Specializing in safaris to Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, The Bushcamp Company has launched KuKaya: a completely new and first-of-its-kind offering that redefines the traditional safari experience.
Ideally situated just inside the gates of South Luangwa National Park, KuKaya is located on the grounds of former President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda’s holiday home, and boasts six spacious thatched-roof chalets, each with its own private plunge pool, kitchen, and indoor and outdoor gathering & dining areas. A hallmark of the KuKaya experience is the opportunity for al-fresco living, with guests allowed to prepare their own meals at their leisure with assistance from their chalet’s very own dedicated host; as such, each chalet has its own private outdoor dining area and expansive deck overlooking KuKaya’s permanent waterholes, outfitted with a barbecue, firepit, and pizza oven.
Featuring an elevated residential feel throughout, KuKaya’s chalets are modern, spacious, and airy, allowing guests to feel both at home, and at one with the pristine bush surrounding them. KuKaya’s open-air design and innovative concept encourage guests to relish in South Luangwa’s slower pace of life and enjoy leisurely afternoons of rare wildlife sightings from the comfort and privacy of their own private villas, with elephants, leopards, lions, warthogs, and more all frequently spotted within camp.
The Bushcamp Company, with a view to democratize the safari experience and encourage groups and families to travel to Zambia, created this ‘build your own’ safari offering as entirely unique to KuKaya, and not seen anywhere else in the safari industry. Guests pay a base rate that covers accommodation, the daily servicing of their rooms, one private drive per unit per day, and a personal host, who will service the room and assist with meal preparation and service. Everything else, from food to additional activities and excursions, is selected and paid for on an à la carte basis, allowing for the ultimate in flexibility.
For meals, guests can visit The Deli, which offers a selection of pre-prepared starters, mains, and desserts, as well as freshly-prepared meals ranging from rotisserie chickens and salads, to homemade breads and cakes. There is also a selection of in-room dining experiences, such as a Barbecue or a Curry Night, featuring three-course meals served by a chef in your own unit. The decision is completely up to the guest, and what their needs and timetable are on any given day.
Each day presents new adventure and opportunity. Highlights of the KuKaya experience include scenic al fresco dining and socializing at The Boma – a large outdoor seating area located steps away from The Deli – game drives, walking safaris, wildlife viewing at KuKaya’s two hides, spa treatments, sundowners, and more, with guests given freedom of choice as to how they’d like to structure and spend their time.
“A safari is a truly special type of trip, and even more so for travelers when they’re given the freedom to choose their activities and dining options, and schedule them as they please,” said Andy Hogg, founder of The Bushcamp Company. “KuKaya is designed with the modern-day traveler in mind: someone who is seeking transformation through travel and craves flexibility and freedom, with the emphasis on choice, flexibility, and privacy in all aspects of the experience – the accommodation, the dining, and the game-viewing. Our hope with KuKaya is to reinvigorate the safari industry and inspire new adventurers to embark on a life changing journey with The Bushcamp Company.”
KuKaya is located 45 minutes by vehicle from Mfuwe International Airport, and just a few minutes by vehicle from The Bushcamp Company’s Mfuwe Lodge. Set inside the main gate of South Luangwa National Park, KuKaya is open all year-round, with guests of all ages welcome.
