Cuisine at Baines' River Camp

  Baines is regular destination for our family in the Lower Zambezi. Baines has the perfect combination of luxury and warmth that makes your stay so special. The staff are attentive... read more and friendly, not missing a beat. The food is delightful and we need to stop eating so much. The rooms are comfortable and large with all the amenities you may need for a short stay in the bush. A beautiful verandah where you can kick off your shoes and slump into the sofa for a snooze in front of the fast Zambezi river. You may get a curious monkey of two in the trees above, if they manage to slip past the attendants. But do keep an eye out for the elusive Samango monkey, a shy forest canopy dwelling primate, making it a rare sighting. Baines is lucky to have some who are residents. It is always a privilege to see them.
Our guides Jimmy and Prince were standouts, their knowledge of animal and bird behaviour and habitats was exceptional but more delightful was their knowledge of the flora around the park. Pointing out interesting facts about trees and flowers and smells. With incredible eyesight they could spot two jackals in the distance at night amongst other nocturnal animals. They endeavoured to find the wild dog for us and on the last day as we finished our final drive and were heading back to Baines, Jimmy got a message about their location, he immediately drove another 40 min to their location.
Always sad to end our stay at Baines but we are lucky to live in Zambia that allows us to return over and over again. Zena and team, always a pleasure and privilege to be able to spend time with you. Thank you for all you do to make our stay memorable.

  Baines’ River Camp was exceptional from beginning to end. Andrew’s team seemed to anticipate everything we might need, and the entire experience felt effortless, thoughtful, and genuinely personal.

From... read more the moment we arrived, smiling staff were waiting to welcome us with refreshing towels, and that level of care continued throughout our stay. After every activity, someone would ask how it went, what we needed, and whether there was anything else they could do for us. Zena and Stephan were always on hand to help with anything we needed, and their warmth and attentiveness made us feel completely looked after.

We enjoyed two fantastic daytime safaris, an evening drive, and a river cruise, and saw an incredible variety of wildlife against absolutely beautiful scenery. Jimmy and Prince were our main guides and were outstanding. Early on, Jimmy asked which animals we most hoped to see, and we told him a leopard and African wild dogs. With Prince’s assistance, he then spent hours doing everything he could to track them down — and together they managed to find both. That moment alone says so much about their dedication.

Jimmy and Prince were knowledgeable, patient, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. They made sure we saw as much as possible, prepared drinks and snacks for us along the way, and shared their knowledge in such a natural and engaging way. By the end of our stay, we honestly felt less like clients and more like family.

The restaurant and bar staff were equally wonderful. The food was delicious, plentiful, and beautifully presented, and we especially appreciated that the chef personally explained the dishes. The two young men who helped keep the baboons away from the property were an absolute delight — so cheerful, enthusiastic, and proud of their work that their happiness was contagious. I loved talking with them and seeing the camp through their eyes.

Our rooms were extremely comfortable and were cleaned and prepared twice a day. Gift took especially good care of us as our butler, making sure our rooms were always beautifully prepared and that we had everything we needed. Even our laundry was washed daily if we left it in the laundry basket. Every detail was handled quietly and efficiently.

What I also appreciated was that we never felt pressured, rushed, or constantly asked for tips or extra money. The hospitality felt sincere rather than transactional, which made us even happier to tip everyone generously at the end of our stay. Even as we waited for our plane back to Lusaka, after we had already settled our bill, we were offered a few complimentary drinks — a small gesture that perfectly summed up the spirit of the place.

I have been on many safaris and stayed at countless hotels and lodges over the years, but Baines’ River Camp truly stands out. There are so many places in Africa I still want to experience, yet this is one of the rare places I already find myself wanting to return to.

We made memories here that will last a lifetime. Go now. You will not regret it.

  We went to Baines River Camp with friends and had the most wonderful stay. The location right on the river is absolutely beautiful—quiet, peaceful and incredibly relaxing. Even with other... read more guests at the camp, it never felt crowded, and the way everything is laid out gives you plenty of privacy.

Our guides were fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable, and the wildlife sightings were amazing. We saw lots of lions, a leopard, wild dogs, elephants, hippos, baboons, monkeys and some incredible birdlife.

The food was another highlight—I was completely obsessed with the lunch tower every day and genuinely looked forward to it! The staff were lovely, accommodating and always happy to answer questions or help with any little request.

The rooms were clean, well stocked, and the beds were SO comfortable. I slept incredibly well every night, which made those early morning game drives much easier!

Such a special place for a great value! I would absolutely love to go back

  Brilliant game viewings and so much more - the complete safari/Africa experience - I would highly recommend Baines River Camp for a complete safari experience including fantastic game drives, canoe trips, island sundowners and exciting boat trips to the national park where you... read more have the chance to see the animals in a way we had never done before.

The camp is extremely well managed with Zena, Stefan and David at the helm. Their attention to detail was extremely impressive, as was their 'can-do' attitude. Nothing was too much trouble and they did everything in their power to fill every waking moment with great experiences . having said that we also had time to chill by the beautiful pool and do some exercise (mats and weights gratefully provided by the Lodge)

The food and wine were excellent and the location is very special.

The game viewing was fantastic and we were extremely lucky to have Jimmy and Peter who made up the 'dream team'. Both were extremely knowledgeable, had first-class interpersonal and communication skills, a 'sense' of where the best game was and were very funny and great company throughout.

All the other staff were also excellent and I would like to mention Granpa Leonard, Felix, Andrew, Emmanuel and Gift but could go on ..

The rooms are extremely comfortable with everything imaginable provided.