Wild Zambian Safari

Zambia: Blessed with one of the seven natural wonders of the world and an abundance of wildlife, water and vast open spaces, Zambia offers an unforgettable safari experience exploring the real Africa. This private journey takes in our chosen highlights of Zambia, guaranteed to wow even the most seasoned safari buff.


Tour Includes:

  • 5 scheduled light aircraft flights.
  • 11 nights at comfortable safari camps and bush camps.
  • 9 Breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners, including bush dinners and sundowners.
  • All drinks (excluding premium brands).
  • All transfers between camps.
  • Conservations and park fees.
  • Guided safari activities (shared) at Kafunta River Lodge, Island Bush Camp & Kasaka River Lodge.
  • Sundowner boat trip and a visit to Victoria Falls from Chundukwa.


Departures: Monday, Friday and Sunday

Comment:
Island Bush Camp is only open from 20th May until the 31st October - at other times we will use an alternative camp in the South Luangwa.

Flight Inclusive Price:
Based on return economy class flights with British Airways; from London Heathrow to Livingstone via Johannesburg, and returning from Lusaka to London. This will add 1 day onto your itinerary. UK Airport Passenger Duty and airport taxes are also included.

Tour Prices:
Due to price variations and seasonal supplements, we have provided a year round ‘From Price’ based on mid season rates. Seasonal surcharges for flights and accommodation will apply in high & peak season and an exact cost based on specific dates of travel can be provided upon request.

How to book your Private Journey

Wild Zambian Safari

Wild Zambian Safari

Day 1: Livingstone
Landing in Livingstone, home of the famed Victoria Falls, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your lodge on the banks of the river. After an afternoon unwinding, you can enjoy a sunset river cruise on the Zambezi, an ideal chance to spot basking crocodiles and pods of hippos as well as fabulous bird life. Witness your first Zambian sunset with a gin and tonic in hand, before returning to the lodge for a hearty home cooked dinner under the stars. (L,D)

Day 3: Livingstone
After a leisurely morning, you will be transferred to Livingstone to witness the majestic Victoria Falls. A path along the edge of the forest provides those prepared to brave the tremendous spray with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls. Livingstone is also an adrenalin junkie's playground with options for bungee jumping, white water rafting, heli-flips and micro-lighting, best booked in advance to avoid disappointment. Livingstone town itself has a small museum and a good craft market with excellent wood carvings. In the afternoon you will be transferred back to the lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Livingstone - South Luangwa National Park
This morning you will be transferred to Livingstone Airport in time for your light aircraft flight via Lusaka and onto the South Luangwa Valley. Your guide will be waiting for your arrival and you will be transferred by open topped 4x4 though the small township of Mfuwe before arriving at your lodge on Luangwa River. In the afternoon you will enter the park for your first game drive into the South Luangwa National Park, one of the great unspoilt wilderness areas in Africa. (B,L,D)

Day 5: South Luangwa National Park (Mfuwe)
You will have a full day at the lodge with morning and afternoon guided game drives in the park, entering via the lodge's own pontoon. This adventurous crossing takes you into the more remote areas of the park for exceptional wildlife viewing. Morning drives traditionally last from 6-10.30 am followed by brunch at the lodge and a chance to relax by the pool. Afternoon drives are from 4-8 pm, returning to the lodge by spotlight in search of those nocturnal species rarely seen. A camp fire and four course dinner on the deck awaits your return. (B,L,D)

Day 6: South Luangwa (Southern Sector)
This morning you will have another morning game drive (or you may prefer to have the morning off and relax - the choice is yours) before ending up at your rustic bush camp in a remote corner of the Park. Made entirely of natural materials, there are 4 grass & reed huts stilted above the ground and equipped with modern comforts of solar water, hot showers and running water. After a bush brunch, you can enjoy this pristine setting from your private veranda with fabulous views over the Luangwa River. After tea and cake, you will set out for your afternoon safari, usually a guided bush walk, returning to your bush camp at sundown for a delicious candlelit dinner under the African night sky. (B,L,D)

Day 7: South Luangwa (Southern Sector)
You will have a full day at the bush camp with guided morning and afternoon bush walks. Do remember that high levels of fitness are not required as the pace is slow. (B,L,D)

Day 8: South Luangwa National Park (Mfuwe)
Today you'll have a game drive through the park returning to the lodge in time for brunch. Here you can settle back in, before joining an afternoon activity. As an alternative to a game drive, you can visit the local community to find out more about their way of life and culture. The Kuanda people are a friendly and proud people who welcome visitors and are happy to share their culture and traditions. (B,L,D)

