Sausage Tree Camp | Lower Zambezi National Park Luxury Zambia Safari Safari Lodge

The moment we touch down on the dusty airstrip we’re swept away by a warm welcome from smiling staff. They direct us to a safari vehicle that takes us through the bush to the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, and a stylish motorboat whisks us to Sausage Tree Camp’s jetty. Here we find eight white Bedouin-style tents along the riverbank, nestled under the shade of the mature sausage trees that give the camp its name. We’re drawn to an enormous teak deck that stretches from the elegantly-furnished main bar and dining room over the riverbank, just as a herd of elephant is drawn to the opposite island to drink and feed on the reeds. With the Zambezi escarpment – the southern limit of the East African Rift Valley – as its backdrop, the scene before us is picture perfect.

Sausage Tree Camp has a total of seven lovely signature suites, as well as a larger house for families; good to know, should we decide to start one! While open to the front for the best river views, we note there are wooden shutters to close at night in our suite. The large bedroom houses a huge four-poster bed and beautiful colonial-style teak furniture; the lounge area has a comfy leather couch beside a coffee table scattered with books and magazines. It’s here that I spot a pair of binoculars. Grabbing them, and a drink from the mini bar, I head onto the deck, which has a private swimming pool as well as loungers and a daybed. I choose a lounger and gaze across the river, catching sight of several kingfishers at hunt, hovering over the water’s surface. I’m so absorbed that when my partner runs up to me, grabs the binoculars out of my hands and throws me into the pool, I only let out a startled whoosh of air. I laugh as I’m followed in with a giant splash, promising all kinds of revenge. After our impromptu swim, we freshen up in the two ‘rain’ showers, thrilled to discover that we also have an enormous stone bathtub and outdoor shower to choose from. Can life get any better than this?

It would be hard to pick out any single thing that sets Sausage Tree Camp apart; rather it’s the entirety of the experience that is unforgettable. Our private butler (or ‘muchinda’) was there to take care of us every step of the way, setting out candlelit dinners, drawing us bubble baths and sprinkling the camp’s signature sausage-tree pods on our bed, like African rose petals. Our private guide helped us decide which wonderful activity to do each day, from canoeing down the Zambezi to game drives and walking safaris, and we had complete flexibility over when to leave (and when to return!). Truly special moments included a surprise bush dinner serenaded by frogs on the banks of the Zambezi, cruising among the crocodile on a sunset river cruise and seeing lion drinking at the river’s edge.

• Luxury tented camp with a 25m swimming pool and eight Bedouin-style tented suites (seven signature tents and the two-bedroom Kigelia House, each with its own plunge pool) overlooking the mighty Zambezi River.

• Exclusive location, personal butler, private guide and flexible schedules.
• Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, swimming, canoeing, boat cruises and catch-and-release tiger fishing.
• Children aged eight and above are welcome, with the two-bedroom Kigelia House available as a family suite.

• Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
• It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
• Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
• However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.