Camp under the stars on the Zambezi River, Zambia

Prologue of camp on the Zambezi river: Imagine while reading this article that you are immersed in a remote place in the world where nature shines in all its splendor; a practically unaltered natural area, one of the wildest in Africa; an enclave with dazzling panoramic views of a river that is home to infinite biological diversity. Here, as evening falls, dozens of species of animals that are impossible to see follow your every step with their gaze and smell. Be carefulo.

Look now up, to the highest, to the sky. Its nice is not it? Haven’t you ever seen anything like it? You are guarded by a pristine sky covered with millions of stars. Get close to the fire to counteract the effects of the humidity of the river and the cold of the night. Walk towards it, sit back, relax and close your eyes; Listen to the silence, interrupted only by the crackling of the fire’s flames and the powerful cries of hippos and elephants and even hyenas and lions from nearby Zimbabwe. Open them now and see the smiles of happiness and complicity on the faces of your companions.

Because there may be similar moments in life, better or worse, but never a moment like this. Every moment is unique and unrepeatable and this one that I experienced that night on one of the lost islands of the Zambezi River during my trip to zambia It is one of those that is never forgotten. And that’s why I want to tell you.

Camp on the Zambezi River

As I mentioned in the article dedicated to canoe safari along the Zambezi River, sleeping in a camp allows more direct contact with the environment and endless experiences impossible to live in a hotel. Cooking, chatting by the fire, looking at the mantle of infinite stars that make up the Milky Way, going to the latrine in the middle of the night being aware of the beings that watch over you and surround you… are experiences that always remain in the memory of those who experience them. they live.

Organization of the camp on the Zambezi River

Every morning and afternoon, when it was time for brunch, lunch and dinner, Jackson, our beloved cook, would advance our canoes with his motorboat to prepare the food and set up camp on the Zambezi River, specifically in some of the small islands along the river, a place where, among other animals, the aforementioned hippos, elephants and crocodiles come. It was curious to see how as we approached the shore with our canoe the crocodiles (not the hippos) jumped into the water to avoid contact with us.

Even though the observation of African fauna was the main attraction of the lower Zambezi, it was the sensations and experiences of the camp on the Zambezi River that captivated me most in this first part of the trip to Zambia.

Camp Amenities on the Zambezi River

The camp set up by Dens Safaristhe local agency with whom we traveled in Zambia, had all kinds of amenities.

Altogether it had four stores; one canvas one for our two Australian friends, one for us, one for our guide Cloude and one for Jackson. All the tents had mosquito nets on the side walls that helped to ventilate the interior, avoid the annoying mosquitoes (rare), hypnotize yourself with the sky of stars that surrounded you and see the ghosts of the night up close when they came to browse.

Both the interior of the Australian friends’ tent and ours had two beds (on the floor) consisting of small mats with sheets, blankets and pillows. At the foot of the bed every night they left us a towel (everything was very clean). We stored the photographic equipment and the small backpack with clothes that we were carrying inside the stores to avoid the humidity of the dew and the curiosity of those ghosts of the night mentioned.

Near the tents (usually hidden in bushes) was the latrine. Above the hole rested a handmade toilet with a lid and toilet paper nearby. On the last day they set up a sophisticated shower with hot water that I didn’t get to use (one more day or one less day without showering didn’t matter).

Next to the shops he had installed a small sink fed by water from a tank elevated on the metal structure that supported it. At one end there was a common towel, but also hand soap and a garbage bag.

Nearby was the sink, used exclusively by Jackson.

We had six seats, one for each of us, and they were placed around the fire or the table at each meal.

Delicious Jackson’s food

It was a real pleasure to taste the delicious food prepared by Jackson. Breakfast consisted of fried eggs, bacon, toast, cereal and beans. For brunch we had cookies and some pastries. For lunch and dinner we had a single, very abundant dish, consisting of meat or fish, rice, pasta, sausages and raw or grilled vegetables that we served ourselves over and over again (self-service).

For dessert we always had apple. For breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, we were served a variety of fruit juices as well as coffee (soluble) and tea. Water and beers were not included, so we bought them in advance at the Kiambi Safari Lodge (the starting point of the canoe safari) and kept them in a refrigerator that they provided to us to keep them fresh.

The magic of the night under millions of stars

The most magical moment came every night after dinner. Sitting around the fire, at the mercy of everyone’s smile and guarded by millions of stars, it is quite a spectacle to look up at the sky to see the Milky Way in all its splendor while listening to the sounds of nature.

In the morning, it is a joy to wake up immersed in an environment with such exuberant nature full of life.

Of course, first we had to gain strength with our coffee, our explosive beans, our toast and our slices of bacon. It was time to break camp and continue with the adventure.

The experience of sleeping in a camp on the Zambezi river of these characteristics is something that is very worthwhile. It was without a doubt the finishing touch to the beginning of a new trip through Africa that would become one of the greatest experiences of my life. If you dare to experience something like this, keep in mind that you may begin to suffer from the so-called “African disease”, a sweet, painless but terrible disease that affects travelers who are fascinated by the natural beauties of the most incredible biological heritage in the world. world. If you suffer from it like I do, you will want to return again and again to this continent that treasures the family tree of humanity.

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