Remote Luangwa Walking Safari

Arriving in to Lusaka this afternoon you will be collected and transferred to Pioneer Camp, a safari lodge on the edge of Lusaka and the ideal spot for you to acclimatise for the adventure that awaits you. They do offer game drives within their reserve, so you can enjoy one of these should you wish, or you could sit back by the swimming pool and relax in the sunshine before enjoying a delicious dinner and drinks around the campfire.

This morning you will be collected from Pioneer Camp and transferred back to Lusaka airport in good time for the morning flight to Mfuwe airport. From there a guide will drive you through the park to Tafika Camp, stopping along the way to enjoy the amazing wildlife you will doubtless see as you drive. On arrival enjoy a late lunch and some time to relax before heading out for an afternoon drive through the game-rich wilderness that surrounds Tafika.

Tafika offers one of the most varied safari experiences in the South Luangwa, with guests here able to enjoy day and night game drives, guided walks and even mountain bike safaris. With lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, buffalo and giraffe amongst the highlight species seen, as well as hugely varied birdlife, it is a superb spot for safaris. In between activities you can sit back, relax and enjoy the gloriously tranquil surroundings of the camp.

Enjoy breakfast in the camp before setting off on foot (your bags will be transferred by vehicle) for your next camp, the charming Chikoko Tree Camp your home for 2 nights. The walk takes around 4 hours and includes a quick canoe trip across the Luangwa River. Arrive in to camp in time for lunch and then take the afternoon to relax after what will have been an exhilarating but tiring morning walk. The views out across the plains from the elevated treehouse rooms need to be seen to be believed.

The area surrounding Chikoko is home to abundant wildlife including lion, wild dog, elephant, giraffe, eland, roan and kudu, so you will be spoilt for amazing game viewing opportunities. The focus here is on walking safaris, with the hugely skilled guides able to get you up close with all manner of wildlife but still keep you safe and out of harms way, thanks to an accompanying National Parks scout who is there to keep an eye on the animals and leave your guide to guiding.

This morning you will set off for Chikoko’s sister camp, Crocodile Camp. The walk takes around 4 hours with ample opportunity to stop en-route and enjoy the area’s superb game viewing. Surrounded by a thicket of ebony trees and found on the edge of a large lagoon, the camp is the perfect spot for spending an afternoon relaxing in camp and watching wildlife come to drink from the water before enjoying dinner under the stars.

After breakfast you will be collected and transferred to the Luuzi airstrip for a flight up to the North Luangwa National Park. From the airstrip a short flight will take you to Mwaleshi Camp, a glorious spot on the banks of the gently flowing Mwaleshi River where you will be spending the final 3 nights of your adventure. Relax after lunch and then head out for an orientation walk through the region surrounding the camp where all manner of wildlife can be seen.

The area surrounding Mwaleshi is pure walking safari terrain, with all of your time spent on foot exploring with your guide. The camp is found within a rhino sanctuary, meaning it is one of the few spots in Zambia where you can see the Big Five – a truly unique experience with the chance to see them on foot not to be missed. The vast open plains of the park are ideal terrain for wild dog and you will have every chance of seeing these majestic predators as they hunt their prey.

As one of three camps within the park, Mwaleshi offers a unique and truly intimate safari experience far away from the crowds, so is ideal for ardent safari goers who want to get away from it all. You can swim in the shallow, clear waters of the Mwaleshi River, enjoy visits to the Mwaleshi Falls and even enjoy a sleepout under the stars if the weather allows. This is a truly incredible spot and offers an experience that is hard to replicate anywhere else in Africa.

This afternoon you will be flown from Mwaleshi back to Mfuwe in time to catch the afternoon connection to Lusaka. There you will have a short layover before catching a connecting flight to your home country.