GUIDED DRIVE ZAMBIA ADVENTURE
Luangwa Expedition
(13 days + 2 days Bangweulu or Kasanka options)
Zambia is known as the 'real Africa', and with good reason. It is a destination that offers unspoilt beauty and some fabulous game viewing opportunities in remote, truly wild, game-rich national parks without the crowds. Acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the world to visit, Zambia's welcoming people live in peace and harmony.
Starting in South Luangwa National Park and finishing in Zambia’s capital city Lusaka, this 2 week guided drive and accommodated tour offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience Africa in all its vastness and gives a feel for genuine adventure and exploration.
Tour available as Guided or Tag Along Tour with our guide Rob (Guided Self-Drive Tour - Min 8 pax).
Other accommodation options: full camping / accommodated + camping / accommodation upgrade where available.
EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS
Our expedition has been carefully designed to show you some of Africa’s best kept secrets.
Safari highlights include the Luangwa Valley, home of the walking safari, where you will also be able to experience after dark game drives. The beautiful South Luangwa National Park and remote North Luangwa National Parks and possibly the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa.
You will travel through some of the most remote villages in Southern Africa and discover the culturally rich Shiwa Ng’andu estate and Kapishya Hotsprings, as well as the breathtaking landscapes of Mutinondo Highlands.
POSSIBLE ADD ONS
Two-night extension are possible to Bangweulu Wetlands on a search for the prehistoric look African Shoebill and the abundant lechwe (mid-June to mid-September) or to Kasanka National Park that hosts the largest mammal migration on the planet (mid-October to mid-November).
ITINERARY
With Bangweulu Wetlands extension: With Kasanka National Park extension:
DAY 1-3 I TRAVEL FROM LUSAKA TO SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
Wildlife Camp, Safari Tent, Dine in Restaurant
On arrival into the Luangwa valley, after a scenic 1-hour flight over the vast expanses of Central Zambia, you’ll be met at Mfuwe airport by a member of the Wildlife camp team and whisked off to your first destination, Wildlife Camp, on one of the most scenic stretches of the Luangwa River.
The camp is often full of wildlife… Beware of the silent but massive elephants during the day, and the equally quiet hippos at night out on their nightly foraging runs. Dinner at the lodge and an early start the next day.
South Luangwa National Park is one of the most beautiful and species-rich natural regions in all of Africa. The lifeline and namesake of the national park is the Luangwa River - one of the most animal-rich main river systems in Africa.
On these 2 days, we enjoy a morning and afternoon/evening drive in the park. The South Luangwa is famous for it’s big cats (lion & leopard), and has a thriving wild dog population thanks to the Zambian Carnivore program. Along with the normal plains game of impala, puku, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck and of course the large number of elephants found in the park.
There are three endemic species to the Luangwa valley: the Cooksons wildebeest, Thornicroft giraffe and Crawshays zebra, along with over 400 bird species, this park is a wildlife lovers’ paradise.
DAY 4-6 I TRAVEL TO NORTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, EASTERN ZAMBIA
(220 kms - Approx 8hrs)
Ituba Camp, Safari Tent, Self-Catering
An early start today! After breakfast at Wildlife Camp, we head out on the long and very wild and remote road north. We are passing through some of the remotest villages in Zambia, cut off from the rest of the area for 6 months every rainy season due to unpassable roads and surging and rising rivers that are teeming with crocodiles and hippos.
This drive is long, but a great journey through the Zambia that few tourists get to see. We spend the nights in luxury safari tents on the banks of the Luangwa River, opposite North Luangwa National Park…
On these days, we walk… There aren’t many parks left in the world that can claim to be truly wild… but this is one of them. North Luangwa is truly remote, and after the luxury of the game rich South Luangwa, where animals are used to cars in close proximity, walking is the best way to experience North Luangwa National Park.
We experience walking safaris for up to 5 hours each morning with a highly trained guide and an armed ranger that will take us into the heart of the action. The guide will explain everything there is to know about the bush; from discovering different plants and their uses, to how to track animals and distinguish between the different bird calls.
The afternoons are spent relaxing by the river where the animals come to you.
