Zambia safari and Victoria Falls holiday
Price
£8663 excluding flights
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Duration
15 Days
Type
Tailor made
More info
This itinerary is priced per person sharing and designed to give you an idea of what can be included on your bespoke luxury tour of Zambia, tailor-made to suit your personal tastes and preferences.
Description of Zambia safari and Victoria Falls holiday
From animal encounters in national parks to adrenaline activities at Victoria Falls, this classic Zambia safari holiday showcases the best that the country has to offer.
You’ll cover the highlights of Zambia, beginning with South Luangwa National Park. Spot the park’s famous big game species on game drives, walking safaris and even night game drives (this national park is one of only a few on the continent that allows game drives after dark).
Next, it’s Lower Zambezi National Park, known for canoe safaris, fishing trips and gorgeous sunset river cruises, complete with sundowners in hand. Your Zambia safari holiday ends in the historic town of Livingstone, the gateway to Victoria Falls, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.
If you’re looking to get off the beaten safari track, explore game-rich national parks on foot and feel the fresh spray from the world’s largest waterfall on your face, then Zambia is the perfect destination for your adventures.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival in Zambia & Transfer to South Luangwa National Park - Arriving into capital city Lusaka, you’ll take a domestic connection to Mfuwe and a transfer to your first safari stop, South Luangwa National Park. You’ll be staying at Flatdogs Camp, which is the closest camp to the park’s main gate and looks out to incredible views of the parklands. Relax and unwind after a long journey with a sundowner, looking out for your first glimpses of Zambia’s wildlife. Flatdogs is proud to support local communities and you can visit many of their projects, such as those in the nearby Mfuwe village. |
| Day 2: | Exploring South Luangwa National Park - Start exploring South Luangwa with a morning game drive in an open-top safari vehicle, spotting giant mammals, an exotic array of birdlife, as well as plenty of other wildlife sightings, as creatures come to drink at the Luangwa River. Keep your eyes peeled for some of Zambia’s endemic species, including Thornicroft’s giraffe, Crawshay’s zebra and Cookson’s wildebeest. |
| Day 3: | Exploring South Luangwa National Park - Spend the hotter hours of the day relaxing by the pool at your safari camp, where you might be visited by elephants, giraffes and impala. After an evening game drive, head out for an intrepid night safari, where you can see South Luangwa’s nocturnal wildlife come to life. Look out for big cats on the prowl, the critically endangered African wild dog and other rare species, such as the shy pangolin. |
| Day 4: | Transfer to Nkonzi, South Luangwa National Park - Leaving Flatdogs behind, you’ll delve deeper into the national park by staying at Nkonzi Camp, a rustic safari lodge located in a remote area of South Luangwa. Getting back to nature, you’ll sleep in an open-air, en-suite safari tent (complete with hot water bucket showers and flushing toilets) and enjoy homemade meals made using fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. In the evenings, watch some bush TV (the campfire) and enjoy stargazing without light pollution, out in the bush. |
| Day 5: | Exploring South Luangwa National Park - Zambia is the birthplace of the walking safari, an activity which provides a different perspective on the country’s diverse wildlife. Learn about the intricate ecosystems, Zambia’s rich flora and fauna, then learn to track big game using scat, footprints and other signs. All with the help of some of the most knowledgeable and highly-trained walking safari guides in Africa. |
| Day 6: | Exploring South Luangwa National Park - Enjoy more morning and evening game drives in this remote region of South Luangwa National Park. Rising before dawn, the soft light and dewy conditions make for some of the most stunning wildlife photography. Explore the Mfuwe bridge area, head north to some of the least-visited areas in the park or enjoy the reliable game viewing found in the Mushilashi-Luwi area. |
| Day 7: | Exploring South Luangwa National Park - Your South Luangwa adventure continues with more opportunities for game drives and safari activities. Leaving camp around 4pm, evening game drives are picturesque sunset moments, but also give you the chance to see the park’s predators as they start to wake up and hunt. You’ll be treated to a safari tradition of sundowners as you watch the sun dip below the horizon, then continue your safari in the dark. |
| Day 8: | Transfer to Lower Zambezi National Park - Swapping South Luangwa for the Lower Zambezi National Park, your Zambia safari adventure continues as you take another domestic flight and head to your next safari camp, Mvuu Lodge. Located on the scenic banks of the Zambezi, Mvuu is a luxury safari lodge nestled in the game-rich Chiawa region, perched outside the park and directly opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools. |
| Day 9: | Exploring Lower Zambezi National Park - Explore the Chiawa game management area before heading into Lower Zambezi. Here, you’ll see kudu, impala, elephants, buffalo, lions, hyena and leopards, as well as a variety of colourful birdlife. The wetlands, bushveld and riverine areas are home to kingfishers, bee-eaters, hornbills, vultures, owls and parrots. |
