If you look at Mukambi Safaris today—the expansive decks, the quiet luxury of the Villa, and the remote reaches of Busanga Plains and Fig Tree Bush Camp—it is easy to see a successful, long-standing hospitality brand. But Mukambi was never meant to be a corporate investment. It was born from a family’s grit and a genuine passion for the Zambian bush.
The story began in the late 1990s when Edjan and Robyn made a choice that most would find daunting: they stepped away from a conventional, comfortable life in the Netherlands to pursue a bold opportunity in Zambia. It started with rebuilding a home in Zimbabwe, but the call of the wild eventually led them to explore tourism across five of Zambia’s national parks.
From Amstelveen to the Riverbank
By the time Mukambi was officially established in 2001, it was a modest, struggling lodge facing significant operational hurdles. It was during the 2001 solar eclipse that Edjan and Robyn stepped in to manage the chaos. That temporary fix turned into a lifelong commitment to rebuild the site from the ground up.
In May 2002, the family officially moved to Africa, and by July 2003, they were living at Mukambi full-time. The polished experience guests enjoy today didn't appear overnight. There were no luxury tents or expansive main lodge decks back then. Every structure was built step by step, year by year, through sheer perseverance in the face of failed partnerships and extremely limited resources.
Growing Up in the Middle of Nowhere
Raising three young girls in a remote national park, six hours from the capital over rough roads, was an adventure that caught the eye of the world. A Dutch television producer eventually turned their lifestyle into a two-year series titled ‘Van Amstelveen naar Afrika’, documenting the trials and tribulations of running a safari lodge with no neighbors for hours in any direction.
The "family tree" at Mukambi has always included some rather legendary non-human characters:
· Basil the Hippo: A fixture at the reception and bar, Basil was known for taking naps in the living room and parading through the lodge. Though he passed in 2016—likely defending his territory—returning guests still ask after him to this day.
· Pumba and Piglet: These two warthogs were brought to the lodge as tiny, squealing newborns and hand-reared by the family. They were fiercely loyal, dog-like in their affection, and notorious gluttons (much to the kitchen staff's frustration). They eventually retired as "old ladies" at an animal sanctuary in Lusaka.
A Legacy of Stability
Today, Mukambi Safaris stands as one of the longest-operating safari companies in the Kafue National Park. It remains family-run and independently owned, a rarity in an era of large-scale tourism groups.
The goal for the family has never been about simply creating a legacy; it has been about making a tangible difference by protecting and sharing the real Africa. Through decades of stability, they have created opportunities for generations of staff and local communities, ensuring that the Kafue remains "Unique by Nature" for the guests of tomorrow.
A Request to Our Past Guests The history of Mukambi is written in the memories of those who have visited over the last two decades. If you have photos of Basil the hippo or snapshots from your early visits to the lodge, we would be delighted if you shared them with us. It is wonderful to look back on how far this family-run gem has come. Email: info@mukambi.com
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