Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp, South Luangwa

Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp offers guests an authentic tented safari holiday in Zambia. The South Luangwa is one of the country's best areas for game viewing and bird spotting. The region is home to 60 mammals - including elephant, lion, wild dog, buffalo, hippo and, of course, antelope - as well as over 400 bird species.

Spend  an afternoon relaxing in the camp's large living area in between thrilling game drives or walking safaris. You might even hear the Puku antelope whistling to one other when danger threatens. The central dining area produces gourmet meals, despite being so far away from a city. Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp is designed to leave no trace on the environment and has embraced a very natural kind of African chic in its decor.

The seven tents are spacious and comfortable, each with a soothing hot tub and an outdoor shower shaded by trees and stocked with luscious and environmentally friendly Africology products. Watch the sun rise from your double bed, or spot animals making their way across the plains to a waterhole from your private viewing deck.

walking safaris

Walking is the best way to see the bush around Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp. Sanctuary’s experienced guides love showing guests the indicators of the wild, ‘rewinding’ the action of the last few hours from just a few small give away signs. See where an elephant stopped to browse, where a leopard scratched a tree or a pangolin rolled into a ball. Accompanied by an armed game scout and taking careful note of the wind to mask any scent. There’s nothing like seeing lion tracks or the giant footprint of an elephant to make guests relish the comforts of camp. The area is home to 60 mammals and over 400 bird species, making it one of the top birding destinations in the world.

game drives

Lions and leopards are often seen in the area around the camp, as are buffalo and elephant. For big game like this, guests really need a vehicle to get up close and here in the South Luangwa, travellers have the privilege of going on game drives at night. Guests are always amazed how much can be seen when they go down to the river for sundowner cocktails before leisurely driving back to camp. Bush babies in the trees stand out with their enormous eyes, puku and impala scarcely notice as vehicles pass by. Guests often see hyena and leopard in the early evenings and are able to get very close in Sanctuary Retreats’ specially designed 4 x 4 vehicles. On the open plains below the camp there are always grazing herds of antelope and of course they attract the predators that every guest wants to see.

The nearest airport to Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp is Mfuwe. You can fly into Mfuwe from Lusaka (1 hour), Livingstone (2 hours, via Lusaka), Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu airstrip (1 hour 40 minutes) and Jeki/Royal Zambezi airstrips (1 hour 30 minutes). The transfer time from Mfuwe airport to Sanctuary Puku Ridge is approximately 2 hours in 4X4 vehicles (45 minute road transfer, followed by 1 hour 15 minute gravel road transfer with game viewing possibilities). Please note the luggage restriction is 15kg per person in a soft-sided bag.