On 16 June 2016, the first guests arrived at Ila Safari Lodge. At the time, it was a single lodge on the banks of the Kafue River, built on a bold belief: that luxury tourism could be a force for conservation, community development and meaningful connection with nature.

No one could have known then that this moment would mark the beginning of a journey that would span some of Southern Africa’s most extraordinary destinations.

Yet ten years later, Green Safaris is not simply celebrating growth. We are celebrating something far more meaningful: a decade of proving that expansion does not have to come at the expense of identity.

Over the past ten years, our story has unfolded across rivers, islands, floodplains, waterfalls and wilderness areas. We have welcomed remarkable properties into the Green Safaris family, each with its own history, character and sense of place. But throughout this journey, one principle has remained unchanged: “The places we love should never lose what makes them special.“

As we celebrate ten years since Ila Safari Lodge first opened its doors, we look back on the chapters that have shaped Green Safaris — and the extraordinary family of destinations that now call it home.

 A LOVE STORY ROOTED IN AFRICA

Long before Green Safaris became a collection of lodges and camps, it began with a deep love for Africa. A love for the places that leave you speechless.

The vast floodplains of Busanga at sunrise. The roar of Victoria Falls. The quiet rhythm of the Zambezi River. The untamed wilderness of South Luangwa. The ancient landscapes of Kafue.

But it was never only about the places. It was also about the people. The guides who transform a game drive into a life-changing experience. The communities whose traditions and stories are woven into the landscapes we operate in. The conservationists are working tirelessly to protect wildlife and ecosystems for future generations.

From the very beginning, Green Safaris has believed that travel should create a positive legacy. Africa gives us so much. In return, we have committed ourselves to four enduring missions: conserving our environment, protecting our wildlife, empowering our people, and creating experiences that exceed imagination.

These values have shaped every decision we have made over the past decade. And they continue to guide every chapter still to come.

MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF LODGES

One of the greatest challenges facing any hospitality group is how to grow while remaining authentic. Many brands expand by creating uniformity — properties begin to look alike, experiences become standardised, and distinctive local character is gradually replaced by a corporate identity.

Green Safaris chose a different path.

“Rather than asking our properties to become more like Green Safaris, we asked Green Safaris to become a home for extraordinary places.“
— Lauren Summers, Marketing Director

This philosophy sits at the heart of everything we do. When guests stay at a Green Safaris property, they know they can expect exceptional service, sustainability, conservation-driven tourism, meaningful community engagement, thoughtful design and unforgettable experiences. But they should never expect sameness.

Tongabezi should feel unmistakably Zambezi. Chisa should feel unlike any safari camp on earth. Shawa should embody the spirit of Luangwa. Every property should remain deeply connected to the place, people and stories that made it special long before it joined the Green Safaris family.

That balance — between shared values and individual personality — has become one of our proudest achievements.

A DECADE IN CHAPTERS

CHAPTER ONE: THE BEGINNING
 2016 | Ila Safari Lodge, Kafue National Park

Every story needs a beginning. For Green Safaris, that beginning was Ila Safari Lodge.

Situated on the banks of the Kafue River in one of Africa’s largest national parks, Ila was conceived as a new kind of safari lodge — one that embraced innovation, sustainability and a deeper connection to the wilderness.

Its name honours the Ila people, often known as the Warrior Herdsmen, whose history is deeply connected to the region. The lodge’s logo, inspired by an Ila warrior and his distinctive isusu hair cone, serves as a tribute to a culture whose legacy remains part of the landscape today.

What started as a single lodge soon became something larger: a vision for how tourism could support conservation, empower communities and inspire travellers to engage more deeply with Africa.

The first chapter had begun.

CHAPTER TWO: THE ZAMBEZI FAMILY GROWS
2020 | Tongabezi Lodge, Sindabezi Island Camp & Livingstone Island

In 2020, three iconic destinations joined the family. Together they offered access to one of the world’s greatest natural wonders: Victoria Falls. Yet each brought a completely different perspective.

Tongabezi Lodge

For more than three decades, Tongabezi has been synonymous with heartfelt hospitality, community impact and unforgettable experiences on the Zambezi River. Its iconic masks, carried forward from the original logo, honour both its history and its connection to the Tonga people and the legendary river god, Nyami Nyami.

Tongabezi remains a pioneer — not only in luxury travel, but in demonstrating how tourism can positively transform local communities.

