I loved this lodge! The staff were some of the warmest and well-trained staff I have ever encountered. Great team ambience where they made you feel like family. Their location was excellent as can explore to the north of the Park, but even after the start of the summer rains (as when we visited in November), we could traverse the central area to the south.
Even though it was mid-November (and after the rains), we had pretty good game-viewing with lion, elephant, sable. It was joyful to see so many young wildlife at the start of the summer rains (birthing season) including a hours-old elephant and a minutes-old baby puku.
We also enjoyed a stunning bush brunch at a pretty ox-bow lagoon, and of course the majestic Ebony trees of the South Luangwa.
Accommodation
I really liked the treetop ambience of the tented suites, with enough luxury that you can team it with the likes of Sausage Tree. The front and sides of the tent can be completely opened up, so it feels very much like a luxurious treehouse. There’s eco-friendly ‘’Air-breeze’’ for cooling (very effective), separate toilet, bathroom, and dressing area behind the bed. Plus a sunken bath in the suite and an outdoor shower off the main deck.
We all want to do our bit for both the environment and for ensuring that local communities are benefitting from our tourism dollar. BUT… we also want to have a great safari!
Green Safaris is completely orientated around the powerful idea that these are NOT mutually exclusive. And that in fact your enjoyment of a safari can be enhanced by enjoying it in an ecologically sustainable/’’green’’ way. So they operate electric land-cruisers which make for an amazing quiet game drive where you can listen to the sounds of the bush more easily. Loved the Electric land-cruisers!
Shawa Lodge is approx. 1 hour from Mfuwe via the villages direct to the lodge. But this route is not possible after rains. So we did the 1.5+ hour route into the main park gates and up through the park.
It’s named after one of Zambia’s finest guides, Jacob Shawa, who guided us when we were there. What an amazing guy with a great knowledge and a quiet way of imparting it, with his deep sonorous voice. (If he ever wanted a side hustle, he could easily do voice-overs for commercials.) However please note he is not always there as he sometimes does private safaris throughout Zambia.
Practical Comments
•4 tented rooms on platforms in amongst the treetops
•One comprises two linked platforms to make a family unit for 4 people
•Great main areas with beautiful views over the Luangwa floodplains
•Large swimming pool
• Wifi in main areas and rooms
• Only operator in South Luangwa to have Electric land-cruisers so your game drive is almost silent. (Cannot always be guaranteed)
• Game drives, bush walks, plus they often combine bush walks and game drives
