Back to the Bush: Where Luxury Is a Feeling

Somewhere along the way, the safari lost its silence.

Where once it was about tracking animals on foot and listening to the wind in the mopane trees, today it often comes with individual pools, curated wine cellars, and the pressure to “collect” sightings like souvenirs. The original essence of safari—a journey of discovery, of deep connection with nature—has, in some places, been overtaken by a race toward refinement.

Maybe it’s time to rethink safari.

That’s not to say there isn’t a place for comfort, or that good food and crisp linens don’t belong in the bush. But more and more, travellers are craving something else: authenticity, intimacy, and a chance to reconnect with the wild in a meaningful way. Not curated wilderness. True wilderness.

And for those who seek it, Zambia—particularly South Luangwa National Park—still offers that rare kind of safari. A place where walking isn’t a novelty but a philosophy. Where sightings aren’t staged or rushed. Where you rise with the sun, follow animal tracks through the dust, and learn to read the land with the guidance of someone who knows it like a story passed down.

This is the birthplace of the walking safari, and one of the last strongholds of safaris that still feel wild and unfiltered. Small camps. Big landscapes. Fewer vehicles. More moments.

One such place is Island Bush Camp, tucked deep in the southern reaches of South Luangwa. It’s not the kind of camp that draws attention with chandeliers or designer interiors. Instead, it leans into something far more powerful: space, stillness, and simplicity. Five open-sided chalets made with local reed overlook the Luangwa River. Days begin and end with slow, guided walks, complemented by gentle game drives that reveal a different rhythm of the bush. Guiding is led by Martin Mbewe, who has been with Kafunta Safaris since day one and remains one of Luangwa’s most respected and beloved guides.

There’s no network. No marble vanities. No noise—just the rustling of palm tree leaves and the distant grunts of hippos at dusk.

Island Bush Camp, operated by the family-owned Kafunta Safaris, is one of a handful of places pushing back—quietly—against the trend of “overstyled” safaris. It’s solar-powered. Completely seasonal. Dismantled each year to let the land breathe. Its owners support local conservation and community projects including Project Luangwa, Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust, and Conservation South Luangwa—not as a marketing tagline, but as a long-term commitment.

Safari doesn’t need more sparkle. It needs more soul.

Because in the end, the true luxury of being in the African bush has never been about lavish bathtubs or cocktail menus. It’s about the feeling of being completely present. The hush before a lion’s roar. The thrill of fresh tracks on a sandy path. The smell of dust and wild sage rising in the afternoon heat.

It’s time to go back to that.

Because luxury is a feeling. And safari—real safari—still lives in places like this.

Inquire with Kafunta Safaris at reservations@kafuntasafaris.com to learn more about their properties and safari packages.

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