8 days
This itinerary combines the South Luangwa National Park and Lower Zambezi, You explore the wildlife safari , engage in a rich cultural experience at Kawaza Village and experiences the world-class water-based activities on the Zambezi Valley.
Highlights
Places Covered: South Luangwa National Park and Lower Zambezi
Day 1 – 3/Day 4 – 5: Zikomo Safari Camp, South Luangwa National Park
Zikomo Safari is a comfortable eighteen (18) bed camp located in one of the best game viewing areas in the Nsefu Sector of the South Luangwa National Park. Built on the banks of the Luangwa River, Zikomo Safari Camp offers great views of the river and great views of the abundant birds and wildlife that live in and around the area. Far away from other camps, Zikomo Safari Camp has the best location from which to enjoy an unforgettable South Luangwa safari.
Zikomo Safari is owned and operated by an American family who work with experienced Zambian managers and staff. The Camp employs top professional guides, some of them with over fifteen (15) years experience in the Luangwa Valley. With immediate access to the park, Zikomo Safari Camp guests can treat themselves to wonderful day and night game drives. Magnificent walking safaris, for which the South Luangwa is famously known for, are also available and they begin and end at the well-appointed main lodge and dining room in the company of a qualified walking guide and an escort scout.
Day 3 - 4: Kawaza Cultural Village, Mfuwe
This part of the Valley is the home of the Kunda tribe who migrated from the Luba area in Congo in the first half of the 19th century. The Kundas form a small tribe of about 35,000 people. Traditionally the Kundas were hunters but today the majority live as subsistence farmers. The conditions are tough, with extreme seasons and crop raiding animals. The villagers in the Nsefu area are still living in a very traditional way.
In 1997 the community, took the exceptional step of introducing cultural tourism. They believe that modern tourists are not only interested in wildlife but also have an interest in meeting with and learning from the local people. And they certainly feel that the school children will gain from interacting with guests from different cultures.
At Kawaza Village, guests will stay in traditional huts in a village, sleeping on raised mats (with mattresses) and eating local dishes prepared on an open fire. Upon arrival, a detailed program based on the wishes of the guest is drawn up.
Some of the options include:
A walk in the bush to learn of the different trees, plants and their traditional uses, a visit to the palace of the Senior Kunda Chief, visiting local institutions (the local church, the clinic), Spending time with the traditional healer & Interacting with the school children at Kawaza School.
Throughout the stay there will be hosts allocated to you who speak excellent English (making communication effective) and who understand the needs of tourists. In the village, the guest will experience the traditional way of living. However, the toilet facility has been built as an English style, long drop with a thunderbox and the beds has a mattress with sheets and a mosquito net.
Kawaza Village has not been 'set up' as a profit-making scheme by a tourist company. It is the community who wish to exchange ideas and culture with guests from outside the area. They feel that they and their children will benefit from this exchange. They also wish to raise money for the community development projects and for the school.
Day 5 to 8: Kiambi Safari Lodge, Lower Zambezi
Kiambi Lower Zambezi is your first gentle, mellow taste of the Lower Zambezi, and sets the uniquely African stage for your forthcoming journey of discovery.
Kiambi Safari owns and operates an exclusive lodge in the Lower Zambezi Valley – Kiambi Lower Zambezi, situated in the Chiawa Game Management area of the Zambezi Valley, in a prime location on the confluence of the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers. The Lodge welcomed the first guests at Kiambi Lower Zambezi in May 1999 and has from its inception, enchanted one and all by truly capturing the essence of the Lower Zambezi. Kiambi Lower Zambezi offers a unique composite experience, a rare combination of Africa’s culture, scenery and wildlife. This is “The real Africa”.
Each of the luxury thatched chalets is set on a raised wooden platform, with spacious en-suite facilities and private verandas with a view over the Zambezi. While relishing the supreme comfort, furnished stylishly in Rhodesian teak and equipped with the necessities to make your stay comfortable; Kiambi guests never lose that close-to-nature experience.
All luxury thatched chalets come with a fully stocked bar fridge, tea and coffee facilities, fans, an en-suite bathroom with hot showers and can accommodate 3 single beds comfortably or 4 at a squeeze
When you arrive at Kenneth Kaunda International (LUN) in Lusaka, Zambia, you will be met by our representative who will assist you in checking in for the local connection flight to Mfuwe Airport in South Luangwa National Park.
A guide from Zikomo Safari Camp will meet you at Mfuwe Airport and transport you to the Camp for the first two nights of your amazing Zambian safari. Check in and unwind; dinner will be served later, and bedtime will be at your leisure.