Sindabezi Island Camp

If Tongabezi is about connection, Sindabezi is about escape. Built on a private island in the Zambezi River, the camp offers an experience rooted in simplicity and immersion.

Its kingfisher logo honours founder Ben Parker’s first day on the island, spent quietly observing the astonishing diversity of birdlife around him. More than twenty years later, that sense of wonder remains unchanged.

Livingstone Island

Perched on the edge of Victoria Falls itself, Livingstone Island offers one of the most extraordinary viewpoints on the continent. Its logo captures the island, the falls, the spray and the rainbow that has inspired travellers for generations.

It is a place unlike any other. And it reminds us that some experiences cannot be replicated — they can only be protected.

CHAPTER THREE: INNOVATION IN THE WILD
 2021 | Chisa Busanga Camp

By 2021, Green Safaris was ready to push the boundaries of safari design once again. The result was Chisa Busanga Camp.

Inspired by the intricate nests of weaver birds, Chisa reimagined what a safari camp could be. Elevated above the plains, guests sleep in luxurious human-sized nests overlooking one of Africa’s richest wildlife ecosystems.

The camp’s logo reflects both the nest architecture and the iconic sausage tree that defines the landscape.

Yet Chisa represents more than architectural innovation. It embodies Green Safaris’ belief that sustainability and luxury should evolve together. Electric game drives, walking safaris and low-impact experiences allow guests to connect with nature in ways that are both immersive and responsible.

It is bold. It is creative. And it is unmistakably, Chisa.

CHAPTER FOUR: A NEW CHAPTER IN LUANGWA
2021 | Shawa Luangwa Camp

Later that same year, Green Safaris welcomed Shawa Luangwa Camp. Nestled in one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations, Shawa captures the essence of South Luangwa — wild, intimate and deeply connected to nature.

The camp’s symbol is Thornicroft’s giraffe, a subspecies found nowhere else on Earth. Elegant and distinctive, it serves as a reminder that conservation extends far beyond the headline species. Protecting biodiversity means protecting every unique thread in Africa’s ecological story.

Shawa quickly became known for exceptional walking safaris, remarkable photographic opportunities and a safari experience that feels deeply personal. A place where guests don’t simply observe nature. They become part of it.

CHAPTER FIVE: COMPLETING THE CIRCUIT
2023 | Sausage Tree Camp & Potato Bush Camp

The most recent chapter brought Green Safaris to the Lower Zambezi. Few places embody the romance of Africa quite like this stretch of river, where elephants swim between islands and wildlife moves freely through camp.

Sausage Tree Camp

Named after the iconic Kigelia africana, Sausage Tree Camp reflects the strength and permanence of one of Africa’s most recognisable trees. The sausage tree is a symbol of shelter and resilience, standing steadfast through changing seasons while supporting countless forms of life around it. Much like the camp itself.

Potato Bush Camp

More intimate and secluded, Potato Bush Camp offers a quieter perspective on the Lower Zambezi. Its logo features the hippopotamus, a fitting tribute to the creatures whose calls echo through camp day and night.

The hippo is often misunderstood — calm on the surface yet immensely powerful beneath. In many ways, it mirrors the character of Potato Bush itself: understated, intimate and profoundly connected to the river that sustains it.

Together, these two camps completed an extraordinary circuit of destinations across Zambia and Kaya Mawa in Malawi. Not a collection of duplicates. But a family of distinct experiences.

LOOKING BACK. LOOKING FORWARD.

Ten years after Ila Safari Lodge first welcomed its guests, Green Safaris has grown into a collection of extraordinary destinations spanning rivers, islands, floodplains, forests and waterfalls.

Yet when we reflect on the past decade, we do not measure success by the number of properties that joined the family. We measure it by the stories that have been preserved. The communities that have been empowered. The conservation initiatives that continue to make a difference. The team members who bring these places to life every day. And the guests who have chosen to travel with purpose alongside us.

Most importantly, we celebrate the fact that every property has remained true to itself. Because Green Safaris was never meant to become a single story. It was meant to become a collection of stories.

Ten years of different landscapes. Ten years of remarkable people. Ten years of conservation, community and connection. Ten years of proving that growth and authenticity can coexist.

The first chapter began on 16 June 2016 at Ila Safari Lodge. Ten years later, the story is still being written.

And as we look ahead to the next decade, we remain guided by the same belief that started it all:

Protect what makes a place special. Celebrate what makes it unique. And leave it better than you found it.

Here’s to the next chapter.