SAUSAGE TREE CAMP
ON THE BANKS OF THE ZAMBEZI RIVER
Sausage Tree Camp is located in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park’s best game viewing area, just off the northern bank of the Zambezi River nestled within groves of mature sausage, mahogany and acacia trees. The camp overlooks an expanse of narrow channels and low set reed islands teeming with birds and game, with the magnificent Zambezi escarpment as the backdrop. This is a safari camp where one can experience true African wildernesses. This camp, with a capacity of only 16 guests, offer a genuinely intimate safari experience of extremely high standards.
Sausage Tree Camp is open April through November.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The five luxurious Bedouin-style tents are generously spaced facing the Zambezi River bank, allowing elephants and other wildlife to amble between. Each tent has a unique open-air en-suite bathroom, a distinct Sausage Tree Camp trademark. Sliding teak doors open onto private decks with views of an expanse of narrow side channels of the Zambezi River. One can awake to see hippos and elephants out of the fronts of the tents.
Two enormous Honeymoon Suites each boast indoor and outdoor bathrooms, dining areas, bars and a king-size beds overlooking the private pools set into the large teak decks.
Kigelia House is the perfect choice for small groups or families. This has two en-suite bedrooms separated by an open plan living area leading onto the private deck and pool.
Local materials create a comfortable, minimalistic style in which the teak furniture, including four-poster beds, contrast with pure white fabrics and flowing mosquito nets.
Each tent has its own personal Muchinda (butler) to attend to ones every whim.
A common open-air dining room and comfortable bar area, a 25m lap-pool and deck are idyllically situated on the edge of the riverbank. The views are peaceful, relaxing and unforgettable. Sausage Tree Camp lavishes one with attention to both service and the smallest of details.
Dining
Imagine dining on the banks of the Zambezi, to the chorus of laughing hippopotamus and croaking frogs. The rich natural beauty of the setting radiates all around, allowing guests to enjoy a splendid meal while being serenaded by the sounds of the African evening. The night may well include the silhouette of wildlife provided by the brilliance of the moon. The superb African fusion cuisine made from the freshest ingredients is enjoyed in surprising locations under the Stars of Zambia, prepared and served in a candlelit atmosphere. While not being a formal affair, most guests prefer to dine together at the host’s table sharing adventures and sightings of the day. For those preferring a private, romantic dinner for two, the staff will gladly set a private table and light a campfire in front of once tent.
ACTIVITIES
Sausage Tree Camp offers a wide range of personalized wildlife adventures from both day and night game drives; walking safaris; canoeing and boating safaris as well as light tackle sport fishing for the world-renowned Tiger fish. With personalized guiding one is entirely free to set the pace of the day, including the type and duration of each activity.
Fishing
The immense Zambezi River is home to some of the most spectacular freshwater sport fishing in the world. Sausage Tree Camp supplies both regular and fly-fishing equipment for strictly catch-and-release fishing. One can fish for the world-renowned Tiger fish and the Vundu catfish. The Tiger fish can grow to be as large as 15kg or 30lbs and is a relative of the infamous piranha. It is well known for its strength and spectacular ”leaping out of the water” fighting performance. The Vundu is a giant catfish, and the largest fish in the Zambezi, often growing to well over 50kg or 110lbs.
Canoeing
The Lower Zambezi is famous for its spectacular canoeing. Led by expert guides, this is a unique way of viewing wildlife as you are able to quietly explore the banks of the river where game and birds can be seen from totally new and different angles and perspectives. No experience or particular strength is required for this activity. It is an effortless drift, as the flow of the Zambezi swishes the canoes along silently with a feeling of total tranquility. One seemingly becomes part of nature while canoeing, the only sounds. The only sounds heard are those of the African bush. Canoeing at Sausage Tree Camp offers possibly one of the most unforgettable wildlife adventures on earth.
Boat Safaris
A safari in a small river boat is a relaxing way to spot and photograph wildlife that come down to the riverbank to drink and bathe, while also taking in the unique aquatic flora. To experience the Zambezi River by boat is one of the only ways to appreciate the huge pods of hippopotamus and crocodile populations. The river and the escarpment as a backdrop offers some of the most breathtaking sunsets in Africa.
Driving Safaris
Driving safaris are probably the most reliable and successful ways to see a wide variety of both birds and wildlife. The driving safaris at Sausage Tree Camp allow one to witness the beauty and diversity of the unspoiled wilderness of the Lower Zambezi. Night drives are great opportunities for experiencing nocturnal animals, including the elusive leopard.
Walking Safaris
Led by a professional walking guide and an armed National Parks Wildlife Officer, walking walking has become a very popular safari option and one preferred by many safari lovers. The walking safari was pioneered in Zambia, which remains one of the few areas where this type of safari can be truly enjoyed. All guides at Sausage Tree Camp are fully trained and licensed. They will ensure the highest quality of guiding and safety standards at all times.
WILDLIFE
The best wildlife viewing is on the flood plain and along the river itself. Many of the larger mammals like elephants, buffalos, kudu, impala, hippos, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthog, zebra, crocodiles can be found below the escarpment. The Park also hosts good populations of lion and leopard. Seeing elephants swim across the river, or hundreds of colorful bee-eaters nesting in the steep sandy banks are absolute highlights. Nocturnal animals as hyena, porcupine, civet, genet and honey badgers can be spotted on night drives.
For those interested in birds, they are in excess of 500 species of birds in the Lower Zambezi National Park, from waders on the riverfront to wattle eyes in the Miambo woodland up on the escarpment. Some of the special and more interesting birds found in this area include; African Fish Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, African Skimmer, Roufous-bellied Herons, various Bee Eaters, Black Crowned Night Herons, Amathest Sunbirds and Jamson’s Firefinchs, Ground Hornbills, Red-billed Firefinches just to name a few.
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Lower Zambezi National Park, to this day, remains relatively uninhabited and unadulterated. The park is fronted by the waters of the amazing Zambezi River and has a stunning backdrop of escarpments, making for beautiful backgrounds for photographers. It is really possible to get up close to wildlife and birds while on either water-based or land-based safaris.
River photography is exceptional on the Zambezi. Different perspectives and interesting views are provided from water level, making for great photos in this environment. The Sausage Tree Camp guides have great knowledge of animal behavior on land and around water, thus being able to anticipate how one might get set up for beautiful images.
