Classic Luangwa Walking Safari in Style

Day 1 - Fly London to Mfuwe Via Lusaka

Fly London to Mfuwe via Lusaka airport.

Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive Lusaka. Fly to Mfuwe - 1 hour. Group transfer to Luwi Camp.

Your international flight arrives into Lusaka late afternoon and you will be met and escorted to your domestic flight to Mfuwe airport, the gateway to South Luangwa National Park. Here you will be met on arrival and transferred to the first of your camps - Luwi - enjoying your first safari along the way. (If you are making your own way to Mfuwe please check with us that your flight will connect with our transfer to Luwi Camp). Depending upon what you see on the way, your drive to Luwi can take up to two hours, so have an extra layer and insect repellent to hand.

Luwi Camp, nestled in the shade of huge mahogany trees, is close to a permanent hippo and croc filled lagoon. It is situated deep in the heart of the National Park, on the seasonal Luwi River after which it is named. The Luwi is a sandy, dry river bed outside of the rainy season. The area is extremely remote with no other camps or people for many miles around. Luwi was one of South Luangwa's first wilderness safari camps.

Walks in the Luwi area may be complemented by game drives and explorations upriver to discover the source of the river or to find the elusive Roan antelope or reed buck, eland and hartebeest which are almost never seen in other parts of the park. The Luwi area is famous for its lions as well as an abundance of birdlife. This region of South Luangwa is also home to a family of wild dogs, with the best sightings of this endangered carnivore likely in June and July.

Your first evening will no doubt be spent around the campfire listening to tales of life in the Zambian bush as you begin to embrace life in the African wilderness.

Overnight: Luwi Camp

Day 3 - On safari from Luwi Camp.

This morning you have the thrill of waking up in Africa, and typically your day will start early around the camp fire when you will discuss the noises and animals heard through the night.

After a light breakfast with a choice of fruit, yoghurt, eggs and toast, you set off on foot to pick up the fresh tracks of a pride of lion or investigate the alarm calls of the local troop of baboon. This is no nature trail - this is the real thing - you are tracking wildlife through the African bush, on foot like the first Luangwa pioneers. Your morning walking safari is likely to take three to four hours returning you to camp in time for a hearty late morning brunch.

The afternoon is free for you to relax, viewing the wildlife passing by camp before a further safari later in the day. This may be on foot ending at the lagoon hide for sundowners, or possibly exploring further upriver by 4x4. You return to camp by vehicle looking out for the eyes of nocturnal animals reflected in the search light on a night drive.

Dinner is taken under the stars accompanied by the many sounds of the Zambian night.

Overnight: Luwi Camp

Day 4 - Walking safari to Nsolo Camp - 8km, 3-4 hours.

Today you are moving on to your next camp so you will need to have your bags packed first thing, ready for them to be transferred by vehicle. Leaving camp early on foot your guide will lead you downstream towards Nsolo Camp. The river widens in this section and the Luwi's white sands carve a dynamic route through the palm and trichelia groves, thicket and game rich "dambos" for which the Luangwa Valley is so well known. One of the great joys of a walking safari is discovering the fascinating small details of the bush; the defensive mechanisms of plants and animals, how termite colonies operate, the medicinal properties of different trees, how lion ants catch their prey and how everything in the bush is recycled! These are just some of the amazing things you will learn on your walks. You will also see numerous birds and learn how to track different wildlife by looking at their prints and listening to their calls.

After a few hours gentle walking and exploration you'll arrive into camp to find a warm welcome, a cool drink, brunch on the table and your bags in your room. Nsolo is the local name for the honeyguide and the camp was named after this extraordinary little bird. By amazing coincidence it was later learnt that this area used to be home to a famous local hunter - also called Nsolo!

The light, airy chalets at Nsolo each have a raised wooden decks with private verandahs looking out onto the surrounding bush and riverbed. It's a great spot for birdwatching. Have a rest and soak up the magical atmosphere of this, one of the oldest bush camps in the Luangwa Valley, before you head out again after your siesta and afternoon tea.

Overnight: Nsolo Camp

Day 5 - On safari from Nsolo Camp.

Today you explore the wilds of the Nsolo area. The Luwi river system is renowned for its lion population, and various pride territories overlap in this area. The cats use the dry river bed as a thoroughfare and a means, not only of locating their prey, which come to drink, but also of locating their rivals who must be warned to stay away. Wild dogs have denned between Luwi and Nsolo for the last six years and chances are high of seeing these elusive creatures from Nsolo. Leopards also abound in the area.

