Anantara to make debut in African wilderness with luxury tented camp in Zambia

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is set to make its debut in the African wilderness with the upcoming opening of a luxury tented camp in Zambia.

Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp will be located in western Zambia in Kafue National Park, the oldest and largest in the country, on the banks of the Kafue River.

A statement from parent company Minor Hotels said the property was in “the early stages” of development and is expected to open in early 2025.

The camp will be suspended 3.5 metres above the ground and will feature 12 spacious tents, including a 600 square metre Presidential Villa. Every tent will feature a private plunge pool and the use of a boat and skipper.

The camp is bookended by two islands which will accommodate a Spa and Wellness area with a swimming pool, a restaurant and bar, and a lounge and a traditional African boma.

Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp will embrace eco-friendly initiatives including harnessing photo voltaic energy and employing parabolic collectors and sustainable woods.

The camp will also stand as a community-driven endeavour – Minor Hotels has pledged to use Indigenous elements in the building of the camp and will engage local businesses in the supply chain and employ a majority Zambian staff.

Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp is owned by Agro Safari, a division of a stalwart Zambian company. A statement said the partnership with Minor Hotels “signifies a commitment to crafting the ultimate safari experience and brings to life a vision shared by both entities”.

Kafue National Park covers 22,400 square kilometres and remains largely unexplored and untouched. Nature experiences from the property will include canoeing, fishing, birdwatching, boat safaris and encounters with wildlife.

The camp is located approximately a three-hour drive - or a short helicopter ride - from Victoria Falls and the capital Lusaka.

Dillip Rajakarier, chief executive of Minor Hotels and group chief executive of parent company Minor International, said: “We are really excited to announce this partnership with Agro Safari to develop and launch an exclusive tented camp in Zambia under our luxury Anantara flag.

"This represents a unique opportunity to offer unparalleled experiences to discerning travellers looking to explore outside the more well-known African parks and we look forward to working closely with our partners to bring this camp to fruition.”

Anantara already has a strong presence in southern Africa, with The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara in Zambia and two small island resorts in Mozambique – Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort and Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort.

In addition, the group has joint venture ownership of Elewana Collection, a portfolio of luxurious camps and lodges in east Africa, including Elewana Elsa’s Kopje in Meru, Kenya and Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp in Tanzania.