South Luangwa safari in Zambia, Hippo itinerary
| country: | Zambia |
| location: | South Luangwa |
| trip type: | Walking safari |
| departures: | This trip can be arranged at any time to suit you and adapted to your requirements between 25th May & 31st October. We'll be happy to send you a brochure containing more information |
| price: | From £2359 - £2813 (11 days) including flights from the UK |
read 2 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
South Luangwa wildlife safari in Zambia.
Zambia remains the preserve of few visitors. It is still wild, full of big game, and has probably the best guides in Africa. Walking safaris were pioneered here in the South Luangwa, and now all the guides now have to pass stringent exams before they lead visitors. This is the best country in Africa for walking safaris. If you have only seen animals from a vehicle and longed to get out, then come to Zambia- walking is exhilarating to the point of addiction. Zambia's lush Luangwa Valley is one of the continent's finest wildlife areas. This valley is littered with old ox-bow lakes and abandoned watercourses, surrounded by graceful, mature woodlands.
Its game includes huge herds of elephant and buffalo. Of particular interest are two subspecies unique to the Luangwa Valley: the beautiful Thornicroft's giraffe, with its dark patterned skin, and Cookson's wildebeest. The Valley's main predators are lion, leopard, and spotted hyena. During the day, lion seldom hide and are often seen, whereas leopards hunt by night. Fortunately, Zambia is one of the few countries which allows spotlit game drives in its national parks. This itinerary can be adapted to include a night sleeping at Kawaza, and a whole day with the villagers
Zambia remains the preserve of few visitors. It is still wild, full of big game, and has probably the best guides in Africa. Walking safaris were pioneered here in the South Luangwa, and now all the guides now have to pass stringent exams before they lead visitors. This is the best country in Africa for walking safaris. If you have only seen animals from a vehicle and longed to get out, then come to Zambia- walking is exhilarating to the point of addiction. Zambia's lush Luangwa Valley is one of the continent's finest wildlife areas. This valley is littered with old ox-bow lakes and abandoned watercourses, surrounded by graceful, mature woodlands.
Its game includes huge herds of elephant and buffalo. Of particular interest are two subspecies unique to the Luangwa Valley: the beautiful Thornicroft's giraffe, with its dark patterned skin, and Cookson's wildebeest. The Valley's main predators are lion, leopard, and spotted hyena. During the day, lion seldom hide and are often seen, whereas leopards hunt by night. Fortunately, Zambia is one of the few countries which allows spotlit game drives in its national parks. This itinerary can be adapted to include a night sleeping at Kawaza, and a whole day with the villagers
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | The trip starts with a scheduled overnight flight to Lusaka |
| Day 2-4: | Nkwali Camp. After arriving early in Lusaka you'll be flown in a light aircraft flight to Mfuwe, on the edge of the famous Luangwa Valley. Arriving in time for an excellent lunch, Nkwali Camp will be your base for 3 nights of exploring on foot and by 4WD. |
| Day 5-7: | Tena Tena. After a good brunch, you’ll be driven a few hours north, to the romantic, tented camp of Tena Tena, which will be your base for a further 3 nights. As usual with Robin Pope’s camps, you’ll always have the choice of walking or driving – so it’s up to you how to explore here. |
| Day 8-9: | Nsefu camp. After your morning activity and brunch, you’ll drive over to the historic Nsefu camp, which has been beautifully rebuilt. Here you’ll stay for a further 2 nights. Nsefu is close to the great salt pans, and the Luangwa’s largest stork colony, so there’s plenty to explore on foot or in a 4x4. |
| Day 10: | You’ll leave Nsefu Camp in the morning, drive back to Mfuwe and catch a light aircraft to Lusaka. From there is a scheduled flight to Johannesburg, and a scheduled overnight flight back to London Heathrow. |
| Day 11: | Arriving back in London Heathrow, early in the morning, isn’t usually as magical as waking up in Zambia – but then you will have just finished a superb safari! |
travellers' tales
The highlights include swimming in Livingstone Island and hanging over the edge of Victoria Falls, watching the lions hunt at night with the hyenas trying to steal their kill and seeing all the animals in the wild including a sighting of leopard and aardvarks.
(more)
the camps
Nkwali stands a few kilometres southeast of Mfuwe, overlooking the Luangwa River from beneath beautiful tall mahogany and ebony trees. Each of Nkwali's six rooms has a thatched roof, bamboo walls, and twin beds (or a king-size double) surrounded by a large mosquito net. The en-suite facilities include hot showers under the sky. There is no electricity, but a generator can recharge video cameras. Nkwali opens from April through to December - and visiting Nkwali in green season (April, May, November and December) can also be organised and can be an even more economic way to safari from one of Africa's top camps.Tena Tena is also beside the Luangwa, about 20km northeast of Mfuwe. Unusually for Luangwa, its five rooms are large tents with twin beds (the honeymoon suite has a king-size double). A 'dressing room' separates the tent from the en-suite shower and toilet, which are open to the stars. The sides of these comfortable, insect-proof tents are rolled up during the day to overlook a busy waterhole. There is a separate dining area, bar and a small library of books. Tena is probably the Valley's best known camp.
Nsefu is the Luangwa's oldest camp, but was rescued and completely rebuilt a few years ago. It takes a maximum of 12 guests in simple, raised rondavels that are furnished with an understated elegance, in harmony with the surrounding bush. Each has a shady veranda at the front and en-suite shower and toilet at the back. Nsefu's central bar area, beside a huge termite mound, commands a spectacular view of a wide bend in the river and a lush lagoon. Like Tena, Nsefu opens only from June to October.walking safaris
We also run some very popular mobile walking safari trips. If you thought of walking safaris as route marches where strength, speed and endurance were prerequisites, then think again. All your luggage will be transported ahead of you, so you need only carry your camera and binoculars. A morning's walk could be anything from 3km to 10km: it'll be more like a nature ramble than a strenuous hike. The guide might lead you to follow fresh tracks, or to sit under a tree to watch elephants bathing - deciding with you at the time what looks most promising. As groups are small (maximum seven people), these walks are always flexible.
Read an article about this trip Justin Francis from responsibletravel.com sets out to discover if it's possible to both help reduce poverty and enjoy one of the most luxury bush camp safaris in Africa. More...
how this holiday makes a difference
|
The company who run the three lodges used in this trip have exceptionally close links with the local community. Their association with the Kawaza village tourism project has won the British Guilde of Travel Writers, and World Travel Market Awards for responsible tourism. The income the village derive from tourism, in addition to the employment provided for people from the village, contributes to community projects including the Kawaza village School Fund, the healthcare programme, and in providing clean water for the village. Booking fees for vists to Kawaza village are donated to the School fund.
|
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |