The bush has not stopped moving at Mawimbi.
Lions still walk through camp. Leopards continue to pass close to the lapa. Elephants gather at the water, while African wild dogs move through the park with their pups.
That rhythm has continued following a fire that damaged the main guest area of Mawimbi Bush Camp in Kafue National Park on September 8.
The fire broke out shortly before midnight in the camp's main guest area. No guests or staff were injured, and the team worked through the night until about 7:30am to contain it.
The fire was restricted to the main area. Other buildings and the surrounding bush were protected.
Mawimbi remains open to guests, with visitors currently being hosted in a second lapa area. The camp's kitchen and dining experience continue, while its main activities—including game drives, walking safaris and river trips—are operating as usual.
The owners are now working with specialists to assess the damage and develop rebuilding plans. The intention is to have the main area rebuilt ahead of the next season, scheduled to open on April 1, 2027.
For visitors, the experience remains centred on the landscape rather than the buildings.
Recent sightings have included a pride of lions moving through camp, a leopard passing within about 30 metres of the lapa, and elephants bathing in a nearby dambo.
One particularly notable sighting has been a pack of around 30 African wild dogs, including pups, playing alongside the roadside.
These encounters illustrate what draws travellers to Kafue in the first place: the opportunity to experience wildlife in a vast, relatively wild landscape where the animals often set the pace.
At Mawimbi, that experience has continued despite the loss of its main guest area.
The fire has changed part of the camp, but for now, the wilderness around it carries on much as it always has.
