Tena Tena
Luxury tents · Nsefu Sector, double-tiered riverbank · Robin Pope Safaris
Top-end
Inside the park
Safari company
One of the valley's classics, rebuilt on a fresh site for 2026. It sits in the Nsefu Sector where vehicle numbers are low, so sightings feel private in a way the Mfuwe area cannot always match.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Completely rebuilt on a new site for 2026
- Low vehicle density in the quiet Nsefu Sector
- Dedicated honeymoon suite among the tents
- Second child under 16 stays free
- Evening breeze air conditioning in every tent
Cons
- Minimum age twelve, so young children can't come
- Limited wifi and no cellphone reception
- Park entry fees charged separately
- Only open 22 May to 31 October
What's here
- Campsite
Arranged from the lodge:
- Guided walks
- Birding
- Fishing
Read from Tena Tena's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
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 Tena Tena
From $885 pppn. Up to $1,150 in peak season. Completely rebuilt on a new site for 2026.
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 Tena Tena
Is Tena Tena good for families?
Partly. Children aged twelve and over are welcome, with a free stay for a second child under sixteen, but there is no provision for younger children. The newly rebuilt 2026 camp suits older family groups and couples more than families with toddlers.
Is Tena Tena good for a honeymoon?
Yes. The camp has a dedicated honeymoon suite among its eight tents, sits in the quieter Nsefu Sector where vehicle numbers stay low, and was completely rebuilt on a new site for the 2026 season, so it is in fresh condition for a special trip.
What does the rate at Tena Tena include?
The rate is inclusive of accommodation, activities, meals and the bar, with park entry fees charged separately. Guests staying more than seven nights across Robin Pope Safaris properties also qualify for a long-stay discount on top of the seasonal rate.
When is Tena Tena open?
Tena Tena runs a single season each year, from 22 May to 31 October. Outside those dates the camp is closed, so a visit to the rebuilt 2026 camp needs to fall inside that window.
Can you self-drive to Tena Tena?
No self-drive route is published. Tena Tena sits in the Nsefu Sector, reached via Mfuwe Airport, with Robin Pope Safaris handling the transfer from there. Access is built around flying in rather than arriving by your own vehicle.