Zambia’s first fully fenced private reserve is celebrating the country’s first successful captive-bred lion rewilding
The Lolelunga Private Reserve is having a landmark year. As part of the Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection, Zambia’s first fully fenced private reserve is celebrating the country’s first successful captive-bred lion rewilding and more.
Located on the banks of the Lunga River near the Kafue National Park, the 30,000-hectare reserve is currently open for the season until 15 November 2026. What was once degraded by mankind has been transformed through habitat rehabilitation and intensive anti-poaching initiatives.
In a landscape that is still actively healing, every stay in one of the seven elegantly appointed suites contributes to the recovery of a once-lost ecosystem. Witness conservation in action through game drives and walking safaris, observe elephants feeding in the treetops, and as this season’s guests, see the two rescue captive-bred lions undergo extensive preparation for life in the wild. As part of a partnership with the Mukuni Big Five zoo, the lions have been successfully acclimatised to their new environment, and are increasingly exhibiting natural behaviours.
There is also the opportunity of observing the resident cheetahs and their families (thanks to a pioneering cheetah reintroduction programme launched in 2024) as they continue to establish themselves in the reserve, and soon enough, black rhinos, which will make their return later this year.
Featured photo by Lolelunga Private Reserve
