Wild Zambia

Lower Zambezi & Kafue

Wild Zambia

Lower Zambezi & Kafue

  • 10 – 22 July 2027
  • 13
  • Lusaka, Zambia
  • Lusaka, Zambia

Our Wild Zambia safari is a top favourite with our guests. You’ll discover why when you stay in these intimate and exclusive owner-operated camps in two of Zambia’s premier wildlife destinations.

Zambia has long been a favourite destination for safari connoisseurs. Its wonderfully secluded parks and reserves see far fewer crowds than their counterparts in other countries and you’ll seldom see another vehicle on your game drives. From exceptional game viewing in Kafue National Park to canoeing on the mighty Zambezi River in the Lower Zambezi this is a safari like no other.

Your Wild Zambia safari includes contributions to support local communities and wildlife. You’ll visit an anti-poaching base-camp, and learn from the officers and wildlife biologists the successes and challenges faced by the team.

Optional extension: End your safari with a few relaxing days at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our favourite lodge is located on the banks of the Zambezi River, away from the bustle of town but close enough to visit the Zimbabwe side of the Falls (included), or to do some shopping. Each spacious room has a private plunge pool and deck overlooking the river, and the meals, staff, and boat trips on the river are exceptional. We can also recommend other accommodations in the heart of Victoria Falls town.

Highlights

Among the many highlights at your stunning camps in the Lower Zambezi are the daily visits from elephants as they make their way down to the river. Game drives in the National Park, canoeing on the river, and fishing for tiger fish on the mighty Zambezi River fill your days here. Lower Zambezi has one of the highest densities of leopards in Africa and sightings of this elusive big cat are frequent. Night game drives allow you to see them when they are most active.

Kafue National Park is named after the Kafue River, the largest tributary of the mighty Zambezi River, which flows through it from north to south. You’ll enjoy game drives and walks with your guides, who will share their culture and traditions with you, along with discussions about wildlife and vegetation.  A visit to an anti-poaching base-camp funded by guests staying at the camp will be a highlight.

The wildlife in these parks is exceptional and includes endangered African wild dogs, lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffalo, and much more. Watching a herd of elephants crossing a river is a memory you will cherish forever.

  • This is a genuine small-group safari with a maximum of 12 participants
  • You’ll stay in very comfortable bush camps in remote locations, well away from other camps and vehicles.
  • Exceptional game-viewing on day & night game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles.
  • Visit conservation and community projects.
  • Learn about wildlife and ‘the small 5’ on walks with professional guides and rangers.
  • Game drives, boat safaris, canoeing, and fishing for tiger fish (catch & release) in Lower Zambezi National Park

Pricing

NZD19,924

Due to the small size of these camps, single room availablity is limited (surcharge applies).

Group Size

Max. 12

Trip Dates

10 – 22 July 2027

Starting Point

Lusaka, Zambia

Ending Point

Lusaka, Zambia

Included

  • Arrival & departure transfers
  • 12 nights in owner-run tented camps and chalets, all rooms with private facilities.
  • All meals on safari
  • Drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, beer, wine and G&T)
  • Guided walks with professional guides
  • Game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles
  • Domestic flights as per itinerary
  • Sundowners, guided bush walks and night game drives
  • Boat trips and canoeing on the Zambezi and Kafue rivers
  • Cultural visits to local villages & communities
  • Contribution to Conservation and Community projects
  • All Conservancy and National Park fees

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Visa (if required)
  • Travel Insurance (mandatory)
  • Any personal expenses and optional activities
  • Tips & gratuities

Your Wild Zambia safari begins with  a short scenic flight from Lusaka to Jeki airstrip in the Lower Zambezi, followed by a game drive to Chula Island Camp. The camp is situated on Discovery Island, a small island in the Zambezi River! The camp is built in the shade of Natal mahogany trees, and it overlooks a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Lower Zambezi N.P. This is one of the most sought-after and dramatic locations in Africa.

Chula Island Camp is a small seasonal tented camp designed for comfort and simplicity. With just six guest tents and a maximum of twelve guests, it offers a quiet base to explore the Lower Zambezi. Each tent is positioned to look out across the river and the tents are well spaced for privacy. Inside, you’ll find comfortable beds with quality linen, flushing toilets, running water and traditional bucket showers. Hot water for your shower is supplied on request.

The main area is a stretch-canvas tent set beneath the massive mahogany trees.  It’s a practical, comfortable place for sharing meals, reading, charging cameras and wildlife watching.

The Lower Zambezi has some of the finest big game wildlife viewing in Africa. This, coupled with the variety of safari activities on offer and the aesthetics of this park, make for a truly fantastic wildlife spectacle. High densities of elephant gather on the valley floor as the dry season commences, along with large herds of buffalo and impala. In attendance are all of the large predators one might expect, with lion, leopard and wild dog very well represented here. The only notable omission might be the giraffe, but a night-time safari scouting for honey badger and aardvark should help you forget about our long-necked friends.

