African Bush Camps Opens Lolebezi in Lower Zambezi National, Zambia
Opening June 2022, new light-on-earth luxury camp along the Zambezi River expands offering in Zambia to two luxury lodges, allowing guests to experience Zambian culture, design, and ABC’s renowned guides
Nestled atop the fabled Zambezi riverbank on five hectares of remote wilderness in the eastern region of Lower Zambezi National Park sits Lolebezi, a new luxury safari camp from African Bush Camps (ABC) conceived and designed in partnership with Fox Browne Creative. With over a kilometre of river frontage, the lodge and its contemporary design follow the river's undulating twists and turns.
Developed in partnership with a local family with a strong passion for Africa's wildlife, culture, and future, Lolebezi will begin welcoming guests for immersive safari experiences on June 1, 2022. Offering a striking location vibrant with wildlife and drawing from authentic traditions to provide Zambian hospitality that is at once luxurious, unpretentious, and unique among safari destinations in the region.
“Lolebezi is a dream setting for travellers to experience the abundance of Africa and the beauty and power of the Zambezi River,” said Beks Ndlovu, a veteran professional guide who established African Bush Camps in 2006. “As ABC expands its expertise in Zambia with a second lodge, our newest destination continues to redefine the safari experience with opportunities for adventure, learning, abundant wildlife amidst pristine wilderness, and pure comfort designed to sustainably blend with its environment.”
Memorable Safaris and Wellness Activities
Lolebezi is designed to connect guests with the heart and soul of Africa while contributing to the conservation of the continent. Indeed, ABC sees itself as a custodian of the new camp’s setting along the Zambezi River and the wellbeing of the wildlife and the surrounding communities.
The new camp offers authentic experiences provided by a local team that is proud of their roots and is eager to share their heritage with guests. Safaris led by expert guides are designed to be fun and informative for travellers, heightening the awareness of the fragile balance between nature and communities in Africa.
Guests at Lolebezi can look forward to twice-daily activities. Game drives, guided walking safaris, riverboating, and canoeing offer close perspectives of wildlife. World-class guided fishing trips (catch & release) and bird-watching excursions are also part of the offering, as it’s time to kick back, relax, and watch the sun come up over the Zambezi.
Inviting Suites and Public Spaces
Inspired by the Zambezi, Africa's renowned "River of Life" the architecture and design respond to the property’s wild and remote location with a luxurious confluence of experiences combining adventure, authenticity, and sustainability.
Lolebezi can accommodate up to 16 travellers in 4 Signature Suites and 2 Signature Family Suites that are sensitively designed and outfitted with amenities, including a private plunge pool and thatched roof sala.
Opening onto the river, each suite is essentially a minimalist viewing platform with sections ‘twisted’ away from each other: a bedroom and sitting room facing east, and a bathroom, dressing room, and ‘loo-with-a-view’ toward the west. Designed to ‘float’ above the landscape and allow water to pass underneath during heavy rains and occasional flooding, the suites are constructed of prefabricated light-gauge steel frame, glass skin, natural canvas, and re-constituted hardwood railway sleepers. Handmade natural elements in the interior design, including woven reed ceilings, hand-carved wood doors and hand-stitched canvas strap detailing on the walls balance the contemporary nature of the building. Zambezi tribal elements, regional basket-ware, and woven reed products from the country’s Central Province; and tactile and earthy tones with a hint of copper and forest green all play homage to its Zambian roots. A dramatic feature of each suite is a circular13-foot diameter curtain around each bed which combines wooden beads and an embroidered mosquito net, creating a halo-like ‘cocoon’ in the room.
Additional features and public spaces of Lolebezi include a dining pavilion fashioned from reclaimed railway sleepers, with an all-day café and pizza bar offering family-style dining, including tandoori evenings and traditional barbeques.
An infinity-edge pool surrounded by comfortable loungers is set at the edge of an inlet dubbed the ‘Discovery Channel’ for its panoramic views up and down the Zambezi. Wildlife viewing is also marvellously accommodated via the ‘Circle of Light,’ a suspended circular walkway raised 23 feet into the tree canopy that affords impressive perspectives on the sunrise shimmering over the Zambezi to the southeast and the Winterthorn forest and the National Park to the northwest.
For more information or to make reservations for Lolebezi, please visit this website.
Images can be found here or via the Agent Portal (Renders only)