victoria falls, zambia, bridge, waterfallvictoria falls, zambia, bridge, waterfall

Best of Zambia Safari – 14 Days

From: $3,950.00

An epic expedition taking in some of the greatest highlights Zambia has to offer. Majestic Victoria Falls, incredible birding on the Kafue Flats, sandy beaches of the mighty Lake Kariba, canoeing and fishing in Lower Zambezi, while game watching from your boat.

Description

Best of Zambia Safari

Victoria Falls – Livingstone

The best of Zambia safari starts the tour from Livingstone, Zambia, where you will experience the immense power of Victoria Falls. Spend time exploring the rain forest of the Victoria Falls National Park and see the David Livingstone statue. After this unforgettable experience, relax on a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River – gin and tonic in hand! Maramba River Lodge is where we spend our first night, in tranquil surroundings overlooking the river.

Lochinvar National Park

The next day we will head to Monze Lodge, renowned for its wide array of birds. Bird watchers are in for even more of a treat when we to Lochnivar National Park for several days of excellent birding opportunities. This reserve is home to an incredible 449 avian species.

Lake Kariba

Spend two days experiencing the serene beauty of Lake Kariba. This immense lake is a paradise location for all sorts of water activities. Relax on the beach with a good book or sway in a hammock while the sun sets over the Lake. Before journeying to the pristine wilderness of Lower Zambezi National Park. Game drives morning and afternoon with fantastic wildlife sightings of Wild Dogs, Lion and Leopard as well as a multitude of herbivores.

South Luangwa National Park

We journey Northwards to the famous South Luangwa National Park that has the highest density of Leopard in all of Africa. Walking safaris were born here int he 1930’s and are the best way of experiencing and discovering the intricacies of the African bush. This reserve has one of the world’s highest leopard populations, so keep your eyes open for these beautiful cats!

If you would like to support conservation in South Luangwa National Park visit Conservation South Luangwa to get involved.

Read our Country Information for travel advice to Zambia.

Design your own itinerary to Zambia and safari at Island Bush Camp or Flatdogs Camp. We also have a Classic Zambia safari over 10 days.

For more information on our 4X4 tours read our blog on Safari Questions.

Getting There

Fly In

You can fly directly into Livingstone with either British AirwaysKenya Airways or South African Airways.

On arrival, a driver/guide will be waiting for you in arrivals, he will have a small board bearing your name.

Contact Us for travel advice.

Full Itinerary

Day 1 – Livingstone

On your arrival at Livingstone Airport you will be met by Charles who will drive you the short distance to Maramba River Lodge. Check in, relax, have a drink by the pool overlooking the river and get acquainted with your surroundings. Pierre will meet you at Maramba and at 15h00 we will be collected by our bus and taken to the Zambezi Waterfront where we will board Lady Livingstone for our 2-hour sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River. Bring a warm jacket and binoculars. Dinner will be at the lodge as a group. (D)

Day 2 – Monze Lodge

We depart the vibrant town of Livingstone and make our way Northwards along the Great East road for our camping destination where we will rest for the night. The birding here is spectacular, so we will take the time to ask Tom to do some spotting for us. It’s a wonderful place to learn the farming methods of Zambia and all are welcome to walk around this farm that grows soya, maize and cattle before we clean up in their spotless ablutions and sit around the fire. (BLD)

Day 3 to 5 – Lochinvar National Park

Lochinvar is considered the best wetland birding in the world with tens of thousands of water birds. 449 bird species in 428km²!!!
Lochinvar is renowned as a superb bird sanctuary featuring many different waterfowl, raptors, woodland species and migrants. The floodplain is a wide almost flat area, with black clay soils, sloping almost imperceptibly towards the Kafue River. Vegetation is made up of grasses, sedges and herbs adapted to an annual pattern of flooding. Many plants grow up with the rising waters to become emerging aquatics at high flood. A few isolated winterthorns (Acacia albida) and palms (Borassus aethiopicum) occur on the river banks. Hundreds of wattled cranes can be seen feeding on vegetable matter dug from the soft mud and the large marabou stork scavenging for stranded fish. Around Chunga Lagoon you’ll find the greater and lesser flamingo, the pink backed and white pelicans, African skimmer, Caspian tern, Baillon’s crake and the red knobbed coot.
Many species of duck are abundant in this environment; the black, fulvous, whistling, pintail, garganey, southern pochard, pygmy goose, yellow billed duck and the Cape and European shovellers. Waders include avocet, the Mongolian, Caspian and Pacific golden plovers, whimbrel, turnstone, sanderling, little stint, spotted redshank, black tailed and bar tailed godwits and six species of sandpiper. Over 50 raptors occur including the black sparrow hawk, osprey, secretary bird, African cuckoo hawk and the peregrine falcon to name a few. Other interesting sightings include the white-bellied and black bellied korhaans, yellow throated sandgrouse, narina trogon, and Denham’s bustard.
A former ranch, the park was designated in 1972 and is known for its Kafue lechwe which number over 30 000. The antelope and birds thrive in the absence of larger predators. Lochinvar is also home to hot springs, echoing rocks, remains of a Neolithic settlement and an Iron Age village on Sebanzi Hill, also known for its caves, ancient baobab and wildlife. (BLD)

