River House

With open views of the magical Chongwe River and dramatic mountainous escarpment beyond, dining at Chongwe River House is a magical experience.

Whether seated at the magnificent, hand-carved dining table in the main area or on the deck, al fresco under a canopy of stars, the senses are heightened as you enjoy a wide variety of delicious meals using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. All prepared by your very own team of Chefs!

Guests at Chongwe River House enjoy a completely tailor made and exclusive experience with meal times arranged to suit. Depending on the time of year and choice of activities a suggested itinerary is as follows

Breakfast 6.00am – 7.00am. Watch the hippos stir and early morning game drinking from the river bank in front of you while you sip hot coffee and enjoy a light breakfast buffet.

Brunch 11.30am – 12.30pm. After returning from your morning activity a buffet brunch is served.

High Tea 3.30pm – 4.00pm. Meet for drinks and a delicious, freshly baked treat before setting off on your afternoon activity.

Dinner 7.30pm – 8.00pm. After pre-dinner drinks and canapés sit down to enjoy a delicious three course dinner.

Our team of highly trained, local Chefs are more than happy to cater for any special dietary requirements you may have. If your food preferences or requirements could be considered out of the ordinary (vegetarian, vegan, gluten, dairy free etc) then we do ask that you inform us in advance of your arrival.

Activities

Walking Safari

There is little to compare to the thrill of a walking safari, and we are fortunate to have some of the best terrain for exploring on foot in the Lower Zambezi valley right on our doorstep. Walking is the only way you really become intimate with Africa, learning about the small, seemingly irrelevant plants and animals which are often overlooked on a game drive.

We walk accompanied by an armed scout, and your safari guide will show you an amazing secret world of tiny wonders as he leads you slowly through the bush along ancient animal pathways, examining plants, trees and insects along the way.

Canoe Safaris

One of the most leisurely ways to experience the sights and sounds of the Lower Zambezi valley is on a canoe safari. Our canoes seat two guests and a guide in comfort, with ample room for cameras and binoculars.

Canoeing offers you a completely different perspective as you glide gently along either the Zambezi and its beautiful channels or the Chongwe River, allowing you to fully appreciate the magical beauty of this incredible area and the creatures and plants that inhabit it.

It truly is a special experience for the nature lover using only the safest of routes where previous canoeing experience is not necessary, and life-jackets are provided. All you need to do is sit back, relax and watch Africa slip by!

Fishing

When it comes to fishing, Chongwe is tiger country! The Lower Zambezi is home to the tiger fish, nicknamed the “water dog,” whose sharp teeth are matched only by its fighting spirit and reputation as one of the world’s top game fish.

At Chongwe River House we offer our guests the chance to head out onto the river in search of this formidable combatant, operating a strict catch-and-release policy in order to preserve stocks of this incredible fish.

Alternatively, you can try your hand at bream fishing on the Chongwe river itself, where a limited catch can be brought back to camp and served up with a delicious lemon butter sauce!

Fishing can be combined with game activities and all equipment is provided, with both conventional tackle and entry level fly rods available. We recommend serious fly fisherman should bring their own tackle. Please contact us for specifications and recommendations.

Game Drive

Driving safaris are all conducted in a private, open 4X4 vehicle (Land Cruiser or Land Rover) with either two or three ‘rows’ of seats allowing the whole group a great view.

Night drives are generally an extension of your afternoon game drive, canoe or walking safari. As the sun begins to set we stop to watch the day come to a close and as dusk falls set off to explore as the nocturnal animals start to emerge.

The best chance of seeing genets, civets, elephant shrew, porcupine and the fierce honey-badger is after sunset and the large predators, with the exception of wild dog, are most active at night. Night time birding can be very rewarding with nightjars, owls great and small, dikkop, bat hawk and coursers are all abundant.

The Africa night sky is simply magnificent and it’s worth coming all this way just to experience its vastness and splendour. The Milky Way seems 100 times brighter in the Luangwa Valley where there is no light pollution. We’re watched over by the Southern Cross, Orion and Scorpio amongst an infinite number of others and memories of sitting in awed silence listening to the distant call of lions, cicadas and a million tree frogs under the crescent of an African moon will live with you forever.

Boat Cruise

The Zambezi River offers a variety of additional activities that few, if any, other destinations can offer. One such activity is a river safari which offers both morning and afternoon opportunities to view game from the comfort of a luxury boat.

Sit back and relax as your guide leisurely navigates the islands and main channels of the mighty Zambezi. Cruise the river looking at game, birds and enjoy some of the most spectacular sunsets you are ever likely to see. All without the bumps and dust of game drives.

Morning coffee or evening sundowners can be enjoyed from either the boat or from your own island in the middle of the Zambezi River!

Cultural Village Visit

The Chiawa Cultural Village was born of a partnership between conservation organizations (with Africa Wildlife Foundation as a key strategic partner), Lower Zambezi Lodges and the Goba people of Chiawa, championing a cultural tourism enterprise prototype that empowers local people to benefit directly from the tourism trade generated by the profusion of wildlife in the region. It is owned by the Chiawa community through the Tsika Development Company.

At the Chiawa Cultural Village, visitors will embark on a guided tour where they will learn about the lives of the Goba people, their traditions, trades, tools, edifices and arts including dance, song and handiwork of local craftspeople.

Time + Tide Chongwe River House Activities

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