Safari Zambia: Luxury Camping 'Under Canvas'
Zambia is considered a real insider tip by Africa enthusiasts and is home to 19 national parks with a spectacular flora and fauna. As part of our fifteen-day private safari trip in a luxurious camping style, you have the opportunity to explore nature and wildlife of three of these reserves: Visiting Luambe, South Luangwe and Lower Zambezi National Park give you the chance to experience wild animals, untouched vastness as well as a piece of “the past Africa” very closely.
First of all, the way leads you into Zambia's Luangwa Valley where you can immerse yourself into the wild depths of Luambe National Park: This area had been forgotten for a long time and is still almost completely isolated today. But the abundance of species that the park’s few tourists can experience here is even more spectacular.
The second stop on your journey is South Luangwa National Park, one of the most impressive wildlife areas in the world. The park’s animal wealth is overwhelming. Elephants, wild dogs, lions as well as the remarkable leopard population certainly provide you with spectacular animal encounters. Hippos and crocodiles which populate the many river arms and lagoons of the region are also to be found in large numbers.
A visit to Lower Zambezi National Park in the southeastern part of the country concludes your tour. Together with Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi, this area represents a gigantic nature reserve whose scenic diversity and fantastic animal wealth will amaze you.
Highlights
- Explore three of Zambia's 19 national parks
- Walk through the pristine nature of Luambe National Park
- Discover South Luangwa National Park, one of the wildest national parks in Zambia
- Come very close to nature on boat and canoe trips in Lower Zambezi National Park
- Live in idyllic camps where you can watch wild animals directly from your tent
- Gain insight into unspoilt Africa combined with a touch of luxury
Locations
Luambe National Park
Luambe Camp
South Luangwa National Park
Tusk + Mane Flycamp
Safari on Zambia's Luangwa River
During this fifteen-day private safari you will explore the natural landscapes and fascinating biodiversity of three first-class wildlife areas in Zambia on daily game drives and walking safaris: Luambe, South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Park.
Arrival and orientation in Zambia
You will first travel to Lusaka where you will be greeted upon arrival at the airport and provided with further information and instructions for your immediate onward flight to Mfuwe Airport. Once you arrive at Mfuwe Airport, you will be picked up and taken to your first camp on a 5-hour drive: the Luambe Camp in Luambe National Park. In the bush camp you can relax and, if the remaining time allows, participate in a first game drive out into the wilderness of the Luambe National Park.
Activities during the safari trip in Zambia
A typical safari day usually consists of an activity in the morning and an activity in the afternoon – usually a game drive in an open vehicle or a walking safari through the bush.
Since most animals are most active in the early hours of the morning, you start your first activity at sunrise to enjoy the best sightings. On a game drive, a game walk or even by boat, your guide will lead you through the natural landscapes of the breathtaking Luambe, South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks to observe the fascinating wildlife at close range.
Elephants, wild dogs, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, crocodiles – countless wild animals live in the vastness of the national parks and will certainly cross your path. But also the very small inhabitants of the African bush, the fascinating plant world and the colourful bird kingdom are given attention, of course. At noon, the hottest time of the day, most animals hide in a cool place. So you also start the way back to camp, enjoy a meal, gather new strength during a siesta and finally leave for Zambia's bush again in the afternoon. After certainly more spectacular wildlife sightings you will return to your camp in the evening, have dinner together and let the day slowly come to end, surrounded by the light of the campfire and the unique night orchestra of the savannah.
Accommodation on the camping safari in Zambia
Luambe Camp, Nkonzi Camp and Tusk & Mane Flycamp are the accommodations during your camping safari. Luambe Camp is a bush camp in Luambe National Park with luxurious safari tents and en-suite bathrooms. Situated directly on the banks of the Luangwa River, it offers incomparable views of the unfolding river landscape.
At Nkonzi Camp, a typical Zambian bush camp, guests are also accommodated in spacious safari tents with attached bush bathrooms. It is situated secluded and deep in the South Luangwa National Park, not far from the Mushilashi River, and thus provides a very special nature experience.
The Tusk & Mane Flycamp, on the other hand, is a mobile camp set up at various locations in the Lower Zambezi National Park, mostly with a direct view of Zambia's mighty Zambezi River. Guests stay in traditional, very comfortable safari tents with their own en-suite bush bathroom. Meals and selected drinks are included in all camps.
Free time as safari guest in Zambia
After returning to camp in the morning and a refreshing lunch, guests can use the following siesta of several hours until the early afternoon to relax. After dinner there is also time for your own activities. In the morning and afternoon you are also free to stay in the accommodation and enjoy a relaxing day with an incomparable view of the Luangwa, Mushilashi or Zambezi River.
