OUR COMMITMENT
A rewilding
journey.
A conservation story built on patience, protection and purpose.
E 31°24'14.86"
FIELD NOTES — HOW THIS LAND WAS RECLAIMED
A Wilderness Reclaimed
Our family came across a remote, largely forgotten corner of South Luangwa. The roads were barely passable, illegal activity had left its mark, and the wildlife had grown wary. Others walked away. We couldn't let go.
Where We Started
Father and son arrived near nightfall with a small group of local people, spending their first night in the crumbling ruins of what would become Sungani, sharing space with bats and snakes, cooking over an open fire, baking bread in the ground.
Season by Season
When we first arrived, even the impala scattered at the sound of a vehicle. Today, they graze calmly without a second glance. Years of careful and patient work with the prey base, re-building trust, reducing pressure and letting nature take the lead, have laid the foundation for something remarkable. The predators have followed. Leopard territories have established themselves. Lions are returning with growing confidence. Season by season, this landscape is reclaiming itself. We feel genuinely lucky to be here for it.
Before us was an immense challenge and an equally immense opportunity.
We didn't move quickly. Before committing, we carried out careful due diligence to understand the ecological condition of the land and its genuine potential for recovery. The evidence was clear: with patient stewardship, habitat restoration, access roads, firebreaks, and a long-term commitment, this landscape could once again become a haven for wildlife.
We knew from the beginning that rewilding is not a short-term project. It would require perseverance, investment, and a willingness to think beyond immediate results. With that understanding, we committed ourselves to the long journey: helping nature reclaim its place, and leaving this wilderness better than we found it.
What began as a family dream became something far larger: a commitment to restore, protect, and share one of Africa's last truly wild places.
A landscape reclaiming itself
At its heart, Sungani is a re-wilding story. Working closely with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Zambia Carnivore Programme and Conservation South Luangwa, we have been slowly and steadily breathing life back into this corner of the valley.
Years of careful work with the prey base, reducing pressure and allowing the ecosystem to recover naturally, have created the conditions that support healthy predator populations.
The conservation work that underpins all of this happens quietly, every day:
- Continuous roadbuilding and maintenance across the area
- Active anti-poaching and wildlife protection, year-round
- Extensive firebreaks protecting critical habitat
- Stable employment and training for 58+ people from surrounding communities
- Low vehicle density, so wildlife is never pressured or stressed
- Year-round guides monitoring behaviour and logging every sighting
- Michael, our operations manager, serves as an honorary wildlife police officer alongside DNPW and CSL
- Tsetse fly control
Every Leopard Has a Story
South Luangwa carries the name Valley of the Leopard, but these elusive cats still guard most of their secrets. Since 2019, our team have worked patiently to habituate the leopards here. Many remain hidden by choice, but a handful of individuals have come to accept our presence. This is a reward earned through years of careful, consistent effort.
We are building a long-term photographic record of every leopard that calls the Sungani and Kulandila area home. Each individual is identified by its unique spot pattern, allowing us to trace lineages, map territories and follow these secretive predators across the years. Every evening, our guides compare sightings and log each encounter into our central database, and guests are shown how to read the markings that set each cat apart.
A single photograph from a game drive may reveal a new leopard or reconnect us with one not seen for months. This is a living catalogue, one that grows with every sighting, every season and every new generation.
Our support for CSL
We are deeply proud of our relationship with Conservation South Luangwa, an organisation doing extraordinary work to protect this valley and the wildlife that calls it home.
“You being there is a massive contribution in protecting that area — so thank you.”Rachel McRobb, Chief Executive Officer, Conservation South Luangwa
We have also sponsored lion and wild dog tracking collars through the Zambia Carnivore Programme, helping support the research and monitoring that play an important role in their conservation.
Its greatest guardians.
For us, conservation has never been only about wildlife. The communities surrounding this wilderness are its greatest guardians, and their well-being is inseparable from the future of this landscape.
When we started, we hired people from the neighbouring villages of Malama, Nyamlaluma, Chilikati, and Malanga, many of whom had never had formal employment before. With patience, training, and a genuine belief in what they were capable of, they now make up 85% of our front and back-of-house team.
When the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, we kept our entire team on full remuneration. It wasn't easy, and the effects are still felt. But it was the right thing to do, and we have never questioned it.
South Luangwa moves to the rhythm of the seasons.
Each offers something genuinely special. Our team is always happy to help you decide which might suit you best.
Peak Dry Season
The dry season is the best time for game viewing. As water becomes scarce, wildlife gathers around the remaining waterholes, making animals easier to find. Lion, leopard and other predators are seen more often, making this the season we usually recommend for first-time visitors.
Shoulder Season
These months offer a different experience. The bush is greener, the birdlife is exceptional, and there are fewer visitors. The scenery is at its best, and the quieter pace gives you more time to enjoy the landscape and wildlife.
You are not simply booking a safari.
You are stepping into an active conservation project. Every night you spend here helps fund road maintenance, anti-poaching patrols, wildlife research, and jobs for local people whose livelihoods are now closely tied to protecting this wilderness. Our goal has always been simple: restore this landscape and leave it in better condition than we found it.
We’ve come a long way, and there’s still plenty more to do.
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