Croc Valley Camp

We’ve stayed at Croc Valley Camp several times and have seen it improve and develop with every visit. On our most recent trip, we experienced both the riverside tents and self-catering chalets — both were clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully updated. The tents now have mosquito-proof netting built in, and the chalets are well-equipped and beautifully decorated (one even has a Yellowstone theme!). The riverside bar and deck is a highlight — perfect for watching the river with a G&T or Mosi in hand. We mostly ate at the bar or used full board. The food was fresh and delicious (try the omelette or popcorn chicken!). What truly stood out was the friendly, attentive staff. Herbie and the bar staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome, and his service was warm and genuine. Yes, there are a few old buildings around, but they’re tucked away and didn’t detract from our stay at all. We’ll definitely be back. A great spot for a relaxed and authentic safari experience at a great price.

The best view over the Luangwa River with crocs and hippos on your doorstep. Green grass, nice bar and swimming pool. The deck overlooking the Luangwa river is excellent for viewing and having something to eat. Will give it a five star if they just updated the ablution a little bit. Like the rustic, but it need maintenance. Will definitely come back when visiting South Luangwa National Park. We really loved this place. Camped for 6 nights.

We camped at the Croc Valley Camp for 3 nights and stayed two days with their full board option (accommodation, food, game drive, laundry included). It was really great the staff was lovely, the food was great, the campsite was incredible with views on the Luangwa river, and the game drives were superb. You can also come with your vehicle, book a tent, have some sort of forms, etc. Check their website for all information. I highly recommend it. Cheers from France 🙏

I know Croc Valley since almost eight years. It has never been a luxury camp but acceptable looking at the prices and the service. Being there now (May 2025) I was shocked to see the lodge. It is run down in a way I couldn't imagine. Walls cracked, thatched roof full of dust and spiders, bar at the pool not working, floor in the tents covered with just a loose plastic sheet and so on. The word "maintenance" is not known. The staff is friendly and helpful, food is ok but not more. The bar closes at 9 pm without any announcement. Makes it impossible to sit together and chat after a wonderful experience of a night drive. It's a shame and I know that the local staff is not responsible for this bad situation. The fish smells from the head. We would like to come back but never ever before something (many things) have been done.

Awesome place so close to the park! Staff was so attentive and helpful and friendly. Accommodations were very comfy and the view is awesome! Food was exceptional. Highly recommend.

-13.101052, 31.793907 Campsites near Mfuwe, South Luangwa National Park, are a popular choice among travellers due to their excellent proximity to the park, reasonable prices and diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. Guests often mention waking up to views of wildlife right from their tent or chalet. ||On the banks of the Luangwa River, 500 meters before the Mfuwe gate on the right, this large accommodation caters for backpackers, campers, overlanders, families and groups. It has a bar with great river views, (pre-ordered) restaurant with Wi-Fi reception and a swimming pool. Enjoying your cold beer, you can see hippos and crocs in the river and on the sandbank. ||The campsite has several open kitchens with mosquito nets, BBQ facilities and ablution blocks for camping and chalets, air-conditioned river tents with and well-priced ‘backpackers’ turtle rooms with shared facilities. A walk-through Croc Valley shows it has seen better days, the pizza ovens and coffee bar are closed and maintenance leaves to be desired. The facilities could benefit from upgrades and better maintenance to improves the overall experience||During our stay in June 2024, a water shortage at Zambia’s hydroelectric dams caused power cuts for 12 hours, necessitating hot showers to be scheduled. During the day, baboons and antelopes walk among the tents and at night the campsite is visited by hippos and elephants and sometimes lions. The owner warned every guest not to leave their tents at night risking being chased by a hippo. ||The camp offers guided game drives, which are led by knowledgeable and passionate guides. These drives provide ample opportunities to see a wide range of animals, making it a highlight of the stay. ||For travellers looking to explore South Luangwa National Park, Croc Valley camp offers a good balance of affordability and wildlife adventure. Recommended.

Holy moly! I was blown away by my stay at Croc Valley. For context, I’m a qualified guide myself and have therefore spent a lot of time in the bush, but I’ve never had sightings this anywhere else before (in three full board days, we had leopard cubs x3, adult leopard x2, two different lion prides on fresh kills plus numerous herds of elephants, buffalo’s and all the other usual characters!) ||Simon our guide was really excellent. Although he wasn’t the most chatty, his driving and knowledge was excellent and invariably for every sighting we always ended up in the best position. He also anticipated animal movements brilliantly (e.g. he went a different way to other cars after we lost visual of one leopard, and of course it reappeared exactly where he drove to and we had it to ourselves!)||The staff at the hotel were lovely (shout out to Herbert and Felix especially!) and the rooms provided great value for money (I stayed in one of the budget turtle rooms). I did read a few people moaning on here, but the rooms were perfect for those on a budget and for the price of $30 a night (or $150 full board) I think it provides exceptional value! ||The setting right on the river near the gate is stunning and the experience I had here far surpassed anything I’ve experienced before, even lodges that are two or three times the price! Croc valley, I’ll be back!

The sunrise by the chalets alongside the river is fabulous. One gets to see a fair bit of wildlife sitting quietly on the veranda outside the tent. Just be quiet and cautious and beware of the vervets. Be cautious going to the dining area after dark as hippos traverse the property. Full board deals are a value for money.