Written by Sean Messham
It’s something of an inside joke at Ubuntu Travel that when Co-founder Kyle Green and I head off on safari to explore new destinations and experience select lodges, it’s less of a work trip and more of a bro-mance. And truthfully, they’re not entirely wrong – there’s plenty of banter. But behind the laughs, our conversations often go deep: we compare notes, challenge each other’s impressions, and sometimes debate fiercely. Why? Because truly understanding a lodge – where it fits, who it’s right for, and when to recommend it – requires more than a beautiful view and your coffee of choice.
Above Image: Co-founder Kyle Green taking a video to share with his daughters back in California, USA.
This blog post is more than just a lodge review of African Bush Camp Lolebezi. It’s a glimpse into our time on the ground, our first impressions, and the personal reflections that shape how we design tailor-made safaris for you. We hope you enjoy this honest look at our experience at Lolebezi – banter included.
Ok, firstly, where is Lolebezi?
African Bush Camps’ Lolebezi is located on the northern bank of the Zambezi River, inside Zambia’s untouched and unmatched Lower Zambezi National Park. Just 10 minutes from Jeki Airstrip, Lolebezi is set on five private hectares of wilderness, with an incredible one kilometer of exclusive river frontage.
Regional Map: curtesy of African Bush Camps
The result? You’ll enjoy uninterrupted views from your expansive suite, complete with a private deck and plunge pool overlooking the river. The atmosphere of seclusion and exclusivity rivals that of private concessions in South Africa or Botswana. It’s simply magical.
Looks and Feels: take a peek at the rooms and guest area
If you’re someone like me who loves a good view, then the rooms at Lolebezi will blow you away before you’ve even stepped inside. Organically positioned along the banks of the Zambezi River, each eco-friendly suite offers private, uninterrupted views of this iconic river.
Step inside, and your solar-powered, air-conditioned suite blends African heritage with contemporary design. Naturally, your bed faces the river, leading onto a private deck and plunge pool – but it’s the bathroom where space becomes your most luxurious accessory. It’s quite outstanding. Ladies… take note of the shower and the bathtub. Take a look.
The main guest area (which, by the way, you’ll reach via golf cart) welcomes you with warm hospitality, open-plan spaces that frame the river at every turn, expansive decks, and sunken firepits. In terms of décor, “tasteful opulence” comes to mind. But what Kyle and I couldn’t get over is that the lodge has been open for over two years… and it still felt like we were at its grand opening. Not a single sign of wear or tired edges. The lodge was immaculate.
Having lived and worked in the Sabi Sands and Kruger for over five years, I can tell you – there’s only one way a lodge stays this fresh: the pride its teams have in it. And this is where Lolebezi’s luxury is grounded – the staff were incredible, and it showed in every detail.
Below Image: Cheers to bartender Desmond who decided to mix up a now newly named – Ubuntu Cocktail – it had a kick for sure!
Taste and aromas: the meals at the lodge
Admittedly, Kyle and I are not food connoisseurs. However, if you overcook my steak, serve average wine, and offer an experience that doesn’t complement the region – we both get rather despondent, and quickly. Fortunately, luxury safaris have worked tirelessly to ensure this is almost never the case. In fact, I’d be genuinely surprised if you don’t have some of your best meals while on safari.
What continues to impress me is the level of detail and culinary excellence achieved in such remote settings. Safari camps have mastered this balance, and Lolebezi is no different – serving exquisite dishes, beautifully presented, with a few delightful surprises thrown in.
We were staying at Lolebezi for just two nights, and with a Boma visible, we expected a rather standard setup: an evening of roasted vegetables, barbecued meats (in what I consider a classic South African braai), fresh salads, and plenty of options for those with dietary requirements.
We were quite wrong…
The first night, we enjoyed a Boma with an Indian cuisine theme – bold – and what a surprise to see Tandoori cooking! The chef’s presentation put it all into context, noting Zambia’s significant Indian heritage, primarily from the Gujarati community that moved over during the colonial era. Fascinating – and such a brilliant way to bring culture and history to the table.
The lodge also understands that guests appreciate home comforts. So there are options like oven-baked pizzas and familiar comfort foods. And with various dining locations throughout the lodge – whether communal or private – it’s all up to you.
Safari Experience: Wildlife, Guiding & Game Drives
Having been a guide in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park, I take the safari game drive experience rather seriously. Of course, while Kyle and I enjoy our game drives, we also observe closely – making sure we’re fully immersed in the experience. But behind closed doors, usually with a cold beer in hand, we debrief. We discuss everything from a guide’s personality and interpretive skill to local knowledge, safety standards, and ethical practices.
Below Image: our game drive crew enjoying a morning coffee break while our guide Elijah takes the time to explain a few more events on drive.
At Lolebezi, you can expect a wake-up call – with coffee – at 5:00 AM. Around 5:30 AM, your guide arrives to collect you. You’ll have time to sit around a warm firepit, enjoy another cup of coffee, and nibble on a light breakfast while waiting for the other guests. It’s a perfect moment to clear your head, listen to the morning bird chorus, and possibly chat with your guide or the general manager about any questions or concerns. For Kyle, he uses the time to catch-up on a few client emails. It is a work trip after all…
I could start describing the towering ana trees, acacia forests, and expansive riverine landscapes. And they were beautiful. But what I couldn’t get over was the density of game. For the beginning of safari season (May), I can honestly say there wasn’t a single moment when I wasn’t looking at an animal. Impalas and waterbuck were as common as the trees. Elephant bulls and breeding herds appeared so frequently we stopped pointing them out. And then came the predators… it felt like we were just connecting dots from one leopard to the next, and moving from pride to pride.
At one stage, I pointed out a group of ground hornbills – a rare sighting in South Africa – and our guide laughed: “Oh, those birds? Ja, Sean, we’ll see plenty of them here.” And that was just the beginning of the season… it’s only going to get better from June to October. I was shocked. Honestly, it was the most frequent and game-dense safari I’ve experienced in Southern Africa.
And then came the night drives. This was easily Kyle’s standout moment: we saw genets, civets, honey badgers, leopards, lions… we got it all.
Leopards at Lolebezi — A Surprise Factor for Us!
We know that South Luangwa is known as “The Valley of the Leopard”, and honestly, we expected to see many leopards there (which we did… more on that in our next blog post). But the leopard viewing in the Lower Zambezi can easily – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – compare with, if not surpass, the leopard sightings in South Africa’s renowned Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. A bold statement, I know… but I’ll stand by it.
Now that I’ve said it out loud, let me explain why the sightings here are so special. Leopards are often described as elusive – ghost-like in their ability to completely disappear. Having tracked leopards on foot in both the Sabi Sands and Kruger, I can tell you: if a leopard doesn’t want to be seen, you won’t see it. Period.
But the leopards we saw in the Lower Zambezi were different. They were so relaxed – walking right past our vehicle, sleeping in trees without twitching a whisker as we chatted and photographed them. The guides knew their territories, shared their backstories, and interpreted their behavior with nuance. Much like in the Sabi Sands, you didn’t just see the animal – you understood it.
But what about the no off-roading policy?
You might wonder: with no off-roading allowed inside the National Park, does that limit the experience? In our case, not at all. Like every safari, we only caught a glimpse of what’s possible. But even in that short window, we saw six different leopards in just two days – each moving naturally and giving us spectacular sightings.
And strangely, I liked the idea that these leopards had the space – and the freedom – to leave us whenever they wanted. There was something beautifully respectful, almost romantic, in that dynamic.
How many vehicles are allowed at a sighting?
Being a National Park, there are no set limits like those enforced in private reserves. That’s something to consider – occasionally, there may be a build-up of vehicles if a leopard hasn’t been seen for a while. But what we observed at Lolebezi was a quiet, unspoken agreement among the guides – a gentleman’s code not to overcrowd leopard sightings. And the truth is, they didn’t need to. The guides seemed quietly confident in their leopard territory.
So how relaxed are these leopards, really?
Honestly, the individuals we saw were just as habituated to vehicles as those in the Sabi Sands. No signs of stress, no fleeing into the bush – just calm, composed behavior. That only happens when animals are treated with the utmost respect, and it speaks volumes about the ethical guiding practices in the Lower Zambezi. The below image: a male leopard came and sat right in front of the lodge while we were having breakfast, incredible!
The Wild Dog Encounter – A Lesson in Guiding Ethics
Let’s go back to talking about guiding – because for us at Ubuntu Travel, guiding is one of the most critical pillars of what makes a luxury safari truly exceptional. You can stay at the most opulent lodge in Africa, but if the guiding misses the mark, the entire safari experience suffers. It really is that important. But instead of telling you, let me show you. It’s story time…
Wild Dogs!
Just as we thought our morning drive was winding down, we struck gold – a pack of wild dogs! Our guide Elijah and trainee guide Eli both breathed a visible sigh of relief. They knew this was exactly what Kyle was hoping for – wild dogs are his favourite animal on safari.
Because it was late in the morning, however, the dogs were settled under the shade, clearly showing no signs of moving until the cooler hours of the afternoon. So, we observed them quietly for a while, enjoyed the moment with our Swarovski binoculars, and headed back to the lodge.
On the drive home, Elijah spoke with everyone in the vehicle and proposed that we return in the afternoon to try our luck again. We all agreed. There was a plan – and we were invested. So, we left a little earlier that afternoon since the dogs were quite a distance from the lodge.
The Afternoon Return
When we got there – unfortunately but also understandably – a number of vehicles from other operators had the same idea. What we arrived to was a horseshoe cluster of vehicles surrounding the wild dogs. A sad reality, but a familiar one when it comes to viewing on of Africa’s most endangered carnivores in a National Park setting: sometimes vehicle congestion becomes a problem. This is where Elijah really showed his experience – and his unwavering commitment to ethical guiding.
He turned to us and said:
“I’m not going to go any closer. Let’s give them space. This is the only pack we know is in the area – so let’s wait for the others to leave. Are we all happy with that plan?”
We all agreed. Without hesitation.
So we parked at a distance and observed the dogs through our binoculars while over six other vehicles came and went – Kyle quietly taking note of who was crowding and who wasn’t.
And then, like clockwork, the vehicles thinned out. One by one, they left. Only once every other vehicle had exited the sighting did Elijah gently approach. The result? A completely private, intimate sighting of the pack – with the wild dogs walking right up to investigate our vehicle. It was bold. It was respectful. And it was unforgettable.
The Bigger Picture
Sharing a safari experience in a National Park – especially during a high-profile sighting like wild dogs – can sometimes mean encountering a cluster of vehicles. It’s not ideal. But this is exactly where ethical guiding matters most. What Elijah demonstrated that day was the kind of measured judgment and animal-first thinking that defines great guiding. He gave the dogs space, he read the vehicle, managed our expectations and he ensured our experience wasn’t at the expense of the wildlife’s comfort.
Of course, some might argue that all vehicles should leave the sighting altogether. But in a landscape this open, and with such a rare and endangered species, I felt the approach Elijah took was a fair and thoughtful compromise.
Above Image: African Bush Camp guide Elijah and trainee Eli joining a successful game drive while setting up our coffee break.
Why Lolebezi should be your choice:
I can confidently say that when we tailor-make a safari in the Lower Zambezi, our Travel Design team will almost always try to include African Bush Camps’ Lolebezi. The lodge’s position along the Zambezi River offers incredible private views, with wildlife often seen moving between the main area and guest rooms – a rare treat in such a luxurious setting.
We can’t speak highly enough about the integrity of the Lolebezi team, and this is reflected in the lodge’s fresh, contemporary opulence. And when you consider it’s fully solar-powered, equipped with waste management systems, and built using recycled materials, it’s clear that this lodge is as eco-conscious as it is indulgent.
Combine the breathtaking riverscapes with the abundance of wildlife and a rich mix of safari activities – canoe safaris, catch-and-release fishing, Zambezi River cruises, big game walking safaris, and twice-daily game drives – and you’ve got an all-round safari experience that hasn’t let one pillar of luxury slip.
We love her – and we know you will too.
Let us Suggest this Zambia Itinerary
Suggested 8-Day Safari in Zambia
Zambia is ideal for those seeking a more personal safari – fewer crowds, slower mornings, and a deeper connection to nature. Begin at Victoria Falls, where the spray of “The Smoke That Thunders” sets the tone for your adventure. Drift along the Zambezi River on a canoe safari, explore the Lower Zambezi by game drive or boat, and stay in warm, welcoming camps set right in the wild.
Then head to South Luangwa, one of Africa’s top parks for walking safaris and big cat sightings. This is a safari for travelers who value space, silence, and the sense that nature is all around.
Best Time to Visit Lolebezi:
The dry season (June to October) is considered the best time for game viewing, as wildlife densities increase around the Zambezi River and visibility improves with thinning vegetation. This period is also peak season for predator sightings – including leopard, lion, and wild dog – thanks to cooler temperatures and easier tracking conditions during game drives and walking safaris. The shoulder months (April–May and November) offer a quieter experience, with lush landscapes and excellent birdwatching.
Our Favourite Lolebezi Experiences:
- Twice Daily Game Drives
- Big Game Walking Safaris
- Canoe Safaris
- Wellness and Spa Treatment centre
- Catch-and-release Fishing
- River Cruises
- Incredible Leopard Viewing
Back to the Lodge Basics Quickly
Country: Zambia
Location: Lower Zambezi National Park
Lodge Facilities: Swimming pool; lounge and dining area; panoramic views; library; games room; gym and spa
Number of Rooms: 6 luxury suites (1 luxury villa and family suite )
Room facilities: en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers; private plunge pool; private deck; mini bar; tea & coffee station and air-conditioning
Family Friendly: Yes with a dedicated child Ngwana Club program
Wifi: Yes – reliable in your room
Safari Activities: Big Game Viewing (no rhino); Walking safaris; Canoeing; Catch-and-release fishing; Sunset Cruises; Gym & Wellness Centre
Game Viewing: Elephant; lion; leopard; wild dog; cheetah; buffalo; hippos; giraffe; variety of antelopes; crocodiles and 378 species of birds (notably – giraffe are absent in this area due to terrain and topography).
Ready to Plan Your Safari?
If you’re thinking of planning a trip, we’re here to help! Our team of travel designers will create an itinerary just for you to create memories to last a lifetime and conquer your bucket list. Get in touch with us today to start planning your adventure in Africa.
