Zambia’s Hidden Gem Safari

10 Days

Zambia

Classic

Zambia’s Great Parks are a must-see! This 10-day safari trip includes magnificent walking safaris, game drives, and boat safaris in the Kafue National Park and the Amazing Busanga Plains, as well as the famous walking safari and night game drives in South Luangwa. On foot, on a game drive, and a boat, you will get closer to nature! The ultimate schedule for nature enthusiasts who want to immerse themselves in the bush is staying in remote and small camps around Zambia, and this itinerary is right for you.

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Highlights

Kafue National Park and Busanga Plains Safari
Walking Safari & Boat Cruise
Day & Night Game Drive Safari
South Luangwa National Park

Inclusions

9 Nights Ensuite Luxury Accommodation
All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Three-course Dinner, Afternoon Tea/Coffee and Snacks)
All Guided Airport & Road transfers
All Internal Flights stated in the itinerary (Busanga – Lusaka, Lusaka – Mfuwe -Lusaka)
All Game viewing Activities
Park fees at Kafue National Park and South Luangwa National Park
All Local Drinks

The Itinerary

Day 1

Meet & Greet /Transfer to Kafue NP

Welcome to Zambia! Fly from your home to Lusaka, Zambia. You will be welcomed by our representative upon arrival and transferred by road to Kafue National Park, where you will spend three nights at Ila Safari Lodge, which is conveniently positioned on the banks of the Kafue River in Kafue National Park. Ila Safari Lodge, located just one hour flight away from Lusaka’s airport or a Four-hour drive from Zambia’s capital city, is the ideal location for exploring deeper into the Kafue National Park.

Depending on when you arrive, you can either relax and enjoy the amenities and the river scenery, or you can go out on a Sunset Boat Cruise, return to the lodge, freshen up, and dinner will be provided.

Day 2 & 3

Explore Kafue National Park

Breakfast is followed by a morning game viewing activity such as a game drive safari, a walking safari, or a boat cruise, before returning to the lodge for lunch and free time to rest. Alternatively, you might request an excursion to visit the community, meet local people, and check on the projects that Greens and the community are working on during your spare time.

Afternoon tea/coffee snacks will be offered later in the day before departing for the afternoon game viewing activity before returning to the lodge almost in time for dinner then bedtime.

Day 4

Road trip to Busanga Plains

This morning you will have breakfast and then a game drive transfer head to Busanga Flood Plains, situated in the northern part of the Kafue National Park in Zambia, this is one of the most unique wilderness areas Africa has to offer.

You will stay for three nights at Chisa Busanga, truly unique and amazing Birds-Nests that completely blend in with nature. Chisa Busanga Camp is a new intimate bush camp located on a beautiful island in the heart of the Busanga Plains, in the north of the Kafue National Park.

The name of the camp comes from its unique architecture and consists of 4 amazing treehouses built in the shape of birds-nests, that look out over the massive floodplains and dambos, teeming with wildlife and birds.

Day 5 & 6

Explore Busanga Plains

Breakfast in the morning then morning game drive safari or walking safari then lunch break and free time to relax. In the afternoon, tea/coffee followed by afternoon game drive safari and back to the lodge relax and later dinner is served.

Day 7

Flight to Mfuwe in South Luangwa NP

Today you will have breakfast then a morning game drive and lunch. Then you will later check out and your guide will transfer you to Busanga Airstrip for your 1hr40mins to Lusaka airport to connect with your 1hr10 mins flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe.

On arrival at Mfuwe airport in South Luangwa National Park, you will be met by your guide from Shawa Luangwa Camp and it’s about 1hr scenic road transfer from the local village and bush.

Shawa Luangwa Camp is based in South Luangwa, ideally located at the crossing of the magnificent South Luangwa National Park and the amazing Nsefu sector. It can be reached from Mfuwe Airport after a 60-minute drive. Set along the banks of the Luangwa River, this intimate camp offers an authentic bush experience, underpinned by responsible tourism practices.

With the legendary Jacob Shawa as their guide, guests will be assured of the most amazing sightings during game drives, walking safaris and bush breakfasts. Shawa Luangwa Camp accommodates 10 guests with 5 uniquely-styled luxury safari tents, 2 of which can convert into a family tent. The centre boma is double-storey, lifting guests to have a clear view over the river.

You will stay here for three nights exploring the fantastic South Luangwa national park on Game drive and walking safaris. Check-in and you will relax then later dinner are served.

Day 8 & 9

Explore South Luangwa NP, Nsefu Sector

On days 8 & 9, you will have breakfast in the morning and then morning activity will follow which will be Game drive Safari or walking safari then back to the camp in time for a lunch break and free time to relax.

Later in the afternoon, you will have tea/coffee then an afternoon/night game drive safari, you will start with the afternoon then have a sundowner drink and continue with dark for a famous night game drive in search of nocturnal animals such as the elusive leopard etc. You will then get back to the camp and dinner will be served.

Day 10

Departure / Flight to Lusaka

This day you will have breakfast and then depending on your international flight time from Lusaka or your onward arrangement, you will either leave for Mfuwe airport after breakfast or after the morning game viewing activity and lunch.

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Where You'll Be Staying

Ila Safari Lodge

Kafue National Park

Ila Safari Lodge is a true eco-lodge providing facilities of the highest quality to a maximum of 24 guests. The lodge is located on the banks of the mighty Kafue River in an area of abundant wildlife and boasts 180-degree views out across the water. The central boma is best described by the phrase ‘eco-friendly meets dynamic design’ and is the showpiece of our property. The lodge has 10 states of the art luxury safari tents perched each on their…

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Chisa Busanga Camp, Busanga Plains

Kafue National Park

The Chisa Busanga Camp is set on the picturesque Busanga Flood Plains in the north of Kafue National Park in Zambia. This camp is open yearly from June to November and offers unique accommodation. The name derives from its remarkable architecture, as the 4 guest units have been built as tree-houses, in the shape of bird-nests, to perfectly blend in with nature (Chisa means birds nest in the local language), overlooking the plains. Each nest offers complete privacy and a…

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Shawa Luangwa Camp

South Luangwa National Park

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What's not included

Visa fees (US$ 50 per person single entry) - International and Regional Flights - Travel Insurance - Any airport departure taxes

Why Choose Absolute Zambia Safaris?

Absolute Zambia Safaris is a specialist in bespoke and private safaris in Zambia. Through our large safari operators, we proudly assist our guests in designing custom-made safaris.

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Dillon P

01/01/2025

Epic experience Truly a once in a lifetime experience! We always felt safe and well looked after on the trip, the scenery was excellent and the value for money was off the charts. Definitely a trip we would want to do again.

howard0928

10/11/2024

Excellent operator! Absolute Zambia was fantastic. Every connection ran smoothly, a representative was in hand whenever necessary. Booked us in fantastic lodges with great accommodations and even better food Highly recommended

Sorel

19/10/2024

Well organized, amazing safari Robert helped us plan every detail of our first safari/trip to Africa. He was incredibly responsive via email, and allowed us to explore a variety of options. We visited the city of Lusaka, 2 game parks, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg, and a Mozambique beach resort. Every step of the way went smoothly.I especially recommend South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi game parks for safari. We saw a wide range of game and our guides were knowledgeable. It was overall an amazing experience.

Laurent - societyofexploration

18/09/2024

100% recommendation for your Zambia travels Robert arranged a two weeks photography tour for us, combining Wildlige and culture (Likumby Lya Mize and Nyau mask dances) and we enjoyed it a lot. He was extremely responsive to answer all our questions before the tour and arranged many extras that are, for photographers, of the utmost importance - private safari vehicles, full day game drives, efficient planning - making sure we didn‘t miss a thing! Also the recommended lodges were faultless. A special thanks to our driver, Kamara, who, with his professionalism and positive attitude, helped to overcome every small difficulty that we met during our overland travel days. The budget we gave was also respected and we got good value for our money. I give a 100% recommendation to this reputable Zambian owned company.

marys

25/08/2024

AMAZING EXPERIENCE Robert Zgosi was amazing! Everything on our trip was perfectly planned and executed. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! I have recommended this company to friends and would definitely use them again!

Diamond1924

07/07/2024

Absolutely Great Tour AZS organised a perfect customised tour for us, combining Victoria Falls and South Luangwa nature reserve. Everything went really smoothly from stepping off the plane at Livingstone, crossing the Zimbabwean border, internal Zambian flights, and selecting terrific Lodges. We were pleasantly surprised to be welcomed at Lusaka Airport as we connected to our flight to Mfuwe. Would thoroughly recommend - AZS were brilliant at rearranging everything when we had to delay our trip as well. Really good.

Anna L

14/05/2024

Perfect holiday in Zambia Robert designed a perfect trip for our family. He chose local owned lodges that met our budget. He was always available to make sure we were okay or to give us advice. I highly recommend Absolute Zambia Safari!

Howard K K WONG

13/05/2024

The most professional and trustworthy agent for safaris in Africa We have just returned from a wonderful 9 days’ trip in Zimbabwe which was recommended and well organized by Robert from Absolute Zambia Safaris. According to our budget and wishing list, Robert organized us to stay at two wonderful lodges each close to two different National Parks in Zimbabwe and last stop by Victoria Falls. I was lucky to have entrusted Robert to organize my first experience of safari at his own country ( 5 days’ Luangwa trip) in 2019. Same as before, we did not have to think about anything on this trip but enjoying every moment on our safaris, especially the sightings of white rhinos which we mostly interested in. All the arrangements were seamless with only one hiccup, it was not the fault of Robert or his team but the “Imvelo” whose tram services could not be resumed on the date as they had hoped. What a pity that we could not celebrate our special event on that tram as planned. Robert be given credit once again in this regard, he promptly negotiated with Imvelo who eventually compensated us a charter flight to Victoria Fall with no extra charge and had out luggage forwarded by road to our hotel on the same day. All the way through our return to the airport for our flight back home, definitely exceeded our expectations. Robert of Absolute Zambia Safaris was truly amazing and I wholeheartedly recommend him to those planning a trip in South Africa.

Gary V

19/12/2023

Another perfect holiday We were a party of eight, most of us on a return trip (last one in 2020 - also with Absolute Zambia Safaris) under the expert guidance of Robert. It was again a holiday without a single complaint. Pickups were reliable and punctual, the David Livingstone resort is perfectly located on the banks of the Zambezi with comfortable beds, sumptuous food, an infinity pool, and an unlimited supply of food and drinks on the silent but spacious sunset cruise. Robert (from Absolute Zambia Safaris) dealt with all our changes, additions, amendments, and cancellations with endless patience and understanding. It was a perfect holiday, we will be back. Thank you Absolute Zambia Safaris.

Lisa A

24/11/2023

Amazing five-day trip Absolute Safari organised an amazing five-day trip for us which included 2 nights in Mwanfushi safari lodge and 2 nights by Victoria falls. Everything worked out perfectly and Robert was quick on the email, answering and organising according to our wishes. Our driver Brian was excellent and always on time and the price very reasonable. Can highly recommend.

Zambia’s Hidden Gem Safari

Highlights

Inclusions

The Itinerary