10 Day Lower Zambezi Canoeing and Kafue National Park Safari

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Itinerary
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Unforgettable and Unique Zambia Safari

You have been expected by Absolute Zambia Safaris to explore the exceptional nature of Zambia! With canoe safari along the Zambezi River, you may wait to see wildlife along with the riverbank of Lower Zambezi National Park and with the combination of having your last two nights in Kafue National Park Gives a complete experience with Game drives, Walking Safari and boat Cruise in the Kafue National Park. The guides have comprehensive expertise and knowledge of nature, wildlife birds and local environment, culture, and general education gather through guiding in these areas for numerous years. Absolute Zambia Safaris will make your safari adventure in Zambia memorable.

Highlights

Five Nights of Lower Zambezi Canoe
Three days of Kafue National Park safari
Adventure and Big Game Safari (Land & Water-based Activities)
Lower Zambezi & Kafue National Park Safari

About

What's included

At Pioneer Lodge & Camp , Lusaka

2 Nights Ensuite Miombo Chalet Accommodations
2 Breakfast & 2 Dinner

At Great Zambezi (5 Night Canoe Safari), Lower Zambezi

All Canoeing Safari Activities
Walking safari (on request)
Camping gear
Five nights’ accommodation
Three meals a day and beverage

At Mukambi Safari Lodge , Kafue National Park

2 night’s chalet accommodation
All meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner daily
Drinks from the bar. Excl Bottled wines of premium brands
Two Game activities per Day; Walking Safari or Boat Cruise and Morning/Night Game Drive (Walking Safari in Weather Dependant)
Complimentary Laundry Services
National Park Entry Fees

Transportation included;

All Road and Airport Transfers

What's not included

Food and Accommodation

Pioneer Lodge & Camp – Lusaka

Pioneer Camp is an excellent place to stay if you need to be near Lusaka but don’t want to be in it! Only 14 km 30 minutes from the International Airport, we offer a restful stopover before, after or during your Zambian safari. We have a variety of chalets and a shady campsite, with the bar and restaurant at the heart of Pioneer, a tremendous place to meet fellow travellers and discuss your safari experiences!

Great Zambezi Canoe Safari (Canoeing Safari in Lower Zambezi)

During your 5 nights Canoe Safari experience you will be accommodated in tents, Two-man industrial mosquito netted bow tents are used. These provide for a full view of the night sky and give maximum aeration. Fold-out beds, sleeping bags, sheet liners, and airline pillows are also provided, but guests may bring their sleeping bags if desired. Other material includes cooler boxes, tables, chairs, gas cookers, melamine crockery, and cutlery plus other practical items to guarantee a reasonable level of comfort on safari.

Food - Three meals a day, gracious, soft drinks, and safe, handled water is provided on every safari. Those wishing to take their own bottled water may do so. Cooler crates are provided should customers want to bring their selection of refreshments for the continuation of the safari.

Daily Meal Plan - Except notified, refreshments will follow the program below. Please note that Absolute Zambia Safaris needs a prior warning of at smallest two weeks to provide for specific diets or allergies to appropriate ingredients. The first dinners are in most cases part pre-cooked and deep-frozen before the safari, so it is essential to have sufficient notice of what is required.

Early morning: Start with tea with coffee and biscuits before setting off downstream after packing up canoes and clearing the camp.

Breakfast: Usually, after numerous hours of canoeing, the trip will stop for everyone to relax while the guide fixes an English breakfast of tinned fruit, eggs, bacon, sausages, and many more, then toast with marmalade or jam. Having Tea and coffee are before starting.

Lunch: an assortment of rolls, cold meats, green salads, and cheeses had for lunch, with a range of sauces and pickled herbs to compliment the spread.

Dinner: An assortment of bites is served followed by a full meal made of beef, mutton or chicken as main course options with two green vegetables and carbohydrates of potatoes, rice, or pasta.

Mukambi Safari Lodge - Kafue National Park

Commonly known as “The Gateway to The Kafue National Park”, Mukambi Safari Lodge is centrally located in the park, right on the banks of the stunning Kafue River. The Kafue National Park is one of the largest national parks in Africa (roughly the size of Wales at more than 22,000km²) therefore we recommend you book with us for at least a week so you have time to explore this vast park and combine time at Busanga, Fig Tree and Mukambi. However, shorter bookings of 3 to 4 nights at Mukambi will also guarantee a truly unique safari!

The lodge itself consists of a thatched building with several decks overlooking the Kafue River and offers an infinity pool for ultimate relaxation on those hot days, looking over the vast Kafue River. Upon return from your activities, relax with a drink in hand in one of our lounge areas, all offering stunning views of the river. You might want to chat with one of our guides while gazing up at the stars in the night sky by our campfire. Don’t hesitate to visit our curio shop, which offers a selection of products made by the local village, or to ask for one of our massages on offer, which take place in the comfort of your room.

