Itinerary

Day 1              Lusaka

Arrive Lusaka and overnight. Wayside Guest House or similar.
 
Days 2-6         South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa is Zambia's premier park and possibly the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Home to a truly impressive number of animals, the woodlands and plains of the valley host huge concentrations of game – including elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, hippo, and over 450 species of birds.  It is the only place in Africa you can see the endemic Thornicoft giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest.  The abundance of leopards in Luangwa is famous and it is usual for us to see several, a special thrill when walking. But it is the great abundance of game that impresses people the most.
The remote Nsefu sector has only 2 lodges (compared to 40+ lodges in Mfuwe sector), which is why game is so prolific and not used to human presence.  On a typical stay you’re likely to have lions and leopards right around the camps!

Day 2               Nsefu Sector
Start your safari with an afternoon game drive continuing into the evening hours, followed by dinner outdoors at our lodge on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa river overlooking hippo pods and elephants. Prepare for your walking safari with Deb Tittle.  Nsefu Camp
 
Days 3 & 4       Walking Safari with Master Naturalist Guide Deb Tittle

Without a doubt, this experience is sure to be the highlight of your trip. Imagine seeing leopards, elephants, hippos, cape buffalo, giraffe and more while walking! South Luangwa is known as the home of the walking safari. Walking through big game country with our elite Master Naturalists is a truly exciting –and more intimate—way to experience Africa.  As a participant rather than just a tourist, you’ll learn to interpret subtle signs and tracks and to identify new scents, listen for alarm cries that reveal the whereabouts of predators, and discover the wonder of life in the bush.  An armed scout will accompany your guide for the utmost safety.

Days are spent walking with Master Naturalist Guide Deb Tittle in the game rich Nsefu sector. Each morning Deb will suggest a different area to explore based on the movement of wildlife overnight and the activity level you desire. We typically walk from camp to camp. During your morning walk the mobile camp will be moved and lunch will be waiting on arrival, or you may picnic en-route. In some cases jeeps may be used to bring us to an area to walk. Luangwa Bushcamp
 
Day 5 & 6        Tena Tena Camp, Nesfu Sector, South Luangwa Nat'l Park

 It’s easy to see why The London Times raves; “Tena Tena is altogether beyond superlatives and must be one of the best safari camps in the whole of Africa.”  Return from walking with Deb Tittle and explore the remote Nsefu sector by jeep and foot. Option to visit a Kwaza village to meet local people and enjoy an authentic cultural experience. Tena Tena Camp

Day 7-9           Zebra Plains Walking Safari with Master Guide Garth Hovell

Zebra Plains is home to large populations of zebra, elephant, buffalo, antelope, lion, leopard and wild dog and over 400 bird species. The diversity of habitats here provide from some of the most spectacular walking in Africa over terrain that is ideal for exploring with plenty of shade and long sweeping views.
Garth may guide us to a large island across from camp to get up close to plains game, or explore nearby Zebra Plains where buffalo, elephant and eland gather in large herds on the open savannah, a rarity in the wooded terrain of the South Luangwa. Nearby is Changwa Channel, featured in David Attenborough’s “Life” series and home to one of the largest hippo populations on earth. Zebra Plains Camp is a 6-guest luxury, solar powered safari camp perched on a sand bank at the confluence of the Luangwa and Chibembe Rivers. All tents have real beds, campaign furniture, mosquito nets, en suite facilities and flush toilets. Water for al fresco showers is mixed to your preferred temperature by a tent attendant. There is also a main mess tent with dining area, library and bar.

Days 10-12     Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park
More than twice the size of South Luangwa, Kafue is Zambia’s”hidden” park: under-visited and so remote our transfer combines bush plane and helicopter.  Kafue offers the classic African vision of vast plains and wetlands which compliment South Luangwa’s woodlands and rivers.  The Busanga Plains provide fantastic concentrations of over 150 mammals, including puku, lechwe, buffalo and wildebeest, as well as rare animals not easily viewed in many places in southern Africa such as roan, oribi and Lichtenstein's hartebeest. This wealth of game is also a big attraction for predators, including wild dog, side-striped jackal and prides of lion often up to 20 strong. A special attraction: Kafue is one of the best places in Zambia to see cheetah.


Kapinga & Busanga Bush Camps are ideally situated a few miles from each other in the center of the epic Busanga Plains, with sweeping views of expansive grassy seasonal floodplains. The camps are perfectly situated for some of the best lion viewing in Africa. Morning and afternoon jeep safaris are peppered with breaks for tea and sundowners for the dramatic sunsets. Optional hot-air ballon rides offer a breathtaking perspective of the plains.

Days 13          Mana Pools National Park - Ruckomechi Lodge
Idyllically located in an exclusive concession within Mana Pools National Park, Ruckomechi overlooks spectacular views of the Zambezi River and the imposing Great African Rift Valley. An intoxicating blend of wildlife and bird species abound. The dry season sees large herds of elephant and buffalo together with hippo, waterbuck, kudu, nyala and eland all seeking to quench their thirst along the banks of this mighty river. Predators follow with lions frequenting the floodplains and adjacent woodland, while leopard stalk the thickets and cheetah and endangered wild dog are also often seen.
 

Arrive in the afternoon and enjoy afternoon and evening jeep safari as well as your lodge's extensive amenities, including a beautiful outdoor "bath-with-a-view", an infinity pool, a spectacular stargazing deck overlooking the Zambezi river, and an acacia tree grove in the middle of camp visited nearly daily by wild elephants. Ruckomechi Camp
 
Day 14-16      Canoe Safari with Master Guide Henry Bandure - Mana Pools

Canoeing the Zambezi river at Mana Pools is simply one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth. Perfect for adventurous travellers, canoeing allows guests the closest possible encounters with wildlife on one of the greatest rivers in Africa. This thrilling experience traverses the Mana Pools National Park, through the heart of Mana Pools and along the Zambezi's shoreline, canoeing past countless hippos, elephants and other game on the way!  Daily walking safaris take advantage of a Mana Pools legendary abundance of game, who come to the 4 pools in a stunning array, allowing for exciting interaction. Each night on the river is spent “camping” in a deluxe full-service mobile lodge erected and dismantled by support vehicles and staff who meet you at a different location on the banks of the Zambezi River, ultimately finishing 40 miles downstream with many adventures to recall. Encounters with animals and birds, whether on canoe or on foot, are up close and awe-inspiring. Exclusive experience: Maximum group size of 6, maximum of 2 people per canoe, option to share a canoe with a guide for less adventurous travelers. Each campsite within the Mana Pools National Park is reserved for the exclusive use of our guests and while on the river or on foot on its banks we enjoy the wild expanse mostly to ourselves.
 

After a morning safari at Ruckomechi, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch, meet your guide and go through a thorough safety briefing. This afternoon you’ll start paddling downstream in sturdy Canadian canoes to our mobile camp in the Mana Pools National Park. The camp will have already been set up in advance; the first afternoon of paddling covers about 6.5 miles. This is a relatively easy distance to cover in the time available and gives you a chance to familiarize yourselves with the canoes and the various paddle strokes required.
 

Canoeists are awakened before dawn with tea/coffee and biscuits and we try to get onto the water just before sunrise. This is a magical time on the river as the water is usually calm and the peace and tranquility is amazing. After paddling leisurely for a few hours, we beach the canoes on the bank of the Zambezi River and set out for a game walk. Henry wlll choose a suitable area, based on his knowledge of the area and game movements and we take a few hours to explore on foot, and unravel some of the intricacies of the bush. After returning to the canoes, and a light snack, we continue canoeing to a suitable lunch spot, arriving around midday. Lunch is carried in the canoes and is usually consists of a salad and cold meats.


We normally rest up in the shade for a while or take another short walk before moving on arriving at the next camp at dusk. The camp, and all the luggage, will have been moved by the camp staff and all that is required to be done by participants is to enjoy a hot shower under the stars, and a cold drink, followed by dinner. The daily distances covered from one camp to the next are around 12-16 miles and the daily routine will vary according to wildlife movements.

Day 17           Mana Pools National Park - Ruckomechi Lodge

After breakfast on the river we’ll safari by land back to Ruckmechi Lodge, where you’ll enjoy the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the camp’s amenities. Each luxury tent has both indoor and outdoor showers, and the camp boasts an outdoor ‘bath-with-a- view’ in a secluded, scenic spot. a central dining, bar, library and main area completes the camp offerings. There is a separate deck with infinity pool for swimming and sun bathing, and an inviting, cushion-strewn sundowner and star gazing deck. You’ll have a chance to enjoy afternoon game drives, night drives or catch-and-release fishing.

Day 18           Lusaka

Return to Lusaka and transfer for your flight out.

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