DAY 7 I TRAVEL TO KAPISHYA HOT SPRINGS, NORTHERN ZAMBIA
(90kms - 4hrs)
Kapishya Hot Springs Lodge, Chalet, Dinner at the Lodge
Today we start off after breakfast for a drive through the middle of North Luangwa from East to West through the rhino sanctuary. These ancient relics are tough to spot in the thickets they prefer but are thriving in this park thanks to the conservation efforts of the Frankfurt Zoological Society and North Luangwa Conservation Society.
We are headed for a beautiful property founded by colonial government officer Stewart Gore Brown in 1914. Still occupied by his relatives, it is a working farm and game ranch, and has a beautiful hot spring set in a wooded area on the Mansa River.
Kapishya Hot Springs Lodge, Chalet, Full Board.
Today is spent enjoying the hot spring, relaxing by the pool, taking a hike in the hills nearby or maybe visiting the Manor House at Shiwa Ng’andu (at own expense, about 20km’s away) built by Stewart Gore Brown in 1920.
DAY 9 I TRAVEL TO MUTINONDO WILDERNESS, NORTHERN ZAMBIA
(240kms - Approx 5hrs)
Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge, Chalet, Dine in Restaurant.
After breakfast, we are heading further south towards the escarpment and the Luangwa Valley, where we find the extraordinary Mutinondo Wilderness. Set in unspoilt miombo woodland, this gem is set on granite rocks and surrounded by huge inselbergs that dot the landscape.
DAY 10 & 11 I MUTINONDO WILDERNESS, NORTHERN ZAMBIA
Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge, Chalet, Full Board.
The landscape of the nature reserve is breathtaking. The area is an absolute dream for active holidaymakers. There are no dangerous animals and so you can go hiking or mountain biking over 60km’s of hiking trails including the 10 peaks walk.
Mutinondo also has several waterfalls that one can visit on foot, a beautiful river - which gives this place it’s name - for swimming and some river craft (canoe, kayak and stand up paddle boards) for guests to enjoy. Also a great spot for birding
DAY 12 (or DAY 14 if extension – see below) I TRAVEL TO MKUSHI
(325kms - Approx 6hrs)
Fika Lodge, Dine at Restaurant
We leave Mutinondo and head towards Lusaka, stopping off in Mkushi for the night to break up the 10+ hours of driving it takes to get back to the capital city of Zambia. We spend a night at a splendid lodge just south of Mkushi.
(Option of driving the escarpment back to Mfuwe and South Luangwa for a flight back to Lusaka the next day…Only available Mid Aug to end Oct)
DAY 13 (or DAY 15 if extension – see below) I TRAVEL TO LUSAKA
(280kms – Approx 6hrs)
Ciela Resort & Spa
We drive back to Lusaka and say our goodbyes at the delightful Ciela Resort & Spa, very close to Lusaka International Airport, where you will stay overnight before boarding your international flights. Bon Voyage
POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS (on day 12 and 13)
2 NIGHTS EXTENSION TO KASANKA NATIONAL PARK
(220kms - Approx 4.5hrs)
Wasa Lodge, Full Board
Between Mid-October to Mid-November, 2 nights can be spent at Wasa Lodge in Kasanka National Park, that hosts the largest mammal migration on the planet. Around Mid-October, African Straw Colored Fruit Bats start arriving from the Congo and feast on the fruiting trees in the Mishutu Forest (swamp) and neighbouring areas.
At it’s peak, this forest houses 8 to 10 millions of these bats which head out to forage at dusk, and arrive back to sleep at dawn. Of course, this attracts the predators that enjoy the feast also… pythons, leopards, bat hawks, fish eagles and other eagles also take advantage of the migration.
Rest of the trip as per Day 12 and Day 13 above.
2 NIGHTS EXTENSION TO BANGWEULU WETLANDS
(100kms - Approx 3hrs)
Nsobe Camp, Safari Tent, Self-Catering
Between Mid-June to Mid-September, 2 nights can be spent in Nsobe Camp, on the edge of the swamps at Bangweulu wetlands.
The absolute best spot to enjoy birding, walks and the search for the prehistoric look African shoebill. Also the abundant black lechwe is found in the thousands here, along with other game species.
We tour the flood plains either on foot or by canoe and can do a walking tour with local guides to visit local villages and sites.
Rest of the trip as per Day 12 and Day 13 above.
2024 Prices per person sharing -
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