| Day 10: | Exploring Lower Zambezi National Park - Enjoy river activities on the Zambezi, including fishing excursions, canoe safaris and river cruises, where you can watch wildlife as they come to you and drink at the water’s edge. Or relax for sunset with a sundowner in hand, drifting down the currents with the hippos and crocodiles. |
| Day 11: | Exploring Lower Zambezi National Park - Start early for a day trip fishing on the river, where you can hope to catch a tigerfish (just watch out for their teeth!). This trophy species weigh up to nine kilograms, though you may also be lucky enough to hook a bream, chess, nkupi and vundu. Break for lunch during the hottest part of the day and return for sundowners in the evening. |
| Day 12: | Transfer to Livingstone (Victoria Falls) - Say goodbye to the national parks and head to the historic town of Livingstone, the gateway to Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. You’ll be staying at Chundukwa River Lodge, a safari-style property on the banks of the Zambezi, comprised of five stilted chalets and a family house, offering a private and relaxing riverside escape. |
| Day 13: | Exploring Livingstone (Victoria Falls) - Known to locals as Mosi Oa Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders), Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a truly impressive sight to behold. With a huge variety of activities on offer, you won’t run out of ways to explore and enjoy the falls. Take a hike along the footpaths around the region for epic views and billowing spray, see the falls from above on a helicopter tour, then swim out to the edge of Devil’s Pool – right next to the thundering cascades! |
| Day 14: | Exploring Livingstone (Victoria Falls) - Livingstone is named for Scottish explorer David Livingstone, the first European to see Victoria Falls in 1855. The town itself is a great attraction, with its wide, tree-lined streets and colonial architecture. The Livingstone Museum is also worth a visit for some background on the region and its history. |
| Day 15: | Departure from Zambia - Your Zambia safari and Victoria Falls holiday comes to a close, but you’ll head to the airport with a camera full of photos and a heart full of memories, from wildlife encounters to chasing waterfalls, to share with friends and family back home. |
Price information
£8663 excluding flights
Convert currency:
This itinerary is priced per person sharing and designed to give you an idea of what can be included on your bespoke luxury tour of Zambia, tailor-made to suit your personal tastes and preferences.
Departure information
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel guides
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Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
As with all of our luxury holidays, this itinerary has been crafted to ensure that it positively effects the local communities and environments visited.This itinerary includes trips to some of Zambia's protected areas of natural beauty, including national parks and the UNESCO-listed Victoria Falls area. By visiting these sites (all entrance fees are included in your luxury tour), you are supporting the preservation and conservation of these areas, and indicating to authorities that tourists are interested in protecting Zambia's incredible natural environments. This, in turn, provides more funding for park rangers and puts more patrols on the ground, which deters and stops poaching.
Whilst out on safari, please ensure that you don’t leave any litter – everything you carry in, you must carry out. Aside from the environmental damage, litter can be harmful to the wildlife.
We also make a special effort to recommend accommodation providers which have responsible and sustainable initiatives. For example, Flatdogs Camp boasts a carbon neutral certificate as one of the first carbon neutral operators in Zambia. The camp also supports environmental and conservation projects such as Conservation South Luangwa, which pays paying the salaries of Community Forest Guards. A portion of your final bill is goes towards these conservation initiatives, so you can be reassured that your presence is creating a positive impact.
People
All the local guides referred to in this itinerary are paid a fair wage. We believe that using local guides is important, as it helps generate local incomes and creates jobs, plus it offers a more authentic travel experience.We recommend independent local hotels, lodges, guesthouses and campsites, rather than international chain hotels, which helps support local communities and allows you to experience true Zambian hospitality. For example, Chundukwa River Lodge is family owned has been in operation for over 50 years. Owners Doug and Gail built the original Chundukwa in 1992 and aim to offer an authentic Zambian experience, immersing guests in the history, culture and soul of Zambia. The property is constructed from natural materials and the restaurant uses organic, home-grown produce from the garden as well as fresh ingredients from surrounding farms, which supports the local community.
This luxury Zambia holiday includes the option for cultural experiences learning about local traditions with trips to local villages, where you can buy authentic souvenirs. We believe getting to know the destination and the people who live there means that you will have a more authentic and meaningful travel experience.
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