This isn't just another safari. At Lolelunga Private Reserve, witness a conservation miracle in the heart of Zambia. Explore 30,000 hectares of reborn wilderness where poachers have become protectors and reintroduced cheetahs roam free.
At first glance, Lolelunga Private Reserve appears to be another safari lodge. What you'll discover is something much more meaningful—a conservation success story that will change how you think about African wildlife tourism.
A Conservation Success Story in the Heart of Zambia
Your flight into their private airstrip gives you the first real sense of this place. Below you stretches 30,000 hectares of seemingly untouched wilderness along the Lunga River. It is hard to believe that just 4.5 years ago, this landscape was ravaged by logging and poaching.
The lodge takes just 14 guests, creating an intimacy that large hotels can't match. Expect bespoke service, carefully curated dinners served family-style, expertly mixed drinks and evenings that unfold around the fire pit, watching the sunset from the raised decks. The large windows in your suite frame the water, and you'll want to keep them open most nights to hear the hippos.
From Poachers to Protectors
On your game drive the next morning, you will discover that a scout you spoke with used to poach these same lands. Now he's one of the most dedicated conservationists you'll ever meet. His transformation mirrors what happened to the land itself.
You'll see four of the Big Five during your stay: elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo, but the five cheetahs reintroduced last year will be your real highlight. These cheetahs are a testament to “how important it is to start at the beginning, carefully introducing the game,” and the extensive research done to discover the land’s indigenous species. Now, almost five years later, this patient process is bearing fruit. Black rhinos are coming next to complete the circle, a landmark moment which will make Lolelunga one of the few reserves to host the full Big Five.
Unique Safari Adventures on the Lunga River
The Lunga River, which also forms a natural boundary, has some of the clearest water you'll see in Africa, and the fish will test every angler's skill. You can try walking safaris that bring you eye-level with the bush, or canoe trips for silent wildlife encounters. The birdwatching is incredible, with over 200 species. And you might spot the elusive sitatunga antelope that's on the lodge’s logo.
The bigger story is just as compelling. This place was devastated by logging and poaching. Now it's Zambia's first fully fenced private reserve offering authentic Big Five photography. The turnaround took serious dedication, built on a close partnership with the indigenous Kaonde people.
The numbers tell the story: two schools built, over 50 water boreholes drilled, support for 500 families. The private airstrip brings medical supplies to six clinics. This isn't just feel-good marketing; it's sustainable conservation that benefits both wildlife and communities. Many of the staff are now protectors of what they once threatened. Your ranger might tell you his son now wants to become a veterinarian. That's the kind of change that actually matters.
Lolelunga works because it's genuine. The owners aren't playing at conservation—they're building something that will last. The wildlife is thriving, communities are benefiting, and visitors experience something real.
An Experience That Will Change You
You might have done plenty of safaris, but this will feel different. Maybe it'll be talking to guides whose lives changed with the landscape. Or maybe it'll just be sitting by the Lunga river each evening on the last stop of your itinerary, watching the sun set over the proof that conservation can work.
The best part is knowing this is just the beginning of something ethical and transformative. Lolelunga keeps writing new chapters for African wildlife, and you'll already be thinking about when you can return.
WHERE?
Lolelunga Private Reserve is perched above the Lunga River, a tributary of the Kafue River, just 30km north of Kafue National Park, in Kasempa district.
CONTACT AND BOOKING:
- Email: reservations@zambialuxurylodges.com
- QR + Web: https://zambialuxurylodges.com
- Instagram: @lolelunga_private_reserve
- Facebook: Lolelunga Private Reserve
