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After an overnight flight from London Heathrow into Lusaka, Zambia you would connect with a scheduled flight departing to Mfuwe.
During the next five days you will be taken into the South Luangwa Valley to stay at two contrasting camps.
The South Luangwa Valley is one of the richest and most exciting game viewing areas in Africa. The scenery is diverse and typically African dominated by the meandering Luangwa River which floods the area every rainy season leaving beautiful lagoons and small lakes dotted around the extensive valley floor. There is woodland, rich areas of open plain and as you move south you come to the Chendeni Hills which provide excellent walking opportunities. Most visitors to Luangwa spend about five or six days there staying at a series of contrasting camps and lodges which takes between six and twelve guests.
The wildlife is equally rich and diverse with herds of elephant, particularly large numbers of graceful giraffe, impressive herds of mighty buffalo and over a dozen species of antelope. The South Luangwa is one of the best places for spotting predators and lion, leopard, cheetah and other predators are regularly seen, as well as a host of fascinating smaller creatures such as baboon, warthog and serval.
South Luangwa is particularly good walking country and most days begin with a steady, not tiring, walk with an expert guide and an armed national parks tracker (most of whom have an uncanny sixth sense for spotting the most elusive creatures). In the afternoon you would usually take a drive by open vehicle, perhaps combined with short walks and in the evening after sunset you have the further opportunity for a night time drive when you can see nocturnal creatures such as porcupine and aardvark and predators. This is also a superb birding location with 466 species of birds, including many types of eagle, herons and spectacular colonies of carmine bee-eaters.
For the first couple of days…
you would stay at Mfuwe Lodge which is situated between two spectacular lagoons that offer remarkable game viewing. Great attention has been given to environmental issues and the low profile lodge blends with the surrounding environment. The open plan design has the comfort and relaxation of guests in mind but also emphasises that an African wilderness experience is a blend of colours, textures, sounds, aromas and sights.The open plan central lodge provides a reception, lounge, dining and bar areas under a thatch roof. This cool and airy area then opens onto a broad timber deck that not only provides a viewing place for guests to watch the animals coming down to drink at the lagoon, but also accommodates the swimming pool. The lodge also has an open boma for dinners under starlit skies.
Accommodation is provided in eighteen open plan chalets, each with en suite bathroom. Each chalet is open to the surrounding views. Activities from the lodge include day and night game drives, as well as walking safaris.
After a couple of nights settling into the African rhythm you will be taken on a game drive to Chamilandu Camp where you stay for the next three nights.
Chamilandu Camp is located about twenty miles south of Mfuwe in a remote part of the South Luangwa National Park on a large loop of the Luangwa River. The camp has four very spacious open-fronted thatched cottages set on 10ft-high stilts providing guests with magnificent views of the river, which can be seen meandering gracefully for a mile or more in each direction, and of the bush beyond leading to the towering ranges of the Chendeni Hills which lie about two miles away.
You can expect to see groups of elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus, antelope and other creatures wandering down to the river to drink and wallow at any time of the day, together with kingfishers, eagles, storks, herons and others among the many species of birds which are found in this part of the South Luangwa.
The surrounding country is rich and varied with beautiful mahogany, sausage, and rain trees, and areas of thicker mopane forest. There are also wonderful curved lagoons and areas of open grassland where you find herds of zebra, antelope and buffalo watching out for lion or leopard, which may be hiding in the surrounding long grass.
One of the big attractions of the Chamilandu area is the fact that you are almost certain to see no other tourists during your entire stay here beyond your fellow guests. You can enjoy a slow-paced, fascinating walk from dawn with an armed scout and highly expert guide tracking animals through the bush and learning about the medicinal uses of places, the tracks, dung and other aspects of bushcraft. After brunch and a siesta, your afternoon activity would usually be a drive in an open vehicle with the same guide, venturing further afield encountering larger numbers of animals. You may perhaps also take a forty five minute walk if the opportunity arises before returning to camp after sunset with a spotlight to see nocturnal creatures.
After five nights in the South Luangwa National Park you would be returned to Mfuwe Airport where you board a scheduled flight taking you via to Lusaka to Livingstone.
On arrival you will be met and taken by road to Islands of Siankaba Lodge where you stay for two nights.Islands of Siankaba Lodge is the most classic of forested retreats, with six secluded chalets linked by a foot bridge to an excellent restaurant, all on two untouched islands in the mighty Zambezi River between the 'Seventh Wonder of the Natural World', the magnificent Victoria Falls, and the world famous Chobe National Park.
This is a luxurious five star lodge, sleeping just twelve guests. The chalets have been uniquely designed and are constructed of teak and custom made canvas tenting. They are raised well above ground level into the tree canopy with their balconies extending out over the Zambezi. Each is linked by a winding over-head walkway so that guests do not actually walk on the islands surface in order to protect the fragile riverine environment. All chalets are opulently finished and equipped with en-suite bathrooms (ball and claw baths and separate shower), mini bar, large mosquito nets, ceiling fan and private safe.
The principal guest amenities are located on the larger island whilst the guest chalets are situated on the smaller island overlooking the river towards the game reserve on the southern bank. There is a dining room, a bar and a sparkling swimming pool.
Activities available at Islands of Siankaba include guided tours to the impressive Victoria Falls, guided birding and tree walks on the main island’s nature trail, guided fishing trips for the elusive Zambezi Tiger Fish, game drives to Livingstone’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park where a sighting of a rhino is almost guaranteed, or to Chobe National Park, which boasts perhaps the finest elephant sightings in Africa. You can also take sunset river cruises, enjoying a cool sundowner on board whilst viewing a magnificent African sunset or take dugout canoe trips around the Islands with your own private paddler/guide. Cultural village tours are also offered, giving you the opportunity to discover a truly genuine African village unchanged for centuries.
The lodge can also arrange transfers into Victoria Falls to see the waterfall and enjoy a flight over the falls, elephant riding and river cruises. After a few wonderful days at Victoria Falls you will be transferred to Livingstone Airport where you board a scheduled flight taking you to where you’ll board your overnight flight home.