Shoebill Island Camp
A rustic tented camp set on the edge of the flooded wilderness of Bangweulu
Shoebill Island Camp
Set on a permanent island overlooking a lagoon teeming with lechwe and the iconic shoebill, Shoebill Island Camp is the place to stay in the Bangweulu Wetlands.
The camp’s four rustic tents provide an ideal base for exploring this exceptional landscape. Named “where the water meets the sky” in the local Bemba language, Bangweulu supports diverse wildlife and vibrant communities that depend on fishing for much of the year.
Families can discover some of the 430 bird species on guided walking safaris, witnessing 10% of the world’s wattled cranes as well as black heron and pygmy goose. For the best chance to see the elusive shoebill, visit between May – when the birds begin to nest – and August, or explore the park’s unique shoebill captive rearing and rehabilitation centre.
Shoebill Island Camp isn’t just for birders however. Visits to the seasonal fishing camps of the Bemba and Bisa tribes offer a rare insight into their migratory lifestyle, carefully adapted to the rhythm of rising and receding waters. Game drives also provide opportunities to witness Zambia’s largest black lechwe herds, alongside newly introduced cheetahs and buffalo.
Coral Tree luxury rating
Number of rooms
4 tents
Location
Bangweulu Wetlands
Child Policy
Children over the age of 8
Why we love it
‘Shoebill Island Camp is the best place in Zambia for sightings of the increasingly rare shoebill, whether at the one-of-a-kind rehabilitation centre or on one of the lagoons’
Key Highlights & Amenities
- Four rustic tents with private verandahs overlooking a lagoon
- Mokoro safaris through the Lukuku delta
- Visit the world’s first shoebill captive rearing and rehabilitation centre
- Zambia’s birding centre with the increasingly rare shoebill and 10% of the world’s wattled crane population
Image Gallery
Why travel with Coral Tree?
We are the specialists in luxury Africa family safari holidays
We are Africa experts and also parents. We understand what makes a memorable family adventure.
Our knowledge and connections are unsurpassed
We have been living and working in African tourism for over two decades.
Every journey is tailored with your specific wishes in mind
No off-the-shelf packages or cookie-cutter itineraries. Unique family safaris.
Each trip funds grassroots conservation and girls education projects
You pay no more for the privilege, we support causes close to our hearts.