Day 6 to 8 – Lake Kariba

Lake Kariba is Zambia’s Riviera! This is Africa’s largest man-made dam measuring 226km’s long and in places up to 40km’s wide! The dam provides considerable hydroelectric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Close to a quaint tourist town and set in 4 hectares of some of the most beautiful countryside in Africa, the campsite is nestled in a secluded area on the shores of Lake Kariba with beach frontage and magnificent views across the lake to the Matusodona Mountains in the distance. With a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and just a few kilometres from the majestic dam wall there is something to keep everyone busy. Day cruises, sunset cruises, canoes, fishing and a good old-fashioned hammock strung between palm trees. (BLD)
There is the opportunity to spend two days on a houseboat on the lake, fully inclusive of meals paid for. There is a surcharge ($300pp) for the hire of the houseboat on either an exclusive or shared basis.

Day 9 to 11 – Lower Zambezi National Park

The beauty of this park lies in its undeveloped wilderness state. The opportunities to get close to game wandering in and out of the Zambezi channels are spectacular! The park lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe so the entire area on both sides of the river is a massive wildlife sanctuary teeming with animals. The river’s edge is overhung with a thick riverine fringe, including Ebony and Fig trees’. Enormous herds of elephant up to 100 strong are often seen at the river’s edge. The park also hosts good populations of lion and leopard.
Game drives, sunset cruises, river excursions and walking safaris are included activities over the next three days.
The camp is situated in a secluded location deep within the game rich Chiawa area, next to the Zambezi National Park. Indigenous bush surrounds the lodge, wildlife roam freely through the camp, the un-spoilt and abundant river offers phenomenal game fishing. The magnificent Zambezi River is undoubtedly a ‘bucket list’ destination! (BLD)

Day 12 to 14 – South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world! Here you can enjoy a unique type of habitat seldom seen elsewhere in Africa. Lying on the valley floor, between the meandering Luangwa River and the steep Muchinga Escarpment, this is one of the finest national parks in all of Africa. Reputed to have the highest concentration of leopard in Africa, it’s estimated that there is one Leopard for every kilometre of river in the Luangwa Valley, so your chances of seeing this elusive nocturnal cat are extremely good. Pods of up to 500 hippos are possible to view in the dry season as the river shrinks and they are confined to areas of deep pools.
On average during the year there are probably 45 – 60 hippos per kilometer! World famous walking safaris are a favorite activity in South Luangwa and operate from June until November.
With vehicles at our disposal we can spend most of each day game viewing in the park. Pierre has spent considerable time in this park and knows the best places to look for game. Pack a picnic lunch and let’s discover as much of the 9050km² as we possibly can. With intimate knowledge of the park, Pierre will lead you deep into the unexplored areas that most tourists never see. (BLD)

Day 15 – Depart from Mfuwe Airport

On our final morning we will have an early game drive followed by a hearty breakfast before we say our final farewells to this fantastic adventure showcasing the very best that Zambia has to offer. Unique experiences and memories that will last a lifetime – we’re sure you will be back very soon. Our team will drive you to Mfuwe Airport for your local or international onward flights. (BL)

BLD – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

Included/Excluded

Included:

  • Meet & transfer from Livingstone Airport to Maramba River Lodge (a 15-minute drive)
  • One nights’ accommodation at Maramba River Lodge
    Guided tour of the Victoria Falls by your guide
  • Two night drives in Lower Zambezi National Park
  • All fuel costs for the duration of the tour
  • Vehicle use for the duration of the expedition driven by your personal guide
  • All National Park entrance fees’
  • Private Chef preparing all meals (Our chef has 25 years’ experience & will provide delicious meals with silver service dinner table dining)
  • Accommodation with bedding & linen
  • Safe, clean drinking water for the duration of the tour
  • All meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) while on tour
  • Breakfast: Bacon & Eggs with toast & cereals
    Lunch: Sandwiches with fruit
    Dinner: Salad, Main course & Desert
  • All camping site costs
  • Selected South African wine at dinner (2 glasses per person per night, red or white wine)
  • After dinner liqueur (Double tot of Amarula)
  • All guiding & driving by professional guides & 4X4 experts
  • Camp set-up & dismantling of equipment each morning & evening (a local camp manager is employed for this)
  • Satellite phone – medical emergencies only.
  • Charging facility for camera batteries
  • Your own private guide – 2 guests to each guide & vehicle making this an incredibly personal experience.
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Pre-dinner snacks with sundowners
  • A head torch – to be returned at the end of the tour
  • Biodegradable soap & shampoo

Excluded:

  • Personal travel insurance
  • Local and international flights
  • Any additional or optional activities not listed above
  • Any items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities of any kind
  • Malaria medication – please consult your Doctor.
  • Any drinks over & above the wines included at dinner.

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