There are few African experiences more exciting than heading out on a walking safari early in the morning, having heard lions calling through the night, finding their fresh tracks and following them through the bush. With voices hushed and hearts beating you think that there is a lion over every rise!

Overnight: Nsolo Camp

Day 6 - Walking safari to Kakuli Camp - 12km, 5 hours.

This morning after an early start you will meander along with the Luwi on your walking safari, arriving with the river at its confluence with the main Luangwa River and Kakuli Camp. Giraffes, elephants, hippopotamous, warthogs, impala and piku are all routinely seen in or around the water here and your first views of the Luangwa can be a real 'wow' moment.

The walk to Kakuli is the longest walk between camps and you may move on by 4x4 game vehicle if you prefer.

Named after Norman Carr, who was affectionately named Kakuli - an old buffalo bull - this camp has sweeping and majestic views over the Luangwa. Spend the afternoon relaxing in camp and making the most of the spectacular views over the hippo filled Luangwa River. There are more game viewing tracks in this area so later you may head out in an open sided 4x4 vehicle to explore the area which is famous for its high population of leopards.

Night time at Kakuli can be noisy as hippo congregrate just below the tents on the river bed, and elephants wander through camp in search of their favourite winter thorn tree pods.

Overnight: Kakuli Camp

Day 7 - On safari from Kakuli Camp.

With the Luangwa river so close by, you are almost guaranteed superb animal sightings whether on foot or in vehicle at Kakuli. If you are travelling in September, the area around Kakuli is a great place to see large colonies of brilliantly colourful Carmine bee eaters which migrate here from the end of August. These beautiful birds make their homes en masse in small holes in the river banks and fly in numbers as they search for small insects in the sky. Kakuli is one of the best places to observe the bee eater colonies.

After your morning safari you may like to spend your time back in camp relaxing in the lovely thatched chitenje (lounge) at the heart of Kakuli. It is on a wooden deck overlooking the grazing area that leads down to the two rivers and is a perfect spot in which to watch the wildlife meander by. The views from here are quite spectacular.

This stretch of the Luangwa is bustling with predators and the best time to see them in action is late afternoon when you head out on your second safari and, later still, during those first few hours of darkness. The African night sky is simply magnificent and the Milky Way seems 100 times brighter here in the Luangwa Valley where there is no light pollution.

Overnight: Kakuli Camp

Day 8 - Walking safari to Mchenja Camp - 7km, 3 hours.

Today you walk to your last camp, heading northeast along the Luangwa river bank passing numerous hippos jostling for space in the ever-dwindling pools below. A taste of sophistication awaits you at Mchenja, the name meaning "ebony"; the final camp on your trail occupies a stunning setting beneath a magnificent grove of immense ebony trees on the banks of the Luangwa River. The five individually designed tents each have a bath inside as well as an open topped, en suite shower and toilet. The beautiful central chitenje is built around one of the old fallen ebony trees and you can cool off in the camp's plunge pool. Brunch is taken in the shady lounge but dinner is more often served on the riverbank under the stars.

You will be able to do both game walks and drives from Mchenja, and the wildlife viewing in this area is some of the best in the South Luangwa National Park.

Overnight: Mchenja Camp

Day 9 - On safari from Mchenja Camp.

As the sun rises over the river in front of camp a light breakfast will be served on the grassy river's edge. Choose from a good selection of cereals, porridge, and campfire toast accompanied by tea, coffee and fruit juice. On your safari this morning you may head north toward the Lion Plain area, or south toward Mfuwe Lagoon. The birdwatching from Mchenja is excellent; you may see yellow-billed storks, fish eagles and various kingfishers.

Later, after your midday siesta, you will gather for afternoon tea and delicious homemade cake before heading out again for your final evening safari.

The slightly more luxurious but unpretentious nature of Mchenja, makes it the perfect place to conclude your safari. Memories from your last evening around the campfire under the vast African night sky, listening to the distant call of lions, cicadas and a multitude of tree frogs under the crescent of an African moon will live with you forever.

Overnight: Mchenja Camp

Day 10 - Group transfer to Mfuwe. Fly to Lusaka. Fly to London.

A final safari this morning and then you say farewell to the bush after lunch, driving through the park on your way back to Mfuwe airport for your flight out of the Luangwa Valley.

In Lusaka you will be met and escorted to your international flight back to London.

If you're extending your safari experience with time at the magical Lower Zambezi National Park, you will also catch a domestic flight from Mfuwe in the morning.

Overnight: In flight

Day 11 - Arrive London.