Chongwe House
Lower Zambezi, Zambia
Your Private River Sanctuary in the Wild Heart of Zambia
On a tranquil stretch of the Chongwe River, where the water bends beneath a mountainous backdrop, Chongwe House offers a rare privilege in Zambia‘s Lower Zambezi: an entire safari residence, exclusively yours. Elephants wade across the shallows in full view of the terrace, fish eagles call overhead, and a resident family of warthogs graze the lawns each morning, setting the rhythm for a stay unhurried by anything but the wild itself.
Recently reimagined, the house pairs earthy tones with organic, curved architectural lines that echo the undulating landscape around it. Fresh, neutral interiors bring a contemporary sensibility to the space, while an effortless indoor-outdoor flow draws the eye, and the body, constantly back toward the river beyond. It is a design that honours its setting as much as its guests.
Across two storeys, four en-suite bedrooms open onto private balconies and open-air bathtubs, each fitted with eco-friendly Evening Breeze cooling for restful nights beneath the Zambezi sky. Indoor and outdoor showers blur the line between shelter and wilderness, while spacious lounges, both covered and open to the elements, invite long afternoons spent watching the river drift by.
As evening approaches, the boma comes alive around its fire-pit, and the outdoor kitchen, with its pizza oven and open-flame barbecue, sets the stage for interactive dining beneath the stars. By day, private game drives, walking safaris, canoeing and seasonal tiger fishing lead guests deep into a landscape shared by lions, leopards, wild dog and over 370 species of birds, before returning each time to the quiet luxury of a home entirely their own.
You will love
- Sole-use house for total privacy
- Private pool overlooking the river
- Open-air bathtubs & showers
- Pizza oven & open-flame barbecue
- Dedicated guide & culinary team
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.
Judith & Roger Williams
Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
The McGowan Tribe
It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.
Jo-anne & Dean Mifsud
The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.
Annette Whiley
Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10
Di & Kingsley Yates
Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.
Ron & Alison Guthrie
If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.
Miriam & Joseph Harrison
Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.
Andrew & Pip Stevens
Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!
Ros Wheeler
Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.
Simon & Jackie Adams
The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.
Emma Jeffcoat
You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!
Buckingham Family
Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.
Tim Bradley
Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!
Jane & Robert Happell
Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Paul Cozzi
An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!
Sheryl & Robert Taylor
We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!
Laurence & Remi Cunningham
Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.
Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones
The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.
Rowntree family
We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.
Kim & Brad Balance
Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.
Milford family
We wanted the opportunity to see as many wildlife parks as possible and the Classic Safari Company provided an action-packed itinerary that included six, with 11 tiger sightings and nine leopard. This was overlaid with an introduction to Jaisalmer, Jaipur and the 'real' India. Pench and Panna were the hidden gems of a really great trip, very well organised, seamless and enjoyable. As a solo traveller I felt incredibly safe at all times. I want to go back!
Mark Taylor
Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.
Elizabeth Mackintosh
Thank you for putting together the ancestral adventure of a lifetime. I cannot speak highly enough of the trip.
Jenny Kidd