Day 98: First Full Day at Royal Chundu in Zambia — Canoeing to Breakfast
We have only just arrived but we were already falling hard for Royal Chundu. It’s hard not to love this place. The setting, the property, the staff, the food have been excellent so far.
We woke to a tea, coffee and hot chocolate delivery on our first full day. I got up a little early and swam laps in the pool.
Our morning plan included the “signature” experience at Royal Chundu: a canoe trip to breakfast.
We met Anthony, Des and their kids for a short drive to our launching point. The canoes were rubber Zodiac-style boats that fit three people — a parent in front, a kid in the middle and a guide in the back. Parents and guides each had two-sided oars.
It was an absolutely beautiful setting. We rowed by a family of hippos and saw lots of birds. I was on lookout for crocs but we didn’t see any — apparently they don’t like it when the water is moving quickly.
Zambia got the same rains we saw at Somalisa so the rapids were more aggressive than anyone expected — including the guides. At one point Margaret and James’s boat broad-sided Des and McKayla’s while doing down a rapid. The “white water” made it more exciting and managed to get us pretty soaked, but we never felt at risk. Willa was in heaven.
We pulled up to the edge of the river on Chundu Island. Another 3 or 4 RC staff members were prepping breakfast.
There were two picnics tables fully set with placemats, rugs on the ground, and Zambia’s version of mimosas poured — OJ and white wine. There was a lounge area, self-serve cheese and grapes floating on a tire swing, a full breakfast buffet with yogurt parfaits, frittatas, grilled sausage and muffins.
We thought that was all the food — and it would have been plenty — but after hitting the buffet we were served poached eggs with a delicious tomato / veggie sauce.
The kids quickly gravitated to the two hammock swings while the parents relaxed and enjoyed the setting.
After breakfast we took a short stroll through the forest to check out the huge, old, ghostly, baobab trees. We saw one that is over 2000 years old!
Our walk ended at the adults-only and even nicer sister property to Royal Chundu. They have 5 rooms / villas on this island. They gave us a tour of the property including one of the villas which had a prepped bubble bath on the deck which the kids loved.
We then got in a boat and took the short ride back to our lodge.
By this point the four kids were becoming good buddies. They spent the rest of the morning and afternoon going from pool area to the hammock swing, playing cards and chasing bugs.
After our daily sunset cruise we had dinner together with Anthony, Des and their kids. The kids took off to play with iPads and we took our time enjoying the Zambian tasting menu.
Early wake up call tomorrow to go fishing on the Zambezi.
