Zambian Expedition Safari

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Day 1 / 2:
Guests will be met at Livingstone Airport and transferred to Thorntree River Lodge, located in the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, Zambia, Thorntree River Lodge features breath-taking scenery with river views and sightings of a variety of animals on the Zambezi River. Guests are accommodated in nine luxurious suites, all with private decks overlooking the river. Your safari experience at this, 'The Home of the Elephants', will include on site river activities as well as elephant back safaris along the banks of the Zambezi River (at an additional cost). Thorntree's close proximity to Victoria Falls, means that a visit to see 'The Smoke that Thunders' is a must for every guest staying at the lodge. Optional activities are available from the Lodge and a Tour of the Falls is included.
Day 3 / 4:
Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp, Southern Kafue, a six hour drive from Livingstone, is a new development located on the site of the old Nanzhila Rest Camp built in the late 1950's, in the remote and seldom visited southern sector of Kafue National Park. The area is best known for its lush woodlands of Miombo, Zambezi Teak and Mopane, the beautiful plains and the stream that runs through it, after which our lodge is named. Nanzhila Plains offers excellent opportunities to see the healthy populations of a number of antelope species including Roan and Sable, Reedbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, Oribi, Hartebeest and Eland as well as all the major carnivores, with a particularly strong population of Wild Dog and Cheetah. The birdlife is phenomenal throughout the year, and sightings can almost be guaranteed of the endemic Black-cheeked Lovebird, the Wattled Crane, Ground Hornbill and Saddle-billed Stork amongst others. The raised, thatched Boma is situated under the shade of a huge Jackelberry Tree (African Ebony). It houses the lounge and dining area, bar and veranda, with a stunning and elevated view of the dambo, whilst on the adjoining Kjope we have positioned our communal open-air fire place which is the focal point of the evening activities where guests can enjoy a warm fire, a cold drink, good fellowship and the sounds of the African night.
Day 5:
Lechwe Lodge, Kafue River. The lodge's rondavels are spread around almost manicured lawns and are very well kept. All are roomy with solid wooden furniture standing on expanses of cool polished floor. Two are family units, with four beds in two rooms. The others have twin beds or lovely wooden-framed double beds. All the beds are covered with mosquito nets and each rondavel has an en-suite shower and toilet. The food is good, fresh and plentiful, richly deserving the cliché 'wholesome farm fare' in its best possible sense. Lechwe's farm covers about 13km2, which varies from brachystegia and acacia woodlands through a 'termitaria' zone to open floodplains and the river itself. The game includes giraffe, eland, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, Kafue lechwe, oribi and sitatunga, as well as the more common antelope of the region. None of the large predators are here (except for crocodiles in the river), though several are plentiful, apparently due to the prevalence of cane rats in the reeds. In and around the river you'll find Cape clawless and spotted-necked otters, hippos and crocodiles. The birdlife is very good, with more than 420 species recorded. You should see wide ranges of waterfowl, kingfishers, herons, egrets and perhaps even a rare visiting osprey. Boat trips along the river are possible most of the year, a super way to watch birds, and tackle is always available if you prefer to fish.
Day 6:
Serenje, a small,quaint town about 191kms from Kapiri Mposhi on the Great North Road. It has a good service station with toilets, a small shop and a few motor accessories. There is a wonderful restaurant/guest house in Serenje that deserves mention. Mapontela Enterprises can be found on the right side of the road just as you enter Serenje (not far from the Great North Road). They serve chicken, steak and nshima as well as many other great dishes. They have very charming rooms in their guest house and great service.
Day 7:
We drive out of Serenje and go via Kundalila Falls to the Nakapalayo Tourism Project immerse yourself in the rich culture and way of life of the Bisa people by visiting a traditional Zambian village. Nakapalayo Tourism Project is conveniently located between Kasanka National Park and the spectacular Bangweulu Wetlands. Nakapalayo is a real village where tourists have the unique opportunity to experience life exactly like the villagers who live here. NTP is a community based and managed project that provides tourists with an authentic experience in a traditional Zambian village to promote cultural exchange and bring development, employment and income to the community.
Day 8 / 9:
Shoebill Island Camp offers accommodation in safari tents under thatch roofs and reed cottages. Each has 2 beds, an en-suite shower and flush toilet. Shoebill Island is primarily intended for international visitors. The island has panoramic views over the swamps and gets its name from the Shoebill, which are usually in reach of the camp. Boating can be arranged in banana boats or dugout canoes. March and April offer an amazing watering wilderness for the adventurous, with Shoebills often visible from camp! The high season is from May to August when Shoebills can usually be seen on canoe trips. September to November offer great birding (though maybe no Shoebill sightings) and the same amazing mammal spectacles. Shoebill Island camp is managed by the Kasanka Trust, and tours are regularly arranged to take visitors on to Shoebill from Kasanka. This involves an interesting but bumpy 5 hours drive through villages. A trip to Shoebill is highly recommended in addition to Kasanka at any time of year./li>
Day 10 / 11:
Mutinondo Wilderness is ideal for people who love the bush combined with peace and tranquility. Located in the middle of miles and miles of beautiful Africa, this wonderful wilderness is a great escape and refuge from the pressures of everyday life and reminds one of the true priorities in life. You can choose to enjoy a good book and the beautiful views from your open-air chalet or campsite or enjoy the hiking, riding, birding, swimming, canoeing, mushrooming, wild flowers and wonderful miombo woodland. The activities can be as peaceful or adventurous as you wish to make them. Owners have been developing Mutinondo Wilderness since 1995 and everything has been designed and built to fit the price, standard and style that we would choose for our own holidays. It is a small, comfortable lodge with a personal approach to service enhanced by inspiring examples of bushlife, appropriate technology, eco-tourism, local natural history information and community initiatives. Mutinondo Wilderness lies on the plateau 30 km west of the Luangwa Valley in the Northern Province of Zambia. The area consists of 10,000 hectares of privately owned land encompassing pristine Miombo woodland, massive chunks of granite inselbergs, crystal clear rivers to swim in and drink from and picturesque waterfalls and glades .It is pure Africa just as it has been experienced for centuries and offers endless opportunities to explore and celebrate nature.
Day 12 / 13:
Shiwa Ngandu (also spelled Shiwa Ng'andu) is a grand English-style country house and estate in the Northern Province of Zambia, about 12 km west of the Great North Road and half-way between Mpika and Chinzali. Its name is based on a small lake nearby, Lake Ishiba Ng'anduwhich in the local Bemba language means 'lake of the royal crocodile'. The house itself is also kn'wn as 'Shiwa House'. It was the life-long project of an English aristocrat, Sir Stewart Gore-Brown who fell in love with the country after working on the Anglo-Belgium border commission, determining the border between Rhodesia and the Belgian-Congo, now Zambia and the DRC. Recently Shiwa House has been partially restored and has opened five rooms for paying guests under the name Shiwa Ngandu Manor House. The estate's remote beauty is once more accessible to visitors. The grave of Sir Stewart is at rest in the extraordinary African paradise he created. His grand children have reintroduced wildlife, and established a large cattle ranch and the estate is proving to be a significant source of employment in the area. A day visit to the outstanding Kapishya Hot Springs will also take place.
Day 14 / 15:
North Luangwa. This remote tract of land covering 4636 square kilometres offers one of the finest wilderness experiences in Zambia, if not Africa itself. It is open to the public and there are few permanent lodges there. Access is strictly via four-wheel-drive. The beauty of visiting this park is the truly remarkable opportunities to experience Africa as it was. It is wild and untouched and you are simply an unobtrusive witness to its natural beauty and drama. Considered the best lodge in North Luangwa National Park, was built in 2006 and offers five Bungalows, everyone with a terrace overlooking the Luangwa River. It has been built following the African style taking a special care with the surroundings. All the buildings in Delia Camp are constructed two and a half metres above the ground, and are connected by footbridges, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the lodge's services and its views in total safety.
Day 16 / 17:
Luangwa Wilderness Lodge lies within Luambe National Park, in eastern Zambia. Luangwa Wilderness Lodge is the only lodge in the park, you can make it your own private wilderness. With their commitment to community and conservation, you'll also help improve and maintain this stunning park for years to come. Luambe is cradled on the banks of the Luangwa River in the Luangwa Valley, between the North and South Luangwa National Parks. Luangwa Wilderness offers exclusive accommodation and allows the visitor to experience a truly authentic and vibrant Africa. Although the lodge itself is worth a visit for a couple of days it can serve as well as a convenient stopover for people going to North Luangwa from South Luangwa. 4x4 vehicles are essential for these areas. Luambe National Park itself is comparatively small (about 35-38,000 hectares), but has a varied and beautiful landscape, and a large number of game and species diversity due to its year-round water-holding lagoons. Its riverside location also provides ringside seats to the elephant that come down to drink, and in October, to hundreds of hippos splashing around in the water.
Day 18 / 19:
Thornicroft Lodge, South Luangwa National Park.The main lodge is a spacious thatched semi-circle of sophisticated comfort. It's an open-planned area that houses the dining area, indoor braai/BBQ, lounge and bar. With a traditional roof, stonewalls and gnarled wooden colonnades the lodge has been designed to fit in with the natural environment. In the dining area we serve delicious international and traditional meals prepared by our chef. From the bar, you can order a selection of drinks for all occasions and unwind in our cosy lounge or Zambia shaped swimming pool. The lodge is surrounded by the African bush, set on a small piece of raised ground between the Luangwa river and a lagoon you get a sense of the wild while just a short drive from Mfuwe. Wildlife often pass through the camp at night to graze while during the day elephant, monkeys, mongoose, baboons and giraffes can visit. For moments of leisure, we use the river bank as much as we can - this is our 24hour wide-screen experience! There's a constant interest as animals come to the water's edge on the opposite bank to drink or even to bathe in the river. We have comfortable chairs on the bank for you so you can take it all in.
Day 20:
Drive to Lilongwe, overnight at The Lilongwe Sanctuary Lodge is in the heart of Lilongwe. It is perfectly positioned between City Centre and Old Town and near to supermarkets, embassies and banks. This environmentally friendly lodge offers protection to, and showcases, Malawi's beautiful natural heritage, whilst offering superior accommodation facilities to discerning guests. Cottages offer twin or double accommodation facilities in over 8 hectares of pristine indigenous woodland. The main restaurant, reception and bar area overlook a custom designed swimming pool, set in landscaped and lawned gardens. Breakfast, lunches and evening meals are served in the main restaurant which is open to the public. An all-day snack menu is available. The area is surrounded by electrified fence which protects the indigenous brachystegia [Miombo] trees and the wide variety of animals that reside in this area. Vantage points along the Lingadzi River offer guests the opportunity to watch the wildlife on the opposite bank in the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, as an added attraction. The Wildlife Centre is a Land and Lake Safaris & Born Free Foundation [UK] supported, rescue, care and rehabilitation centre for Malawi's wildlife. Animals like monkeys, baboons, duikers, leopard, hyena, crocodile and a python can be seen in the facility.
Day 22:
Depart on flight Lilongwe to JHB and onward arrangements
Notes
The Zambian expedition section can be run prior to the Malawi & Mozambique expedition safari. This section will entail the use of Two Toyota Landcruisers with guides, and can run as per the itinerary suggested

Wilderness Dawning have factored in all equipment that will make a trip like this a viable option Guide will have a satellite phone with him at all times.

Two eight-seater Toyota Landcruisers, with Cross-Border permits and full Passenger Liability. A guide, who is licensed in South Africa and has the necessary Public Driving Permits etc. All fuel, toll-road and border fees are included in the quote. Note that Wilderness Dawning have factored in ONE vehicle for 1-7 pax and TWO for 8-14, guaranteeing each guest a window seat.

The quote includes all accommodation costs (including our guides accommodation and entrance fees).

In the unlikely event of a vehicle breakdown, we will arrange for a replacement vehicle within 48 hours, depending on distance and timings from JHB.

Included:

Three and Four Star Tourism Graded accommodation on a full board basis, Services of a fully licensed Professional Guide. All entrance fees to National Parks and Game Reserves, game-drives and use of specially modified 4x4 vehicles. Vehicle toll fees and Fuel.

Excluded:

All airfares, mineral water, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except tea and coffee), optional activities, any gratuities, any personal expenses, visa fees.Travel Insurance (compulsory), gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Zambian Expedition Safari

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