Tailor made

Homemade food (some of the best steaks in Zambia, we’ve heard), a passionate management and staff, a stunning location, and all this without costing you an arm and a leg. Is it too good to be true? Not at all! The staff at Flatdogs Camps made it their mission to create an unforgettable safari that is accessible for everyone. And don’t worry, that lower cost doesn’t mean poor quality. All of their guides passed the challenging South Luangwa Guide Exam and are held to a very high standard. They can’t wait to show you the diverse world of mammals both big and small, birds, trees, fresh tracks, insects, fish, and much more. Are you ready to discover about nine thousand square kilometers (3,475 square miles) of pristine wilderness in Zambia’s Eastern Province? The remote quality of this National park, the opportunity to organise walking safaris, and the incredible day or evening game drives, make this destination truly unique. In between safari activities, there is plenty to discover in the camp, too. Look over the murky and mysterious Luangwa River from the Jackalberry tree house and see if you can spot an actual ‘flat dog,’ which is another word for crocodile (this location used to be a crocodile farm) or count the elephants crossing the river. You can also choose to just take a plunge in the pool and doze off afterwards on one of the comfortable lounge chairs. You’ll find that this camp will match your pace, however fast or slow you want to go.

The camp boasts six luxurious en-suite safari tents (including one family tent), one honeymoon tent (romantic star-gazing, anyone?) and three, slightly smaller, standard en-suite safari tents (offering a cheaper, but still comfortable option). Besides tents, there are six regular stone-made chalets and one bigger family chalet. The luxurious tents are spacious enough for full-sized beds, hanging rack for clothes, and bedside tables and lamps. A door leads into a shaded open-air bathroom with hot shower, flush toilet and basin. The honeymoon tent looks out onto a lovely lagoon, where elephants come to mud-bathe and giraffe, bushbuck and puku enjoy a drink. The three standard en-suite safari tents come with river views, have full sized beds, mosquito nets, hanging rack for clothes and an open air bathroom with a hot shower, flush toilet and basin. The six regular chalet rooms will keep you cool, since they are made of stone, and come with a downstairs double room with en-suite bathroom and an upstairs twin/triple room with their own bathroom, just downstairs from the bedroom. The two rooms in each building are completely separate with their own facilities, but can be joined through the small kitchen area if a family or group of friends want to book both rooms. Both rooms have their own downstairs gauzed-in verandah sitting area.

Activities at Flatdogs Camp

It is time for an early rise! The morning drive leaves the camp around six a.m. when the air is not too hot and animals are gathering their morning breakfast. Each drive or walk is accompanied by a fully-qualified guide, and the drives are in a fully-equipped 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser. Between 1st June and 31st October each year (and for a few weeks either side, depending on rainfall) the camp offers walking safaris as well. This is your chance to get a more detailed view of the park ecology and wildlife, as well as to dive more deeply into tracking game on foot, either using spoor or with a little help from birds and animals who “alarm” in the presence of predators. Fascinating! Walks usually last for three-four hours and are commonly taken in the morning when it’s cooler. Last but not least, another popular option is an All Day Drive (minimum of four guests). You are sent out with a yummy picnic for lunch, your Safari Guide and a ZAWA Scout, and in between the drives, there’s plenty of time to stop and stretch your legs with some walking too. After every drive, you can pick what you want for lunch or dinner in the a-la carte restaurant, with a lot of dishes made from scratch (think: bread, nachos, a fiery chilli sauce and a tangy chutney) and fresh veggies from the garden. So at Flatdog, a safari pretty much feels tailor-made for you, and all that for a very reasonable price.

Tripadvisor comments Flatdogs Camp

Dazzle Africa safari guests stayed at Flatdogs for 4 nights and had a fantastic experience. Managers Jess, Ade and Paolo were attentive and made sure that our guest's needs were met. Wildlife surrounded the property. Food was excellent...we couldn't have asked for more.

StacyJames from Las Vegas, Nevada

Beautiful setting, high quality accommodation, and outstanding service. Attention to detail in every possible respect. The food is superb, with a wide range of specials. Went with my girlfriend and another couple. Game viewing was great, with a variety of riverside landscapes. Lots of animals in the lodge grounds at night. We couldn't have asked for more from first to last. All staff thoughtful and courteous.

Willam E from London, UK