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Day 1
Arrival in Zambia and transfer to Luambe National Park
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Day 2 – 4
Exploration days in Luambe National Park
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Day 5
Transfer from Luambe National Park to South Luangwa National Park
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Day 6 – 8
Exploration day in South Luangwa National Park
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Day 9
Transfer from South Luangwa National Park to Lower Zambezi National Park
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Day 10 – 14
Exploration day in Lower Zambezi National Park
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Day 15
Return from Lower Zambezi National Park and departure
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1. Luambe National Park
With an area of 300 km², the Luambe National Park is a comparatively small national park but is in no way inferior to the big parks. Thanks to extensive nature conservation measures, its animal wealth was revived after strong poaching activities in the 1970s and 1980s. The area is a unique, almost untouched ecosystem with a spectacular flora and fauna that can be explored by safari guests on game drives and bush walks.
The Luambe National Park is located in the Luangwa Valley, which is fed by the Luangwa River. The countless lagoons, rivers and wetlands are home to a multitude of hippos and crocodiles and are visited by all other animals as water sources. Due to the absence of large tourist flows, a piece of the original Africa can be enjoyed here.
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2. Luambe Camp
Luambe Camp is the only accommodation in Zambia's Luambe National Park. It is located directly on the banks of the Luangwa River and has spacious safari tents with en-suite bathrooms. The view of the enormous hippopotamus colony, which cavorts in the waters of the Luangwa, is particularly astonishing. And also other wild animals like elephants, buffalos and countless birds can be observed directly from the camp.
Another special feature is the affiliated Luambe Conservation Project which guests can become a part of by being actively involved in research activities carried out on site.
During game drives and walking safaris guests can support members of the LCP team while, with a bit of luck, discovering the animal wealth of Luambe National Park and witnessing four of the Big Five – elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard – as well as the rare African wild dog. A stay at Luambe Camp offers a special Zambian safari experience reminiscent of the early days in Zambia's Luangwa Valley.
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3. South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa National Park is certainly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in Zambia and is located in the beautiful Luangwa Valley, which is fed by the Luangwa River. Across an area of 9000 km², the park boasts an abundance of lagoons, river arms and wetland biotopes, which are visited by numerous representatives of the African animal world as a source of water.
The park, open to visitors all year round, presents itself over the twelve months in ever-changing and unique facets. It is considered a real animal paradise and is home to more than 60 different mammals and over 400 bird species, which can be admired at close range on guided game drives and hiking safaris.
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4. Tusk + Mane Flycamp
The Tusk & Mane Flycamp is a mobile camp that will be set up at different locations in the Lower Zambezi National Park – mostly with a view of Zambia's Zambezi River. Guests stay in traditional, very comfortable safari tents with their own attached bush bathroom.
The Tusk & Mane Flycamp comprises two camps – Chula, Katali and Tafara – which are located in completely different regions of the Lower Zambezi National Park, offering guests a full Lower Zambezi experience. What all camps have in common: their unique island location in the middle of pure wilderness, a picturesque scenery and an abundance of breathtaking wildlife. Guests can experience the diversity of the different regions first-hand on excellently guided hiking safaris, game drives or boat tours.
Background of the camping safari in Zambia
This safari includes visits to Luambe, South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Park – three exclusive wildlife areas with a fascinating biodiversity and diverse, unspoilt landscapes.
Both Luambe and South Luangwa National Park are located in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, which is fed by the Luangwa River. The countless river arms, lagoons and wet biotopes are home to a multitude of crocodiles and hippos and are visited by all other animals as water sources.
The Luambe National Park is a comparatively small park (300 km²) but has as much nature and wildlife to offer as the large ones. After the original abundance of animals was strongly repressed by poaching in the 1970s and 80s, the area came back to life with the help of extensive conservation measures. Luambe National Park is a unique, almost pristine ecosystem with an impressive flora and fauna that can be admired on game drives and walking safaris. Far away from large tourist crowds, a bit of the unspoilt Africa can be enjoyed here.
South Luangwa National Park is much larger and allows a year-round visit. Throughout the year, the park presents itself in ever-changing facets, each with its own unique charm. It is considered a first-class wildlife reserve and is home to more than 60 different mammals and more than 400 bird species which can be observed up close during guided game drives and walks.
The Lower Zambezi National Park, covering almost 4,100 km², is another highlight of a Zambia safari. The different landscapes, the rich fauna and the multitude of different exploration options make the park a fascinating destination which astonishes each visitor immediately.
A visit to these extraordinary pristine places will make for an unforgettable safari adventure.
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