Your transfer to your next camp is flexible and guided by wildlife activity on the day. Your guide will decide the timing and mode of travel based on conditions. A morning game drive, a canoe trip, or a guided walk are all options get you to your home for the next two nights.

Kutali is a comfortable owner-run tented camp with all the luxuries one could wish for, but with the charm and ethos of a true seasonal bush-camp. With just 5 guest tents, catering for no more than 10 people in camp at once – each tent is carefully and expertly located for the best possible views across the Zambezi River. The Kutali tents are bespoke and very comfortable, with high quality linen and mattresses, alongside flushing toilets, running water taps and traditional bucket-showers.  A main area stretch-canvas tent set beneath the towering Winterthorn trees is a pleasant spot for meals, reading, charging cameras and wildlife watching.

Today you’ll take a scenic flight to your next camp in Kafue National Park.  Still off the radar for many travellers, yet home to increasingly habituated wildlife, Kafue National Park remains one of Africa’s most underrated safari destinations.

Situated in a very remote and untouched region in Northern Kafue, Musekese Camp overlooks the ‘Eden’ lagoon with its access to the broad Kafue river. Activities here include bird watching, day and night game drives, boat safaris on the Kafue River, and walking safaris. Immerse yourself in the ‘feel’ of wild Zambia in this truly remote area, the history of the camp and its ethos entrenched in exploration and conservation.

During your stay at Musekese Camp you’ll visit the ‘Musekese Conservation’ anti-poaching base-camp. You’ll see a real life anti-poaching and conservation camp and get to learn from the officers and wildlife biologists what life is really like in the world of conservation and the specific successes and challenges faced by the team in the Kafue. By staying at our camps, you are directly contributing to the entire project, which was founded and continues to be sustained by revenue generated from guests visiting our camps.

After breakfast take a leisurely boat transfer across the river to join your vehicle for a game drive to Busanga. The journey from Lufupa Harbour (from Musekese Camp) through the heart of the park to Ntemwa-Busanga is a fascinating one. There is plenty to see on this game drive transfer, from granite outcrops to film-set-like riverine scenery.

Tucked in the heart of Zambia’s wildlife-rich Busanga Plains, Ntemwa-Busanga Camp gives you a front-row seat to one of the country’s most extraordinary safari regions. This vast floodplain dries out in the dry season to create a sweeping grassland, which attracts large numbers of predators, antelopes, and birdlife. It’s no wonder that Busanga has become a favourite for wildlife photographers – the wide horizons and dramatic skies create those incredible Africa moments you’ll never forget.

Less common animals such as roan and sable antelope are regular sightings, while thousands of red lechwe dot the plains. Your days here are spent exploring by open safari vehicle, with expert guides who know exactly where to position you for the best sightings. It’s classic safari at its finest – big skies, big wildlife, and that wonderful feeling of space and freedom that keeps drawing us back to Africa.

Our small, intimate camp has just five thatched chalets. Each includes an open-air en-suite bathroom at the back, with a flushing toilet, plumbed basin and warm bucket shower. The raised main deck looks out over the Busanga Plains and is a comfortable spot to sit and watch for wildlife. There is also a shaded bird hide and sitting area, which doubles as our small WiFi room, offering a quiet place to relax during the middle of the day.

Scenic flight (1h30 mins) from Busanga airstrip back to Lusaka International Airport to connect with your flight home.

We chose African Encounters because we liked the small groups escorted by Karen which appealed to our idea of a “boutique” safari instead of being packed into a zebra-stripe van full of tourists. The game camps without exception are of a very high standard and are superbly located in the pristine wilderness. What constantly amazes is the mouth-watering cuisine produced in basic “bush kitchens” which seems so appropriate. On our daily game drives the guides are not only experts on wild game, birds, fauna and insects, but enthusiastically share their love of their country. We would just like to say thank you for another wonderful trip. Hard to believe we have done 10 safaris!! We have 1500 photos to sort… Karen de Willimoff & John McIndoe, Orewa

Travelling in Africa with Karen has provided us with the best memories of our lives. Africa gets under your skin – it is seductive, exhilarating, and stimulating to all the senses. The first time we visited Kenya with Karen we were unable to leave without booking our next safari. Karen’s knowledge and passion for Africa is unrivalled and her safaris are packed with surprises and excitement. Her small group tours means that you are especially well catered for and get to see amazing animal sightings without hoards of other tourists blocking the view. Every safari we have been on with Karen has been beyond our expectations. Helen Ranson, Rotorua

International airfares are not included.

As tour operators (not travel agents), we are not licensed to sell flights. We recommend that you contact your trusted local travel agent to book your flights.

Emirates, Qatar and Ethiopian airlines all offer flights from New Zealand or Australia to Lusaka, with stops in Dubai, Doha, and Addis Ababa respectively.

Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa for stays up to 30 days.

There are no mandatory vaccinations, however malaria prophylaxis (tablets) is strongly recommended.

We are happy to arrange accommodation before or after your safari.

We are happy to arrange accommodation before or after your safari.

">Email me or call me on 06 9761118 – I love to chat about Africa!

Wild Zambia

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NZD19,924

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