Nothing But Nature: Inside Our Seasonal Camps

There’s something quietly magical about arriving at one of Time + Tide’s seasonal camps. You step out of the vehicle, and the world softens; the chatter of birds, the scent of sun-warmed grass, the rustle of leaves as an impala darts past. There are no manicured paths, no glass doors. Just wide skies, honest hospitality, and nature all around you.

In the remote corners of the South Luangwa National Park, we set up four seasonal camps each year, Mchenja, Luwi, Nsolo, and Kakuli; each handcrafted with natural materials and canvas, gently folded into the wilderness and just as gently dismantled at the end of safari season.

This is safari as it once was: genuine, generous, and gloriously uncomplicated.

At Mchenja, the beautiful grass walls and thatch ceilings sit just steps from the riverbank. Hippos snort below, elephants splash in the shallows, and each room feels like it’s part of the landscape, not just near it. Freestanding bathtubs and inviting interiors bring an elegance that pairs beautifully with the simplistic exterior.

Luwi sits quietly beneath a grove of towering mahogany trees, our only fully-tented camp and one that speaks to the spirit of the explorer. Designed for those who prefer their safaris on foot and their afternoons unhurried, it offers a rare sense of stillness. The canvas tents rest lightly on the land, open to birdsong by day and the distant call of lions by night. It’s a place where time softens and slips gently by without ever needing a clock.

Stretched out along a seasonal curve in the river, Nsolo’s five safari rooms rest on raised wooden platforms, offering just enough height for a better view and a little more breeze. Built from grass and thatch, each room has a shady private deck overlooking a permanent lagoon where you will often see elephants and other wildlife come for a drink. Simple and welcoming, the rooms feel more like a gentle extension of the bush than anything man-made. This is a camp without fuss or fanfare, and all the better for it.

And then there’s Kakuli, high on the riverbank, with panoramic views of the South Luangwa. Each grass-and-thatch room has both an indoor and outdoor shower, so you never have to waste a moment outside. A hanging swing on every verandah invites long pauses and quiet watching. Here, the panoramic view is never the same twice, and you wouldn’t want to miss a moment of it.

Our team knows every corner of these camps, and every guest is welcomed like family. The walls breathe, the light filters in soft and dappled. These are the kind of buildings that don’t impose themselves, but instead listen to the land around them. They invite you to slow down. To walk instead of drive. To sit quietly and watch elephants pick their way through the trees.

This is a different kind of luxury, one measured not by thread count, but by how deeply connected you feel.

There’s a richness to sitting by the fire with a cup of tea, listening to your guide tell stories passed down through generations. There’s abundance in the silence between sightings, in the golden light that seems to pour through the branches above.

It takes time and care to build these camps each season, to braid the grass, shape the walls, carry supplies across river crossings and dirt tracks deep into the heart of the wild. But it’s done with quiet pride and a deep respect for this place. And when guests arrive, that same spirit of generosity continues. No request is too much, and no moment is rushed.

Whether it’s a steaming shower under the stars, a picnic set up on the banks of the river, or a handwritten note tucked beside your bed, these details come from the heart. It’s how we look after people here: with time, with presence, and with a generous amount of joy.

FOLLOW THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

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