Kaingo Camp
Riverside chalets · Luangwa and Mwamba confluence, 24 km from Mfuwe gate · Shenton Safaris
A drawing, because nobody has sent us a photograph of Kaingo Camp yet. Send five and this page changes the same week.
Top-end
Inside the park
Owner/family-run
Derek Shenton is the third generation of his family in this valley, and he builds the hides himself. The Hippo Hide is cut into the riverbank so you sit at water level among hundreds of hippo; the BBC, National Geographic and Discovery have all filmed from it. No other camp in Africa offers this.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best photographic hide network in Africa
- Hippo Hide sits at eye level with hippos
- Elephant Hide above an ancient river crossing
- Third-generation Zambian family still runs the camp
- Filmed by the BBC, National Geographic and Discovery
Cons
- No public rates; budget roughly $900 to $1,100 at peak
- Major renovations planned for late 2026 into 2027
- Two to two and a half hours from Mfuwe airport
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. South Luangwa National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entry$25 if you are in an operator vehicle instead of self-driving.
- $30per person, per day
- VehicleUnder 3 tonnes, foreign registered.
- $15per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $225 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
There is no single park fee here. On top of the gate fee, camps pass on vehicle fees, guide fees and bed levies, and what applies depends on whether the camp sits inside the national park or in the Game Management Area alongside it. Kafunta Safaris, who charge one combined figure covering the government levies, told us it comes to $60 per person per night at their two GMA camps and $90 at their camp inside the park. Treat that as the shape of it rather than a universal rate: the amounts move with each operator's lease.
The full fee schedule for South Luangwa National ParkRates at Kaingo Camp
On request. Shenton publishes no public rates; expect roughly $900 to $1,100 in peak season. Major renovations planned for late 2026 into 2027.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Indicative 2026 rates from operators' own rate cards, gathered July 2026. Rates change by season and year, so always confirm with the lodge. Park fees are extra almost everywhere: budget about $30 per person per day, plus vehicle fees.
Questions about Kaingo Camp
Is Kaingo Camp good for families?
Kaingo's own site did not return usable content when we checked, and we found no minimum age or child policy stated in the park record either. With six chalets for around twelve guests, ask Shenton Safaris directly about family suitability before booking.
Can you self-drive to Kaingo Camp?
This isn't confirmed by Kaingo's own site, which did not load for us. The record lists a two to two-and-a-half-hour drive from Mfuwe airport, which points to a fly-in trip with a lodge transfer rather than guests arriving in their own vehicle. Ask Shenton Safaris to confirm.
How much does Kaingo Camp cost?
Shenton Safaris does not publish rates. The park's own record estimates roughly $900 to $1,100 per person per night in peak season, but this is an estimate rather than a confirmed price, so contact the camp directly for current figures before budgeting.
What makes Kaingo Camp's hides special?
Owner Derek Shenton, the third generation of his family in the valley, builds the hides himself. The Hippo Hide is cut into the riverbank so guests sit at water level among hundreds of hippo, a setup the BBC, National Geographic and Discovery have all filmed from.
When is Kaingo Camp open?
The camp's season runs 17 May to 5 November, according to the park record. Major renovations are planned for late 2026 into 2027, so check with Shenton Safaris whether building work affects the dates or rooms available for your trip.