You'll begin your day with a morning breakfast at 6:00 a.m. in front of a campfire at the Boma area, then depart for your morning game viewing activity this could be a game drive safari or walking safari with a stop for coffee/tea and a snack break, following which you will continue with game viewing of the Luangwa Valley's amazing wildlife.
Then you will return to the camp in time for lunch and free time to unwind, which you can spend napping, walking around the camp, swimming in the pool, or playing backgammon in the lounge. Later in the afternoon, you will be served African tea/coffee and cakes before heading out on an afternoon/evening drive where you will stop for a sunset to relax and enjoy some sundowner drinks and snacks before continuing your drive into the night, allowing you to focus on nocturnal animals such as the elusive leopard, a pride of lions, or a pack of wild dogs. You'll be back to camp in time for dinner and bed time.
Breakfast is served, and then you will depart for a morning game drive safari in South Luangwa National Park. You will stop for tea at some point during your safari, and after about 4 hours, you will return to the camp, check out, and be transferred to Kawaza Village for a cultural and tradition experience.
This will provide you with an authentic peek of Kunda life. This is a thrilling adventure; it's a true taste of African village life!
When you arrive at Kawaza village, you will be greeted by the village guide, who is also the tourism project manager. He will check you into the traditional rooms, which are made of mud and have a grass roof (Thatched). Following that, your lunch will be provided, and this is a great opportunity to check out some traditional dishes.
Following lunch, you will be introduced to some of the villagers and asked which activities you would like to participate in. A comprehensive tour of the school and its facilities will be given to you, followed by a visit to the local clinic. Then you'll be taken on a tour of the village, where you'll get the opportunity to converse and interact with the locals, and, depending on time, you'll also have the opportunity to see a local healer, who will discuss the many therapeutic benefits of herbs as well as traditional healing procedures.
Guests are also encouraged to participate in daily village chores like as brewing local beer, grinding the corn, fetching water from the well, and picking maize in the fields to get a true African experience.
In the Evening Dinner will be provided in a traditional manner, and the villagers will entertain with dances, drumming, and theatre. And the best storytellers will tell everyone around the fire the old, dramatic Kunda stories. At your leisure, retire to your bed.
Morning breakfast is given in a traditional manner in Kawaza Village; enjoy the taste. Following that, depending on what the people have planned for the day, you will participate in traditional experiential activities such as drawing water, grinding grain, or manufacturing local beverages.
Once you've completed the activities, our guide will pick you up and transfer you to Zikomo Safari Camp where you will have a last night in South Luangwa NP, arriving just in time for lunch. After checking in, there will be some free time to rest. Tea/coffee is given later in the afternoon, right before the afternoon/night game drive Safari, or you can stay at the lodge and enjoy the facilities, like as the swimming pool. Dinner will be served later in the evening, and you can go to bed whenever you choose
On this day, you will be given a delicious breakfast and then have the option of participating in a morning game viewing activity or departing for the airport immediately after breakfast, depending on your departure time to Lusaka.
After arriving at Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, our driver will greet you and transfer you to Kiambi Safari Lodge in the Lower Zambezi Valley on a trip of about 3 hours and depending on your arrival time you will check in and then Lunch will be served.
Later in the afternoon, you'll go on a two-hour Sunset Boat Cruise and then return to the lodge before dark to relax a little before dinner. Enjoy the magnificent Zambezi River View and a few cocktails from the bar before retiring to your room at your leisure.
Breakfast is served at 07h30, followed by a briefing from your canoeing guide on the canoeing excursion, dangerous animals, safety precautions on the river and in the campsites, and canoeing methods.
The trip begins at the jetty and continues down the river. A tea stop is made, which is organized by the backup boat. Following that, you'll pause for lunch, which will be provided by the backup boat. After lunch, you proceed downriver.
The backup boat goes ahead to the location to set up camp. We arrive at Buffalo Beans Campsite, which is located on an island, in the late afternoon. Tents, bedrolls, washrooms, a drop toilet, and a bucket shower facility will all be set up when you arrive. Dinner, as well as fresh drinking water and juice, is always provided.
Today around 07:30 am you will have Breakfast cooked over the fire, a taste to enjoy and depart onto the river around 09:00 am with the backup motor boat and probably make a Stop to visit a local village on the banks of the Zambezi. Visit the school, the shops and view the local way of life. You will be arriving at Kiambi Safari Lodge in time for lunch and free time to relax, feel free to make use of the facilities.
Later in the afternoon you will have an option of either going on a sunset boat cruise or stay at the lodge and enjoy your free time. Dinner is served in the evening, and bedtime follows.
Today you will have breakfast, check out at some point, and be transferred from the Lower Zambezi to Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to connect with your international aircraft back home.
Available: June to October