Chundukwa River Lodge – Supporting Local Artisans

Chundukwa River Lodge celebrated its 30-year legacy in 2022. The horse ranch outside of Livingstone, Zambia supports local artisans at every turn and the peaceful synchronicity of colour, design, community and nature has been at the heart of their story in Africa.

Chundukwa River Lodge’s Riverside Chalets have been a labour of artisanal love by Doug and Gail. They work alongside their local team of artisans – weavers, thatchers, tinsmiths, tailors, welders and carpenters from the nearby villages. The fantastic team has worked and weaved their magic to create five individual and freestanding chalets, focusing on the unique open-fronted layout offering breath-taking views over the Zambezi River.
View of the Zambezi River a chalet at Chundukwa River Lodge, Zambia
All furniture and building materials are produced in Zambia – from sustainably harvested reeds to locally burnt clay bricks, Kalahari sand, recycled wood and steel.
a room at Chundukwa River Lodge, Zambia including a bed with large sweeping mosquito net and a couch with colourful chitenge cushions
The chalets are made from wood with a roof of thatching grass which keeps the space cool in summer and warm in winter. Each chalet is walled with a Kalahari sand and cement mixture in keeping with the traditional local method of walling.
A round mirror reflecting a mosaic of a baobab tree
The chalets have been painstakingly crafted to cause little interference with the river bank – Doug and Gail have not cut away any reeds or trees, thus allowing birds and wildlife such as hippos and otters to move freely between land and water.
The décor includes an inspired measure of locally crafted baskets and Zambian local Chitenge fabrics worn by men and women in Zambia.
Chundukwa River Lodge uses no herbicides, pesticides or chemicals on the land as the lodge is situated between two waterways (the river in front and a series of lagoons behind, home to otters, fish and birds.) However, guests are encouraged to be as sensitive to the environment as possible – guests are encouraged to utilise their beautiful selection of locally-produced shampoos, creams and soaps that are organic and environmentally friendly. These include SKIN, Zambian-made cosmetics made of carefully blended natural African oils and goat’s milk soap from Livingstone’s Pure Skills workshop.
a stone soapdish with a carved hippo figurine that holds a paw-print goats milk soap on top of a green leaf
Hosts Doug Evans and Gail Kleinschmidt believe in supporting local artisans and are conservationists at heart. They have been championing wild places in Zambia and exploring for over four decades. As owners of Chundukwa River Lodge and Zambian Horseback Safaris, Doug and Gail are passionate about preserving and protecting the ecosystems they care so deeply about while ensuring the natural habitats in their care thrive and the communities who rely on them are supported.