Sausage Tree Camp - Zambia

We stayed at Sausage Tree for three nights from 18th April, it was really fantastic !! The hospitality of the staff was of a very high standard and the games drives have been really great. The lodge is located on the river Zambezi, each lodge has a private swimming pool, very luxurious to relax in the afternoon. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are of a high quality and there is plenty of choice. We were also treated to a number of culinary surprises, very nice. The hospitality of the staff is of a very high level, very friendly and focused on ensuring that every guest has a good stay. Every morning we were woken up early to go on a game drive with our ranger Henri. Henri is very accessible and has a lot of knowledge of the area and nature. We made beautiful game drives and saw a lot of wild animals, such as wild dogs, elephants, lions and much more, too many to mention. Sausage Tree has exceeded our expectations and is highly recommended!!

We loved Sausage Tree Camp! It was an outstanding experience from the service. to the food, to the guiding, to the location and the game drives. We will be returning!||We visited for 4 nights, wished we'd had longer and were sad to leave.||Our muchinda, Ashif, looked after us incredibly well: he managed to be proactive and unobtrusive, learning what we wanted quickly. He took the greatest care of us. Our guide, Alex, combined wide experience, and broad and deep knowledge with a love of his environment and his land which he was happy to share with us. But it was all the staff (too many to name) who were wonderful: conversations with Douglas and Faith; Brian's cocktails; the masseurs who were very good indeed. ||The location is incredible. Arrival by boat to the glorious Lower Zambezi National Park, passing hippos and crocs and wildlife on the river banks. The river was just beautiful. Our room (huge, comfy, well appointed, great decks, stunning views, super plunge pool, elephant highway next door) was a sanctuary, and the public areas (especially the lap pool) were gorgeous. Food was plentiful (so plentiful) and great quality. We had lunch in the shallows of the river; dinner in the bush (where staff had strung up lanterns in the trees and made a boma). The animals we saw - big and very small - were many, varied and interesting. We learned a huge amount about them and the land and the environment.

If you are looking for a high end eco-experience combined with beautiful accommodations look no further. It is well worth every dollar. |All staff are excellent and unobtrusive. Outstanding guides and trackers will give you remarkable opportunities to view wildlife. Beside the game drives your outings can include walking safaris and boating safaris. The setting by the river creates a superb dining experience that can include viewing hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and Cape Buffalo as you take in the scenery.

We have been back from the Lower Zambezi for a few days and I have given serious thought to how to review Sausage Tree Camp, as I rarely review anywhere I go anymore. But Sausage Tree is too exceptional to ignore. Although I am not sure words can do justice to the experience of staying here. It has an intangible something that needs to be experienced rather than written or read about.||Location is a triple tick. How could anyone not be blown away by arriving via the mighty Zambezi and its exceptional wildness and wildlife. Sausage Tree itself is classy, chic, luxurious, relaxing, but without being stuffy or flashy or trying too hard. I loved that there is the modern essential of internet in the privacy of rooms, but the absence of it in communal areas ensures that the peace is not disturbed. The rooms are sublime. Beautifully laid out, without fuss, but with everything exceptionally well thought for guest’s needs. I am sure we had one of the best views of the entire camp out across the river and islands. A massage under the hands of Natasha whilst overlooking that view was surreal.||Food is a big tick. The rotation of multiple chefs serving just eight rooms ensure an abundance of quality food. ||It is the staff at Sausage Tree and how they treat you that is the intangible difference. It feels like staying in a private home with long time acquaintances as much as it feels like a luxury lodge. On hand for everything, before you even know you want or need it, but without being in your face at all. And the thoughtful touches and surprises every day for guests were welcome and delightful. Tick, tick, tick for absolutely everyone, across the board at Sausage Tree. And a note must be made of Nicci, the GM, who is as much of the fabric of Sausage Tree as the Zambezi, and quietly orchestrates this fantastic team to create magic for guests.||Activities are amazing (no number of ticks are adequate). Alex (our personal guide) and his passion and knowledge for the fauna in the Lower Zambezi National Park made game drives feel like the first ever safari experience all over again. As did Nobby on our bush walk. Quite an achievement after 22 years of us living and travelling through Southern Africa. Fishing on the Zambezi with Dickson has nurtured a new hobby for both my husband any myself.||And of course, Benson, our ‘Muchinda’, (think of a hybrid butler/ personal assistant/ concierge/ man friday and you are getting near to this role) who woke us every morning with fresh brewed coffee, met us from every activity with a welcoming washcloth and smile, and cared for us meticulously for every hospitality, meal and refreshment need. ||Return trips to Sausage Tree are a definite, not an option, and it is a question of when to fit them I the diary, not if they should be accommodated.

The spacious 'tents' are beautifully furnished and equipped with everything you need. If I were to return, I'd choose tent 6 or 7, as that's where the elephants pass through. Tent 5 has a large tree in front, which partially obstructs the view. Each tent also has its own private pool. There's a gym and a long shared swimming pool for all guests. While the game viewing wasn't as impressive compared to other lodges we've visited—no rhinos (sadly poached), giraffes, or cheetahs—there were plenty of hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, and baboons. The lodge was well-managed, and the staff were incredibly helpful. Fishing was enjoyable, despite only catching two tiger fish (lost a few more). The place is full of delightful surprises, and nothing felt like too much trouble. The downside was the 12-hour journey from Cape Town. I would have appreciated if the ranger had a better understanding of vehicle positioning for optimal photography lighting. Overall, it’s a fantastic spot with plenty of options like bush walks and canoeing. We stayed for six days but could have easily stayed longer.

This camp is in a wonderful setting on the Zambezi. The accommodation is spacious with living and bedroom areas. We had a lovely deck with plunge pool. The service at this camp is outstanding, nothing is too much trouble for any of the staff - they are all friendly and welcoming. We had our own nominated member of staff looking after us and he quickly got to know our likes, woke us up with tea in the morning and generally looked after us - this really made the service very special. The guiding was excellent and the food was very good with plenty of menu choice. We have stayed at a few camps now and this one has topped our list. We had a fabulous time here.

Out of the 5 locations we stayed in Southern Africa (4 countries), this was far and away the most special one. To arrive by boat, take a jeep (spotting a leopard hunting along the way), take a boat (past loads of hippo, elephants, crocs and birds) to arrive at what very well may be heaven on earth. The staff made our stay incredibly special; they are simply the best. We felt so catered to - like something out of a movie. The food and the drink were spectacular, starting with coffee, juice and granola bites being delivered with our wake up call at 5:30, to breakfast at 6, to yummy lunches, teas, sundowners and dinners - you will certainly be well fed!!||The grounds and "tents" are spectacular. We were amazed by the efforts to be sustainable, while still enjoying many comforts (a new gym to work off all that food and "air conditioning" above our bed (the only camp to have such a contraption, but oh did it ever make a difference!).||We went fishing twice. While we didn't catch anything, the view from the water (the sunsets!!) were fabulous (as was our fishing guide).||We got up one morning to look for wild dogs. We didn't see them, but we never felt disappointed - not for a moment. We saw loads of animals (lions, leopards, baboons, hippo, giraffe, elephants (including a poor 3 legged baby), birds, etc. The topography of this area was by far the most breathtaking we encountered. The Lower Zambezi is simply magical and not to be missed.||Do not hesitate to book a trip here. I only wish we could return every year.

A small beautiful "camp" right on the river. But this is more than a bush camp. This has nice rooms/suites (not just tents), each with a dipping pool, indoor and also outdoor showers, large bathrooms, A.C "Whisper" system over the bed for cool sleeping, kettle/coffee, and so on. But the real highlight are the staff, and a dedicated "butler" assigned to look after your needs, room, meals, etc. This is in addition to our own dedicated guide + land cruiser for safaris. The park has a real variety of landscapes, with lions, leopards, and wild dogs, but no cheetahs. Great quality in all regards.