The Discovery Journey to
Zambia
Discover Zambia – a huge and untamed wilderness, sparingly inhabited by local tribesmen, rich in animal and bird life. Your daily wildlife-viewing will be by all venues possible – 4x4 open land cruiser, boat, canoe and by foot. Experience the unparalleled excitement of tracking leopards and lions on foot in South Luangwa National Park and discover the wealth of wildlife that inhabit the banks and islands of the Lower Zambezi National Park. At night, return to the safari chic comfort of chalet and tented camps for more wildlife viewing from your private verandah and thatched dining rooms, where the fine cuisine is only upstaged by the view – herds of elephant and antelope drinking at the river.
Days 1/2 - New York or Washington, D.C./
Johannesburg
Board your overnight flight to Johannesburg. Uponsophisticated arrival in Johannesburg the next morning, you are escorted to your elegant hotel, set in the heart of stylish Rosebank, a leafy upscale suburb. Spend the afternoon as you choose. Enjoy the amenities of your hotel. Relax or browse in the Edwardian library until late afternoon when you can indulge in a proper British tea. GRACE HOTEL. (Meals Aloft)
Days 3/4 - South Luangwa National Park
Return to the airport and depart on your flight to Lusaka, Zambia, where you connect with your short flight to the Mfuwe airstrip and continue to your camp nestled on the edge of South Luangwa National Park. One of Africa’s prime wildlife sanctuaries, the park boasts a variety and concentration of animal and birdlife that have made it world famous. This is the landscape one thinks of when Africa comes to mind, with herds of antelope sheltering under thorn trees or roaming the plains, predators skulking in the shadows and primordial drama in every vale. The park has over 60 mammal species, including 14 different antelope species, and one of the densest populations of leopard in Southern Africa. Lions are plentiful, too, and often roam in prides of up to 30. The area explored on morning and night drives in open 4x4 land cruisers, or by foot, is famous for giraffe and leopards. With about 400 of Zambia’s 732 bird species appearing in the Valley, including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species, there is plenty for the birdwatcher to spot, whatever the season. Visit the Kawaza School, built in 1932, which is set in the rural area of Chief Nsefu. The school receives little money from the government and would be in an impossible state without donations. Since 1988, Robin Pope’s staff has worked with the school to improve the building standards, educational material access and teacher numbers. With the generous contributions of guests, the students continue to flourish. You’ll stay at Nkwali Camp, one of the Robin Pope Safaris properties. Your chalet accommodations are airy and spacious with river views. The attached bathrooms are partially open to the sky and showering in the moonlight is a luxurious experience. NKWALI CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 5/6 - South Luangwa National Park
Continue your exploration of the South Luangwa National Park as you venture to your next camp, located inside the park. Zambia, and South Luangwa in particular, is the birthplace of one of the finest wilderness experiences in Southern Africa – walking safaris – and Robin Pope is one of its pioneers. Setting out on foot feels thrillingly exposed after riding in a vehicle. Here, the emphasis is less on spotting the wildlife and more on absorbing the smaller details of the African bush, from following leopard tracks at dawn, to walking among grazing zebra, or watching a weaver bird building its nest. Your camp is known for the art of walking safaris. Tena Tena, which means ‘temporary home,’ is located in the remote Nsefu sector on the east bank of the Luangwa River, under evergreen mahogany trees that provide excellent shade. The six large custom-made tents each have an attached bathroom and shower. The thatched dining room and bar are set on a wide bend of the Luangwa River. From the bar, herds of elephant and many antelope species can be seen drinking at the river. The hide behind Tena Tena overlooks a waterhole and guests can spend hours with their cameras as the wildlife passes through to quench their thirst. Nearby is a spectacular lagoon, Buca Buca, where a morning can be spent quietly sitting while the wildlife comes down to feed and drink. TENA TENA CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 7/8/9 - Lower Zambezi National Park
Fly via light aircraft to the Jeki airstrip in the Lower Zambezi Valley. The beauty of this park is its state of absolute wilderness. Lying between the rolling hills of the hazy escarpment and the Zambezi River, it is sprinkled with reed islands, the home and feeding ground for many animals. These waters are a focal point for elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, lion, leopard, wild dog, various antelope species, baboon and vervet monkey, together with an abundance of birdlife estimated to include almost 400 species. You will experience exciting wildlife viewing in open 4x4 vehicles, boats or canoes. Fish the Zambezi for tigerfish and bream. Your beautiful camp consists of six large tented chalets under thatch roofs, with private verandahs overlooking the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi Rivers, with wonderful views of the Muchinga Mountains to the north. CHONGWE CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 10/11 - Lusaka/Johannesburg/Washington, D.C. or New York
Return to Lusaka and your flight to Joahnnesburg. Relax at the Premier Lounge before boarding your overnight flight home. (B, Meals Aloft)
Optional Post-Extension to Victoria Falls, Zambia
Extend your adventure to one of nature’s most magnificent sights – Victoria Falls. At more than twice the size of Niagara Falls, it’s no surprise that Victoria Falls is among the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Mosi-oa-Tunya, or ‘Smoke that Thunders,’ is the name derived from the towering columns of spray. Five separate falls make up this incredible spectacle that plunges more than 300 feet into a sheer-sided chasm which separates Zimbabwe from Zambia. Your visit will include a tour of the Falls on the Zambian side. An afternoon sundowner cruise will be a highlight as you glide along the Zambezi River. Tour an authentic native village, escorted by your English-speaking village guide, to see a culture and way of life that remains virtually unchanged through the ages. You will also have an option for a full-day excursion into nearby Chobe National Park, the second largest in Botswana and renowned for its vast number of elephant often seen bathing in the river. It is possible to see as many as 1,000 elephants during a two-hour wildlife drive. The Chobe elephant comprise part of what is probably the largest surviving continuous elephant population, covering most of northern Botswana and northwestern Zimbabwe. Botswana’s elephant population is currently estimated at around 120,000 and has the distinction of being the largest in body size of all living elephants.
Your Safari Includes:
- Roundtrip air transportation from Atlanta, New York or Washington, D.C. All local flights within Zambia and Southern Africa per itinerary.
- Superior accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- All meals while on safari. Other meals as specified in the itinerary.
- All wildlife viewing by private 4x4 open vehicles, driven by professional driver/guides, by foot, boat or canoe.
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicles.
- All applicable hotel/lodge taxes and gratuities for baggage handling.
- All park entry fees.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.
2008 Dates |
Price Main Trip |
Single Supplement Price/Main |
Optional Extension |
Price Extension |
Single Supplement Price/Ext |
Jun 5-15 |
$6,995 |
$2,995 |
Victoria Falls |
$1,895 |
$595 |
Jul 24 - Aug 3 |
$7,495 |
$2,995 |
Victoria Falls |
$1,895 |
$595 |
Aug 21 - 31 |
$7,395 |
$2,595 |
Victoria Falls |
$1,895 |
$595 |
Oct 2-12 |
$6,995 |
$2,995 |
Victoria Falls |
$1,895 |
$595 |
*Prices do not reflect applicable departure taxes.