Safari Quick Facts

South Luangwa is the jewel of the country’s national parks and comprises 9,050 square kilometres of unspoilt African wilderness. You can expect to encounter numerous large animals around scenic ox-bow lakes and ‘grazing lawns’ –
elephant, buffalo, hippo, Thornicroft’s giraffe, lion, crocodile, warthog, puku, Crawshay’s zebra,
Cookson’s wildebeest and eland are all common, and the Luangwa has the world’s highest naturally
occurring population of leopard. For the birdwatcher, too, Luangwa could hardly be better.
The sun-scorched banks play host to vast colonies of carmine bee-eaters, which together with lovebirds and kingfishers lend more than a splash of colour to this beautiful destination. Early on day four, you’ll head out on a game drive which will also take you to Luwi camp – your next safari base. Luwi is a true wilderness camp. Located along the dry Luwi River, it offers fantastic game-viewing and walking safaris; it’s our favourite!
The camp has four thatched bamboo chalets set in a beautifully shady grove of trees on the banks of the river.
The rooms are simple yet extremely comfortable with en-suite bathrooms and hot showers. Close-by there’s a
hippo-filled lagoon.
The Luwi area is famous for its lions and the thrill of tracking them on foot is an experience not to be missed -
having heard the lions calling throughout the night, it’s exhilarating to find fresh tracks and follow them, hoping to
see a lion behind the next bush...
Over the next two days you’ll enjoy game walks, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, to give you this
exciting experience. Dinner can be served in the bush, underneath the stars – a fantastic end to your day.
During your time at Luwi, you will also have the opportunity to experience the safari of a lifetime – sleeping out
under the stars, with only the vast wilderness and wildlife within it for company. Your campout site is in the dry
Luwi river bed, and armed with a bed roll and mosquito net, you’ll discover the South Luangwa in the same way
as the first safari pioneers. You’ll help collect firewood for dinner and cook your steak on the campfire, before
settling down for an evening of safari tales. The overnight trip is led by two guides who between them have over
60 years experience in the bush; they’ll stay awake and keep watch while you sleep under the African sky.
Note; this experience is for the adventurous only. For those who don’t want to participate, you can stay at Luwi
camp. We’ll do the excursion in groups of four, so you’ll go out either on days three or four.

See day 3 for Itinerary

You will walk – just as the first explorers like Livingstone did - to your next camp. Your luggage will be waiting for
you when you arrive (if you would prefer to drive, that is also possible).
Mchenja, meaning "ebony", occupies a stunning setting beneath a magnificent grove of ebony trees on the banks
of the Luangwa River. The ideal of Mchenja is to combine luxury with an authentic setting – providing a true
Zambian experience. The camp has five smart tents, each with a thatched roof and deck overlooking the river.
The tents are en-suite with an inside bath and outside shower room. There is also a small pool, bar and area for
socialising, relaxing in the heat of the sun and exchanging your exciting safari stories!
During your time at Mchenja, you can choose to do your wildlife-viewing on foot or from an open game-viewing
vehicle. The nearby ebony trees also provide another safari experience as some of the wildlife uses the trees as
refuge. This is a stunning camp in a fantastic location.

See day 5 for Itinerary

Walk to Kakuli camp (again, if you’d prefer to drive that’s also possible).
Riverside Kakuli is located on the confluence of the Luwi and Luangwa rivers, with views of the river (and wallowing hippos) from all of the tents. There are four spacious, thatched safari tents, each with an open-air bathroom. The central area of the camp is raised on a wooden deck. It overlooks a grazing lawn, which in turn leads down to the Luwi and Luangwa Rivers, favoured by meandering wildlife. The wildlife viewing (and photographic opportunities) in and around the camp are endless.
Over the next two days you’ll enjoy a selection of game drives and bush walks.

See day 7 for Itinerary

After an early morning game drive or walk, you’ll make the return journey to Lusaka for an overnight stay in
Zambia’s capital – Lusaka.