About This Property
Mpala Jena Camp sits on a private concession inside Zambezi National Park, on the tree-lined banks of the Zambezi River about 19 kilometres into the park and upstream of Victoria Falls. It is close enough for a half-day visit to the Falls — typically a 40-minute boat transfer or a game drive of under 45 minutes from Victoria Falls town — yet far enough that the soundtrack is hippo snorts, fish eagles and the river itself.
The name comes from the stream that runs through camp, itself named for a legendary white (albino) impala. Architects Craig Hayman and Hannah Charlton, with interior designer Tracy Kelly, shaped a ‘barefoot luxury’ camp of scalloped thatch, flowing canvas suites, sand floors in the bar and a swimming pool that feels as if it sits on the river. Recycled hardwoods, canvas and a full solar plant and battery keep the footprint light on this 56,000-hectare park.
Wildlife uses the river as a magnet. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and spotted hyena are sought on morning and afternoon game drives or boat safaris; hippo and crocodile are a constant on the water. The park is noted for a high density of lion, with buffalo and elephant concentrations typically strongest from June to October. Sable, eland, zebra, kudu, waterbuck, wildebeest and impala share the woodland and Chamabonda vlei, and around 400 bird species have been recorded, including Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer and African finfoot.
The main camp is intimate: four large double or twin canvas suites plus two two-bedroom family suites, all under sausage and jackalberry trees, each with a private lounge, sun deck and river views. Indoor showers, outdoor showers and outdoor baths, air conditioning, mosquito nets and en-suite bathrooms with separate loos and double basins come as standard.
The central canvas main area holds a lounge, library, indoor dining room, safari shop and tea-and-coffee station, with a fire pit on the riverbank for evenings. A massage can be arranged in the privacy of your suite, and laundry is complimentary. Swing chairs, a beach-style bar and the pool invite an unhurried afternoon between activities.
The kitchen is flexible about when and where meals are served. Breakfast or lunch may appear under a thorn tree or beside the river; dinner is a more formal three-course à la carte meal at individual tables, backed by a well-stocked wine cellar. Vegan, children’s and other dietary menus are available if requested in advance, and a private kosher chef can be arranged.
Open year-round, Mpala Jena is aimed at travellers who want Victoria Falls inside a genuine safari camp: couples and honeymooners, small groups of friends, and families with children aged six and over. Two exclusive three-bedroom private villas also sit about five kilometres upstream, with their own pools, butlers and vehicles, as a separate buy-out option.
Why We Love It
We love that Mpala Jena solves the usual Victoria Falls compromise: you can stand on the lip of the Falls in the morning and still sleep to hippo on a private stretch of the Zambezi. The camp is only 19 kilometres inside the park, yet it feels properly remote.
The riverside setting is the point. Suites look onto the water; boat cruises, catch-and-release fishing and sundowners happen on the same river that hippo and crocodile occupy all day. When buffalo and elephant concentrate from June to October, and with the park’s high lion density, this is safari first, sightseeing second.
Scale matters here. Six canvas suites, solar power, recycled hardwoods and a sand-floor bar under thatch keep the camp small and light on the land. We also like the practical warmth of the dining: meals that can move under a thorn tree or onto the riverbank, a real wine cellar, and a kitchen that will plan for children, vegan guests or a kosher chef if you ask ahead.
For families, the two two-bedroom suites make a Falls-and-safari combination workable from age six, without giving up the privacy that couples and honeymooners come for.
Rooms & Details
Guest Tent
Four large double or twin-bed canvas suites sit on decking along the Zambezi, with netted river views and a shaded private veranda. Each is air-conditioned, with an en-suite bathroom — indoor shower, separate loo, double basins and a heat pump — plus an outdoor bathroom with bathtub and outdoor shower overlooking the river.
A private lounge and sun deck complete the suite. Interiors are by Tracy Kelly. The camp sits on a private concession inside Zambezi National Park, about 19 kilometres upstream of the Falls.
Family Suite
Two two-bedroom luxury family suites share the same riverside setting. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom with indoor shower, separate loo and double basins.
A family suite can take up to four adults, or two adults and up to three children aged 6–15, in the two bedrooms. Decking in front looks out over the flowing Zambezi.
Main area
Scalloped thatch, sand floors in the bar, and a layout shaped for barefoot luxury on the river. Recycled hardwoods, canvas, and a full solar plant and battery keep the footprint light on this 56,000-hectare park.
Swimming pool
The swimming pool sits as if on the river. Hippo and crocodile are a constant on the water; elephant, buffalo, giraffe and lion are sought on morning and afternoon game drives or boat safaris.
Dining
Indoor dining under thatch, with outdoor tables on the banks of the Zambezi. A Falls tour is included on stays of two nights or more — see Victoria Falls National Park and, on the Zambian bank, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.
Fire pit
A fire pit on the riverbank. Victoria Falls is typically a 40-minute boat transfer, or a game drive of under 45 minutes from town. Chobe is a common add-on from here — see Chobe Game Lodge.
Amenities & Features
Photo Gallery
Rates
Prices start from $1,145 per night. Final pricing depends on season, room type, and availability. Check current rates on our booking partner's site for the most accurate pricing.
