Countries: Zambia
Destinations: South Luangwa National Park , Lower Zambezi National Park , Livingstone
Group Size: 2
Duration (days): 10
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 0
Unveil the untouched wilds of Zambia on this 10-day safari adventure, exploring iconic national parks and engaging in unique wildlife experiences, from walking safaris in South Luangwa to river adventures on the Zambezi, and finishing with the wonder that is Victoria Falls.
Itinerary Outline
Day 1 : South Luangwa National Park
You will be met at Lusaka Airport (arrival flight not included in quotation) and assisted onto your flight to Mfuwe outside South Luangwa National Park. You will be met at Mfuwe Airport and transferred through colourful local scenes of villages and agriculture as well as bush to Flatdogs Camp. You spend 3 nights here on a full board basis.
A land competing with the best when it comes to wild and action packed safaris, Zambia offers a world of exploration and adventure.
While sharing the mighty Zambezi River and Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe, Zambia also has some truly wild and spectacular destinations of its own. With some magical national parks offering great wildlife experiences, Zambia has developed a name for its excellent guides, and exciting safari activities.
Accessed by air via either South Africa or Kenya, or by road from Botswana or Zimbabwe, Zambia offers full safari itineraries, or can be a great combination with other East or Southern African countries.
In general, due to the remoteness of the parks in Zambia, fly-in safaris are popular, although mobile road safaris are available. A major highlight of a Zambian safari is the isolation of many of the luxurious camps.
The concentration of wildlife along the Luangwa River is extraordinary, and has earned South Luangwa National Park the reputation of being one of the world's greatest wildlife sanctuaries.
The vegetation of the Luangwa valley changes dramatically between the wet and dry seasons, and this change makes the park a wonderful place to visit at anytime of year, although access to some areas becomes limited during the peak of the wet.
As one the founding locations for guided walking safaris, South Luangwa is still one of the best parks in Africa to experience exploring the bush on foot.
Welcome to your unforgettable wildlife safari at Flatdogs Camp! Our Zambian safari camp provides an affordable, authentic bush gateway to the South Luangwa National Park - one of the last great wildlife wonders of the world.
Within our range of great value South Luangwa safari accommodation options, Flatdogs Camp welcomes every type of safari-goer to rest their head. There are the family-friendly Chalet Rooms, the wild and luxurious Jackalberry Treehouse, the traditional Safari Tents with 270° views, and the ultra-private Crocodile Nest.
The South Luangwa National Park is a pristine wilderness in eastern Zambia, and is part of the broader Luangwa Valley. The Valley is home to an astonishing diversity of life, including around 100 species of mammals, more than 400 bird species and over 2000 types of plants.
Added to this, there is an amazing density of game, particularly along the riverine strip. Our guests often comment that ‘there’s something around every corner.
Flatdogs is the closest camp to the Mfuwe main gate of South Luangwa National Park. All our South Luangwa safari activities are led by a fully-qualified guide, and include morning drives, night drives, and walking safaris.
The professionalism and skills of our guides are what get you to the best sightings with the fewest number of humans around. We normally limit numbers to six guests per vehicle and our guides use their guiding skills, not their radios, to find the game. You might sit listening to the sounds of the bush, alone in the wilderness, when the guide hears an alarm call. What better way to find a leopard?
The South Luangwa is one of the few parks in Africa to allow night drives, and the guides’ knowledge of animal behaviour really pays off after dark. Knowing where predators might hunt, which other predators might be around to take advantage, and how to ensure we don’t interfere with the normal behaviour of these animals is crucial to your enjoyment.
Day 2 - 3 : South Luangwa National Park
For these 2 days you explore the National Park on morning and afternoon game drives. The afternoon drive will typically stretch into the night before returning to the camp for dinner.
Day 4 : Lower Zambezi National Park
This morning you return to Mfuwe Airport and board a light aircraft flying via Lusaka to Royal Airstrip on the outskirts of Lower Zambezi National Park. You will be met on landing and have a short drive to Baines River Camp to spend 4 nights on a fully inclusive basis. After settling in to your accommodation you have a choice of land or river based activities to partake in before dinner.
As the name explains, Lower Zambezi National Park is set along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
On the other side of the river is Mana Pools National Park, which helps to create a large conservation zone in the Zambezi River valley.
Largely undeveloped, Lower Zambezi provides travellers with an action filled Zambian safari, with walking safaris, canoeing, boat cruises and fishing excursions all being available.
Baines’ River Camp is located in the Lower Zambezi valley and offers the ultimate combination of luxury and game viewing making it a great camp to complete a safari at.
Three things you will love about Baines’
AN ELEGANT SAFARI
The camp has been designed for your ultimate comfort and exceptional safari encounters in mind.
UNCOMPROMISED STANDARDS
Our air conditioned rooms, wifi and signature Baines’ activities means you get to experience the best of the safari world in style and on your own terms.
EXCEPTIONAL WILDLIFE
Our unrivalled location in the Lower Zambezi makes Baines’ the best camp in Zambia to finish your safari on a high!
Day 5 - 7 : Lower Zambezi National Park
For these 3 days you can enjoy day and night game drives and guided walks. Boating or canoeing with an experienced guide is an option which is well worth the effort.
Day 8 : Livingstone
You return to Royal Airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Livingstone, via Lusaka. You will be met on landing and transferred to Waterberry Zambezi Lodge to spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis.
"Mosi Oa Tunya," or "The Smoke That Thunders," Victoria Falls are as magnificent on the 10th visit as they are on the 1st, and their thundering roar makes everything else seem strangely quiet once you leave them behind.
As the mighty Zambezi flows over a chasm of 1 mile wide, and 110 metres high, to violently crash on the rocks below, the resultant spray is sent tens of metres up into the air, before it lands back down in a continuous rainfall. The water then rushes through an opening of only 50 metres, as the Zambezi races further along, over churning rapids and through the deep Batoka Gorge.
While the Falls are the major drawcard, there is a thriving tourist industry developed around them, with adventure activities of all forms being available.
Tourism has been evident here ever since David Livingstone was the first European guided by the local tribes to this remarkable natural wonder.
The first impression, after driving down the sandy road to reach us, is of rich green foliage, colourful flower borders and rolling lawns with thatched cottages scattered around the gardens. Then, looking through the open main lodge building with lounge, restaurant, and sun decks the Zambezi flows past with a vast wild national park on the opposite bank.
The main lodge building has a large and airy upstairs viewing lounge overlooking the river, inside and outside dining space and sociable lounging furniture on tiered decks. This is the central meeting place for guests – for briefings, for meals (although guests can choose to eat on their own verandas) and for swapping stories over drinks around the fire pit.
​We’ve private areas all over the lovely grounds – you can sit on the river deck, seek shade in our upstairs lounge, watch birds from the raised platform by the dam or catch a nap on a lounger by the pool. You can be as private as you like but always within reach of your watchful team who will cater for your every need.
Our cottages are all different, colourful and stylish, all perfectly adapted to your needs – whether you want to sit and watch the river go by, or relax on your own veranda with a good book or a pair of binoculars. Or just sleep off your journey in our beautiful comfortable beds made by the brilliant Ngoma.
Day 9 : Livingstone
You have the full day to enjoy the activities available at the lodge, including a visit to the Victoria Falls themselves from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides (entrance fees payable on the day), as well as boat cruises on the river, Livingstone town and a village visit, and an island picnic lunch.