Day 1 - Flight to Zambia
Begin your safari to Africa with an overnight flight from London Heathrow to Lusaka in Zambia. As direct flights between London and Lusaka are not daily, depending on the departure date, you may fly via Johannesburg.
Includes dinner on the flight.
Day 2 - Mfuwe, South Luangwa National Park
After passing through immigration at Lusaka Airport, you are directed to a smaller plane for a flight transfer to Mfuwe lasting about one hour. A guide from Robin Pope Safaris will meet you when you land and drive you to Nkwali Camp. The journey takes about one hour and passes by colourful local scenes of village life, subsistence farming and the African bush. Situated on Robin Pope's private land, the lovely Nkwali Camp overlooks the Luangwa River and the South Luangwa National Park beyond. Ideally situated for the start of your Zambia Safari, Nkwali Camp has six rooms, each overlooking the river and with an open-air en suite bathroom. After a little time to relax and freshen up you'll join your safari guide on the first game drive into South Luangwa National Park. End your first day with drink whilst watching the sun set, followed by a spot-lit night drive.
Breakfast will be served on the flight. Lunch depends on your arrival time and dinner is included at Nkwali Camp.
Day 3 - Mfuwe, South Luangwa National Park
At dawn a light breakfast is served around the campfire - including porridge heated on the fire and toast cooked over the coals. There is a choice of activities this morning with the options including a safari drive or a guided walk. You will enter South Luangwa National Park by boat from Nkwali Camp or by the nearby pontoon (depending on river levels). The wildlife viewing in the area is usually excellent, often including family herds of elephant and the endemic Thornicroft giraffe species. Around mid-morning you'll break for tea, coffee and cake, typically by a scenic point overlooking a lagoon or the Luangwa River. Return to camp for lunch around mid day after which there is time to cool off in the swimming pool or take a siesta. Everyone gathers again for tea and snacks in the mid-afternoon before an afternoon game drive that continues into the night with the chance to see creatures of the nocturnal world. The group usually returns to camp at about 8pm with dinner generally served at 8.30 - this is flexible and depends on what exciting sightings you have on your drive.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 - Luangwa Walking Camp
After an early breakfast, you and your group will head north to start the walking mobile safari. Robin Pope Walking Safaris have become known as the wilderness experience of the South Luangwa. It is a long drive along bush tracks and covering about 90kms into the northern reaches of the park and the Mupamadzi River. You usually arrive in camp around midday, in time for a tasty lunch. The camp team travelled ahead and you'll find the camp already set up for your arrival. Accommodation is in spacious walk-in tents furnished with camp beds fitted with mattresses and made up with comfortable bedding, chairs and storage compartments. There's time for a relaxing siesta before afternoon tea and your first sortie on foot. You'll start by exploring the area in the vicinity of the camp as there is plenty to see here. Return in time for sundowners and dinner under the stars!
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Days 5 to 8 - Luangwa Walking Camps
Each morning you will rise early and head out at sunrise on a walking safari in order to make the most of the cool morning air. The area you explore with your knowledgeable guide is remote and wild, the terrain and habitats varied and the wildlife curious and unused to man. Walking safaris aren't route marches, they're about taking time to spot signs of wildlife and learn how the ecosystems work. From ants to buffalo, a bird's nest to tracking a lion, you will stop often to discover the many facets of the bush with your safari guide. Usually the group will return to camp for lunch and a siesta before afternoon tea. Head out on a shorter walk in the afternoon, returning to camp as the sun sets over the horizon.
Whilst you explore, the camp team may pack up your tents and move on to set up in a new location. When you arrive at the new spot hungry for lunch, you'll find everything laid out and ready for you. The mobile camp is typically moved three times during the five nights on your walking safari. The exact number of times the move is made, and where the new camp is set up is dependent on wildlife movements at the time of your visit.
During the walking safari you will slowly make your way along the Mupamadzi River, a major tributary to the Luangwa River. Each walk will be led by your Robin Pope Walking Safaris guide who is an experienced naturalist and qualified walking guide. He will be accompanied by an armed game scout as required by Zambia national park regulations.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9 - Nsefu or Tena Tena, Nsefu sector
After an early breakfast it's time to hop in a safari vehicle for the long transfer drive back to the Luangwa River and the crossing into the park's Nsefu sector. In 1949 the Senior Chief Nsefu established a private game reserve on the Luangwa River's eastern bank. This has since been absorbed into the boundaries of the present day South Luangwa National Park and is known as the Nsefu sector. Upon reaching the river you'll be met by the camp staff and transferred across by boat. From there it's a short drive to your comfortable accommodation at the lovely Nsefu or Tena Tena Camp.
Nsefu was the first safari camp in Zambia. Dating back to the early fifties, it is one of three safari camps in South Luangwa that belongs to Robin Pope Safaris. Accommodation at Nsefu would be in en suite thatched rondavels built on wooden platforms whilst accommodation at Tena Tena Camp, also Robin Pope Safaris, is in large walk-in en suite safari tents. Each camp overlooks the Luangwa River and has a small waterhole nearby which attracts a variety of thirsty game. Which camp you stay at will depend on the safari departure date - talk to us at Wild about Africa for details.
When you arrive you will be shown to your tent and given time to freshen up before lunch. Then there's time to relax before the afternoon and evening game drive. Time to rest those weary legs!!
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Days 10 & 11 - Nsefu or Tena Tena, Nsefu sector
Spend your time here exploring the productive Nsefu sector on day and spot-lit night safari drives in search for the wildlife this area is renowned for. Keep an especially close eye out for leopard! For those of you that really like walking, there's the chance for a morning guided walk through the ebony groves that grow along the banks of the Luangwa River. Full day safari drives including a picnic lunch and visiting the Nsefu salt pans can be arranged as can a visit to the fascinating Kawaza Village. If the possibility of meeting the locals and experiencing a working village in Zambia really appeals then we suggest that you mention to us when booking your safari to ensure availability on the excursion.
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12 - Flight to London
After breakfast you will be transferred through rural Zambia to Mfuwe Airport - a drive lasting about two hours. Arrive in time to meet your flight to Lusaka and check in for your international flight home.
Includes breakfast & lunch. Dinner is on the flight.
Day 13 - Arrive in London
Arrive home after an amazing wilderness experience in one of Zambia's best wildlife areas.
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