Finally, don’t forget to look out for the many animals, which find sanctuary around the lodge area; impalas, baboons, monkeys, elephants, hippos, even a small pride of lions, and of course our resident Wild Cat Mauw!

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive & Transfer to Pioneer Lodge – Lusaka

Arriving at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka (LUN), where you will be welcomed by our representative who will then assist you with luggage and transfer you to Pioneer Lodge where you will spend your night before your fantastic canoeing Safari on the Zambezi River in lower Zambezi.

Check-in relax, enjoy your room and later it's dinner and bedtime.
Zambezi Breezer ,Chirundu (Canoe Safari Day 1)

Morning Breakfast at Pioneer Lodge, then our driver will transfer you to Zambezi Breezes in Chirundu where your canoeing Safaris will start.

Meet at Zambezi Breezes in Chirundu at approximately 10:00 for a two-hour drive downstream to the lunch place. After a briefing and lunch on the edges of the river, you begin your afternoon canoeing to Mtondo Island for your very first night camp, arriving at around 17:00.

Canoeing on the first day is kept to the mainstream on a natural going strong current. Setting up the lodge accompanied by tea or coffee, snacks, later dinner before retreating at night.
Day 3:Lower Zambezi (Canoe Safari Day 2)

Canoeing begins early after morning tea or coffee and biscuits. About at 06:30, depart Mtondo Island for a downstream breakfast stop at roughly two-hour canoeing.

Continuing through the Lower Zambezi National Park for lunch between 12:30 to 14:00 away from the midday sun. Then canoe through to your next nights camp at or nearby Chikwenya Island if the weather is permitting. This day, you travel a good 25 kilometres of the river into both Mana Pools National Park and Lower Zambezi National Park.
Day 4: Canoeing Safari Day 3

All daily routine, on this day, you will canoe through offshoot river channels where birdlife and game abound. Leaders will stop at points of importance to witness wildlife. Fascinating parts of the river at this point pass three kilometres in width with a labyrinth of canals to explore.

Both sides of the river at this spot are flanked by magnificent national parks where one is likely to see the highest concentration of game on the river.
Day 5: Canoeing Safari Day 4

Exiting Mana Pools National Park and enter the safari area on the south bank while staying within the Lower Zambezi National Park. Starting to narrow down, and the current becomes stronger as the stream proceeds into what is known as the False Mupata Gorge.

From this point, the safari is restricted to the mainstream for about 30 kilometres as you pass through this scenic gorge with sheer rock structures and cliff edges. Campsite on this night is chosen from one of many natural sandy beaches on the land within the confines of the gorge
Day 6: Canoeing Safari Day 5

The day is spent canoeing through the rest of the Mupata Gorge, watching the 300-million-year-old volcanic rock that forms part of the Great Rift Valley. At approximate midday, the canoes exit the gorge and the guide proceeds through to Red Cliffs for lunch and a break away from the midday heat before continuing to the nights’ island campsite.

Depending on joining flights the next day, the guide may discuss with the team a more proper camping site closer to the finishing point. Absolute Zambia Safaris does suggest that connecting flights are caught the day after the safari ends.
Day 7: Last day Canoeing Safari /Lusaka

Depending on the choice of campsite, there is an early rise tea or coffee and breakfast before the remaining canoeing through to the end of the canoeing safari. The take-out point arrives at approximately 09:00 for the return transport to Lusaka.

This ride is in an open-roofed Land Cruiser with a shaded canopy. Alternatively, and depending on the group’s wishes, you may continue to paddle on day 5 to the Feira take out point. This means, the transport will be able to leave earlier for the return five-hour trip to Lusaka, but it says there will be no canoeing on the final day. Lunch will be served on the roadside under a tree.

You will spend a night at Pioneer Lodge in Lusaka. Arrival at Pioneer lodge Check-in and relax later it's dinner and bedtime.
Day 8: Transfer to Kafue National Park

Morning breakfast and transfer to Mukambi Safari Lodge in Kafue National Park. This will be an adventurous road trip, passing through villages and most of it is in the bush, so there is a lot to see along the way, and the fact that it is a private safari means you have the flexibility to stop along the way when you find something interesting.

Upon arrival you will be welcome and checked in then Lunch will be served for you, later you will go out for the Night game drive or Boat Cruise then dinner and bed.
Day 9: Mukambi Safari Lodge in Kafue National Park

Begin your day with breakfast and then go for a morning game drive you can choose to do a walking safari and return to the lodge for the lunch break and relax time. Later afternoon tea and night game drive or a Sunset Boat Cruise and return to the lodge for dinner and bed.
Day 10: Departure

The morning will start with breakfast and depending on your flight time out of Lusaka our driver will pick you up after breakfast or you will do your morning game viewing activity and then depart for Lusaka. You will be transferred to Lusaka International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka for your onward connection.