Gem Of Zambia Safari

Day 1: South Luangwa

• There is a short guided 1hr drive to Nkwali Camp after you arrive at Mfuwe International Airport.
• Arriving at Nkwali Camp one gets to encounter and view the famous Luangwa River for the first time full of hippos and crocodiles and spectacular birdlife.
• Nkwali Camp is situated with a private concession bordering the South Luangwa National Park.
• Lunch and a brief siesta time is on offer before we embark on our first game drive.
• Overnight: Nkwali Camp

Day 2: South Luangwa

• Wake up to a warm and delicious breakfast cooked over a campfire before setting off on our morning wildlife activity.
• We enter the South Luangwa National Park by boat or pontoon, either way, this is a highlight with all the hippos surrounding us.
• On return, a relaxed lunch and siesta time awaits.
• Late afternoon we depart on a game drive that lasts into the early evening, leopards and lions are what we are aiming to see.
• Returning to the lodge around 20h30 for a scrumptious dinner and recounting the stories of the day's activities.
• Overnight: Nkwali Camp

Day 3: South Luangwa

• After an early breakfast, a transfer game drive through the park takes you to a crossing point on the Luangwa River.
• The Nsefu staff will meet the party, cross the river by boat, and then a 45-minute drive to Nsefu camp, game viewing on route.
• Nsefu Camp location dates back to the 1950s and forms part of the history of the South Luangwa National Park.
• The camp offers some of the finest views of the Luangwa river of any camp in the area.
• On arrival get settled and then lunch will be served.
• An afternoon and evening game drive is then on the cards with Africa's wildlife waiting to be photographed.
• Dinner is served after returning to the camp and getting oneself freshened up.
• Overnight: Nsefu Camp

Day 4: South Luangwa

• Game drives and walks are offered today through the surrounding ebony groves that guarantee fantastic wildlife and birdlife.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served as per usual.
• If you get the chance, ask for a trip to the salt pans, the birdlife here is second to none.
• Overnight: Nsefu Camp.

Day 5: Lower Zambezi

• From Mfuwe Airport there is a 1 and a half hour flight to the spectacular Lower Zambezi Valley.
• From the landing strip, we are transferred to Chiawa Camp, our home from home for the next few days.
• The transfer is more game drive as the wildlife sightings along the way are nothing short of spectacular.
• Chiawa Camp offers that up close and personal feel with the Zambezi river only metres away, listen to the sounds of Africa on your doorstep.
• Buffalo, elephant, hippo, leopard and lion are found on mass on the banks of the Lower Zambezi National Park.
• A later afternoon sunset boat cruise is something not to be missed.
• Overnight: Chiawa Camp

Day 6: Lower Zambezi

• Chiawa Camp is not short of activities that you can choose from including canoe trips, river safaris on safe, stable pontoon boats and catch & release angling for the infamous tiger fish.
• One of the highlights is going to sleep with the sounds of Africa filling your chalets.
• Overnight: Chiawa Camp

Day 7: Kafue

• After breakfast and farewells, a drive through the park to the airstrip to meet the plane taking you to the Kafue National Park (1.3 hours).
• Landing on the private airstrip of Lunga River Lodge you will be met with welcome drinks.
• The camp is only 5 minutes from the airstrip and so you are soon settling into your spacious chalets.
• The main area overlooks the Lunga River and the craftsmanship of the bar and decking is exceptional.
• Lunga also has a swimming pool and steam room.
• The river is clear and deep and lined with lush trees in which live many interesting birds.
• The Kafue area hosts many species of birds and mammals not (or rarely) seen in the Luangwa and Zambezi Valleys including hartebeest and sable antelope and cheetah.
• Overnight: Lunga River Lodge

Day 8: Kafue

• The day will be spent exploring the area with the option of boating, canoeing, walking or game drives.
• Overnight: Lunga River Lodge

Day 9: Kafue

• After an early breakfast, you will leave on the transfer to Busanga Bush Camp.
• This is a wonderful drive through exceptional miombo woodland, with a good chance of seeing sable and hartebeest.
• After an hour or so leaving the woodland behind the road breaks through onto the wide-open plains of the Busanga Swamps.
• This vast area is flooded during the rains but dries up annually leaving short and rich grazing for the many herds of different antelope.
• And where there is wildlife in numbers, so there are predators.
• The lion population in the area is well known, and there is a good chance of sighting cheetah.
• You will arrive in time for lunch - at the small and discrete bush camp built on an "island" in the plains.
• After a siesta and tea, the afternoon game drive will continue into the night when there is a good chance of following lions.
• Overnight: Busanga Bush Camp

Day 10: Kafue

• The bush camp is built of grass and reed - each room with a view of the floodplain and an en suite bathroom (with a long drop loo).
• It is simple and extremely remote and makes a superb base from which to explore the unusual ecosystem of the floodplains.
• In the morning the chance to drive up the waterway of the floodplain will be an excellent long morning drive.
• There is also the option of a morning walk.
• Overnight: Busanga Bush Camp

Day 11: Safari Ends

• After breakfast, a morning activity, time permitting, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Lusaka where you will meet your connecting flight.