Day 9: South Luangwa - Lower Zambezi
After a well deserved lie in and a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport with an optional stop at Tribal Textiles to pick up some fabulous hand painted home-furnishings. You'll fly by light aircraft via Lusaka and onto the Lower Zambezi, from where it is a short drive to your safari camp on the edge of the Lower Zambezi National Park. Enjoy an afternoon safari excursion or kick back and relax in camp. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Lower Zambezi
You will have a full day to enjoy this lush setting on the banks of the Zambezi River. Activities are tailored to make the most of this incredibly diverse wilderness and are included. Game viewing is offered in a variety of forms, game drives designed to completely immerse you in the amazing natural wonders of wild Africa; a leisurely canoe safari; a river safari navigating the islands and main channels of the mighty Zambezi; or the thrill of a walking safari. Fishing is also possible as well as visits to local villages. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Lower Zambezi
You will have you final day on safari in the Lower Zambezi. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Lower Zambezi - Lusaka
Today you will have a very early transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Lusaka, where your journey will end. (B)

How to book your Private Journey

Wild Zambian Safari

Without flights

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 Dec 12Adult Price From£3,295 Make an Enquiry

With flights from the UK

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 31 Dec 12Adult Price From£4,275 Make an Enquiry

* Please note the prices shown above are based on two persons sharing a twin or double room

Wild Zambian Safari

Please select the regions you are interested in.

Chundukwa River Lodge

Livingstone

Chundukwa is a small simple lodge set on the grassy banks of the Zambezi River just 25km upstream from the mighty...

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Kafunta River Lodge

South Luangwa National Park

Kafunta River Lodge is set in the riverside forest on the river bank overlooking the South Luangwa National Park. An...

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Kasaka River Lodge

Lower Zambezi National Park

Kasaka River Lodge is a 20 bed safari camp nestled on the northern banks of the Zambezi River, just outside the western...

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How to book your Private Journey

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More useful information when travelling to:
Zambia

Flight Information

Flight time to Lusaka is a little more than 10 hours and direct flights are available with British Airways.

Useful Tips

• Avoid wearing navy or black on game drives as these attract Tsetsi flies.

• In the South Luangwa pick up some incredible hand-painted fabrics at Tribal Textiles

• Take some decent walking shoes and try a walking safari - it's a magical way to experience the wilderness

• For the best views of the falls, don't forget to visit the Zimbabwe side too

When To Go

Weather patterns across Africa are becoming increasingly unpredictable with rain sometimes arriving in the middle of deserts and damaging droughts when rains should be falling.

December " March are generally the wettest months, although the further north you are the earlier it starts and later it finishes. It tends to rain more in the east and up high than it does elsewhere and during this time many of the camps in Zambia close as some of the poorer roads become impossible to pass through.

By April and May most of the rain has faded away, leaving a landscape that's still green, but starting to dry out. Night time temperatures start to drop, especially in higher and more southerly locations.

By British summer time the nights are much cooler with the days being generally clear and warm, the bush-camps open up again and game viewing is on the rise.

Temperatures really rise as September and October arrive; the lower-lying rift valleys " Lower Zambezi, Mana Pools and Luangwa Valley " can get very hot in October. Game viewing tends to be at its best as animals congregate around the rare watering holes.

November is variable; it can be hot and dry like October, or it can see the season's first downpours. Often it's a very interesting month as you can see both patterns on successive days.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Syria. With your booking confirmation you will receive a packing list specific to your tour, so please treat this as a general guideline only.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.

On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with. However, All clothing should be neutral, khaki or bush coloured for walking.
Therefore as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long
• 3 x T-shirts
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• A warm jacket
• Rainproof jacket
• 2 x Pairs of cotton trousers
• Socks
• Sun hat
• Swim suit or trunks
• Shorts " for the midday break
• Pair of sandals, trainers or pumps

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Torch (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Plug adapter

Personal First Aid Kit:
While we do carry a large medical kit on our group tours, we would advise that you take some of the basics with you. This should include:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Malaria Tablets (if necessary)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife

NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses. You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
Zambia is 2hrs ahead of GMT.

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
When on safari the cooks prepare a solid three meals a day although depending on where you are and what you are doing lunches are often taken in picnic form. Emphasis is made on fresh vegetables and salads while fresh bread is baked daily. Vegetarians are can easily be catered for although like much of Southern Africa the locals do eat a considerable amount of meat. Alcohol is readily available.

Electricity:
In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug, camps can vary.

Money:
In Zambia the official unit of currency is the Zambian Kwacha.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

A few points to help you plan:
• Payments are mainly made in cash.
• Increasingly more shops and hotels will accept credit card payments, though a cash advance is unlikely.
• You can easily exchange Euros, US Dollars and UK Sterling cash.
• ATM machines are available in the larger towns but best not to be relied upon.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel.

Language & Religion:
The official language in Zambia is English, used to conduct official business and act as a medium of instruction in schools. Main local languages include Lusaka, Bemba and Nyanja. Zambia has 85 languages in total including the 13 dialects that stand as independent languages. According to the 1996 constitution the country is officially a Christian nation. There are however a wide variety of religious traditions. A wide range of Christian denominations are practiced and a small minority of the population are praise Islam and Judaism.

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.

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