Nsefu Camp – Introduction
On the banks of the Luangwa River, Nsefu marks the spot where tourism first arrived in Zambia. The camp originally opened in 1951 and, although carefully renovated in the late 1990s, it retains an air of the early pioneers.
With just six traditional African houses, or rondavels, the camp is set within the Nsefu Sector, a pristine area of the South Luangwa National Park that is rich in wildlife and far from the intrusive view of outsiders. Game viewing here is effectively private.
Nsefu safari camp has a special significance to Robin and Jo Pope. During the 1980s Robin managed the camp for five years before leaving to set up his own company. After Nsefu fell into disrepair in the 1990s, he and Jo bought the lease and restored it to its former glory.
The Popes, who have pioneered conservation and community tourism in Zambia, also support a home-stay project in the nearby village of Kawaza where overnight stays can be arranged with local families. In 2000, Kawaza won the British Guild of Travel Writers’ prestigious Silver Otter Award for Best Overseas Tourism Project.