Rates are per person sharing and fully inclusive (all meals and selected beverages). Go2Africa publishes US$1,145–$1,300 per person sharing. Great Plains Conservation, the exclusive reservations partner, publishes from US$1,020 per person sharing. Included: accommodation, wildlife drives, guided walks, boating on the Zambezi, all meals, local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, daily laundry, Zambezi National Park gate and/or boat transfers to/from camp and the Kalambezi jetty, and a scheduled half-day Victoria Falls tour on stays of two nights or more. Single, child, private vehicle and guide rates on request. Premium extras in Victoria Falls town (rafting, helicopter, high-wire) are additional.
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- Boat cruises on the Zambezi (water-level dependent)
- Guided nature walks (minimum age 16)
- Catch-and-release fishing (tiger fish, catfish and bream)
- Bird watching
- Scheduled half-day guided tour of Victoria Falls (minimum two-night stay)
- Sundowners on the Zambezi
Fully inclusive of accommodation, all meals, selected local drinks, twice-daily wildlife activities (game drives, guided walks and boating), daily laundry, park gate and/or boat transfers, and a scheduled half-day Victoria Falls tour on stays of two nights or more. Massage treatments and Victoria Falls adrenaline activities are extra.
Location
How to Get There
From Victoria Falls International Airport
Road transfer via Victoria Falls town, then a safari drive through Zambezi National Park (about 1 hour 30 minutes in total). A more adventurous option is a road transfer to the river followed by a boat transfer (about 1 hour to 1 hour 25 minutes). The camp is 19 kilometres inside the park. Transfers to and from the Kalambezi jetty are typically included in the nightly rate.
From Victoria Falls town
About 40 minutes by boat, or a 40–45 minute game drive / road transfer through the park (Go2Africa notes less than 45 minutes by game drive or a 30-minute boat transfer from town).
From Kazungula Border Post
Road transfer along the Kazungula road (about 1 hour), then a safari drive through Zambezi National Park (about 45 minutes to 1 hour).
From Livingstone Airport, Zambia
Road transfer across the Zambia/Zimbabwe border, then a safari drive through the park (about 2 hours depending on border time), or a road-plus-boat combination (about 1 hour 40 minutes plus border time).
Nearby Attractions
Victoria Falls (guided tour included on stays of two nights or more); Victoria Falls town (about 40 minutes by boat); Zambezi National Park (Chamabonda vlei and riverine woodland); optional extras in town include white-water rafting, high-wire activities at the Gorge / Lookout Café, cultural village tours, historical high tea, and helicopter flights over the Falls.
Things to Do
At the property
Morning and afternoon game drives in custom Land Cruisers (stocked with drinks, snacks and reference books) search for elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and hyena. Boat cruises on flat-bottomed motorboats — or a wooden dhow — follow the river (water levels permitting). Guided walks explore the concession (minimum age 16). Catch-and-release fishing for tiger fish, catfish and bream is popular, especially in tiger season from June to December. Between activities, swim, read in the pool lounge, take a suite massage, or watch the river from the fire pit and swing chairs. Birding is strong all year.
In the local area
Zambezi National Park covers 56,000 hectares of riverine woodland and Chamabonda vlei. Wild dog denning is typically May–August; sable and eland are sometimes seen in the south of the park. Hippo and crocodile are constant on the river.
Day trips
A guided tour of Victoria Falls is included on stays of two nights or more. Victoria Falls town adds optional extras at additional cost: white-water rafting, high-wire activities at the Gorge / Lookout Café, cultural village tours, a historical high-tea tour, scenic helicopter flights, and simply walking the town. Helicopter transfers to camp can also be arranged at extra cost.
Good to Know
Children: Children aged six and over are welcome. Family suites sleep a maximum of four adults, or two adults and up to three children (aged 6–15) in two bedrooms. Children must be 16 or older to join walking activities and should be supervised at all times — the camp is unfenced. Meal plan: Fully inclusive — three meals a day and selected beverages, with a wine cellar. Breakfast and lunch may be served outdoors under a thorn tree or beside the river; dinner is a three-course à la carte meal at individual tables. Dietary requirements, including vegan and children’s menus, can be catered for if requested in advance; a private kosher chef can also be requested in advance. Power: The camp runs entirely on a solar plant and battery. Connectivity: Wi-Fi is available. Health: Mosquito nets are provided in the suites. Consult a travel clinic for current health advice for Zambezi National Park. Access: Mobile ramp access to one suite and the main area is available. Stay length: Ideal length of stay is three to four nights. Open year-round. Conservation: Constructed from recycled hardwoods and canvas with a light footprint. Mpala Jena has helped establish the Zambezi Parks Support Foundation (anti-poaching scouts, logistics and a donated river patrol boat).
Who It's For
Couples, honeymooners and small groups of friends who want a genuine safari camp with Victoria Falls on the doorstep; families with children aged six and over (family suites available). Best for travellers who prefer an intimate, solar-powered riverside camp (six suites) rather than a large Falls hotel.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. June–October for higher buffalo and elephant concentrations and thinner vegetation; June–December for tiger fishing; November–April for peak birding (migratory species and breeding plumage). Victoria Falls is at its most impressive from May to September.
