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As luxury safari travel increasingly prioritises meaningful, educational, and multi-generational experiences, Chichele Presidential in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park stands out as a shining example of where the modern African safari is heading. At the heart of the family experience is Chichele Cubs, the lodge's immersive children's programme designed for travellers aged 4-11. Launched with the property's 2025 reopening and far from a traditional kids' club, Chichele Cubs incites young travellers to discover the African bush through all five senses – Taste, Touch, Smell, Hear, and See – fostering curiosity, environmental awareness, creativity, and genuine connection to nature.
Through the Chichele Cubs program, children enjoy a rich variety of hands-on activities, including:
Blindfolded taste tests and hands-on safari-inspired baking (cookies, pizza, cupcakes)
Barefoot texture trails and "What's in the Box?" sensory discovery games
Scent hunts featuring wild jasmine and bush elements
Wildlife sound identification and storytelling bush walks
"Eagle Eyes" birdwatching, animal tracking, and nature-inspired arts and crafts using local flora
Each child will also receive a Chichele Cubs Passport, collecting stamps and stickers throughout their stay, and on the final night's turndown, families are presented with a beautifully framed photograph from their safari - a heartfelt keepsake of their time in Zambia.
This thoughtful programming reflects a wilder shift in luxury family travel, as parents move away from purely entertainment-focussed activities toward more immersive, enriching experiences. Chichele Cubs encourages children to disconnect from screens and engage directly with Zambia's wilderness, while parents enjoy uninterrupted time for twice-daily game drives, guided walking safaris (in the birthplace of the walking safari), the rim-flow pool, spa, and hilltop serenity.
Originally built in 1972 as a private retreat for Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, Chichele Presidential officially reopened in 2025 following a meticulous redesign, recently earning a coveted spot on the Travel + Leisure 2026 It List of the world's best new and reborn hotels - one of only eight properties recognised across Africa.
Perched on a hilltop with far-reaching views over the park, this intimate ten-suite lodge blends historic significance with a contemporary, design-forward safari aesthetic, refined Zambian craftsmanship, and immersive wilderness access.
