7 Days Victoria Falls and Lower Zambezi Safari

This 7-day Zambia safari combines the scale of Victoria Falls with the quieter rhythm of the Lower Zambezi, linking guided sightseeing, river activities and classic wildlife viewing.

Trip Highlights

• Guided visit to Victoria Falls from the Zambian side
• Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
• Visit to the Livingstone Museum
• Elephant-focused wildlife experience with conservation and welfare considerations
• Scenic flight connections into the Lower Zambezi region
• Game drives through the Lower Zambezi wilderness
• Boat excursions along the Zambezi River
• Guided canoe safari
• Optional guided bush walk and catch-and-release tiger fishing
• Riverfront stays at The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara and Royal Zambezi Lodge

Overview

The journey begins in Livingstone, where the Zambezi River plunges over Victoria Falls before continuing through a series of basalt gorges.

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “the Smoke that Thunders”, the falls form part of a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage property shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe.

From Livingstone, the safari moves north to the Lower Zambezi region. Here, the Zambezi becomes the centre of the experience rather than simply a backdrop.

Game drives, boat excursions and canoe safaris offer different ways of seeing wildlife along the river and its floodplains.

The contrast is part of the appeal. Victoria Falls is a place of geological drama and powerful water, while the Lower Zambezi offers long stretches of river, woodland and wildlife-rich shoreline.

Zambia’s tourism authority lists elephant, hippo, lion, leopard, buffalo, crocodiles and numerous bird species among the area’s wildlife, with canoeing, walking and open-vehicle game drives forming the core safari activities.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Livingstone

Arrive at Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, where you will be met by a Petnah Africa Tours representative and assisted with your luggage before beginning your transfer.

En route to your hotel, stop at the Livingstone Museum.

Its exhibits provide context on the region’s history and on David Livingstone’s journeys through south-central Africa, offering a useful introduction before you encounter the landscape itself.

Continue to your hotel near the Zambezi River and check in.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, giving you time to settle in, walk through the grounds, relax on the terrace or simply enjoy the riverside setting.

Overnight at The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara
Meals are as provided by the safari package

Day 2: Victoria Falls and the Zambezi

After breakfast, head to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park for a guided visit to Victoria Falls. The experience follows trails and viewpoints that reveal different aspects of the waterfall and its surrounding gorge.

Water levels influence the character of the falls considerably.

At higher flows, spray can dominate the landscape and create frequent rainbows, while lower water levels reveal more of the underlying rock formations and gorge system.

UNESCO recognises the falls for both their exceptional natural beauty and their geological significance.

Return to the hotel around midday for lunch and time to relax.

Later, head onto the Zambezi for a sunset cruise.

Keep watch along the shoreline for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and waterbirds as the river takes on a different character in the softer evening light. Sundowners and snacks are served on board.

Overnight at The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara
Meals are as provided by the safari package

Day 3: Sossusvlei and Deadvlei

After breakfast, visit a nearby wildlife reserve for an elephant-focused conservation experience.

Following a safety briefing, you will observe the elephants while guides and wildlife professionals discuss their behaviour, individual histories and the conservation challenges facing these animals.

The emphasis is on observation, photography and understanding elephant behaviour.

Any close-contact element should remain subject to the reserve’s current animal-welfare protocols and professional guidance.

Return to the hotel for the remainder of the day. You may relax beside the pool, enjoy a spa treatment or spend time taking in the Zambezi from the hotel grounds.

Overnight at The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara
Meals are as provided by the safari package

Day 4: Livingstone to Lower Zambezi

After breakfast, transfer to Livingstone Airport for your flight to Lusaka and onward charter connection into the Lower Zambezi region.

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your riverfront lodge.

The Lower Zambezi lies along the northern bank of the Zambezi River, with the river and its floodplains forming a defining part of the ecosystem.

Across the water lies Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools landscape, creating a broader transboundary wilderness setting.

After checking into your suite and enjoying lunch, head out on your first Lower Zambezi activity. Depending on conditions and availability, this may be a game drive, boat excursion or canoe safari.

The choice of land and water activities is one of the region’s strengths. Wildlife can be observed from open 4×4 vehicles, along the river or from a much lower vantage point in a canoe.

Overnight at Royal Zambezi Lodge
Meals: Full board

Day 5: Lower Zambezi Wildlife

Start early, when temperatures are cooler, and wildlife activity can be particularly rewarding.

Head out on a game drive, or choose a sunrise river excursion depending on the day’s conditions and your interests.

The Lower Zambezi’s combination of riverine habitats, woodland and floodplains supports a broad range of wildlife.

Elephants are particularly associated with the riverfront, while hippos and crocodiles are commonly encountered in and around the water.

Return to the lodge around midday for brunch and a slower part of the day. Spend the afternoon beside the pool, relax in your suite, or watch activity along the river.

Later, head out again by vehicle or boat as temperatures fall. A night drive may also be available as an optional activity, providing a different perspective on the area’s nocturnal wildlife.

Overnight at Royal Zambezi Lodge
Meals: Full board

Day 6: Canoeing and the Zambezi

Spend another full day in the Lower Zambezi with the opportunity to experience the landscape from a different perspective.

A guided canoe safari allows you to travel quietly along sections of the Zambezi and its channels, keeping close to the water while your guide interprets the surrounding wildlife and habitats.

Canoeing is one of the established ways of experiencing the Lower Zambezi alongside game drives and walking safaris.

Alternatively, take a guided bush walk to focus on the smaller details of the ecosystem, including tracks, plants and animal signs that can easily be missed from a vehicle.

For those interested in angling, catch-and-release tiger fishing may also be available on the Zambezi, subject to local conditions and lodge arrangements.

Return to the lodge for a relaxed afternoon and evening. As darkness settles over the river, gather around the campfire or dining area and enjoy your final night in the Lower Zambezi.

Overnight at Royal Zambezi Lodge
Meals: Full board

Day 7: Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast at the lodge before transferring to the local airstrip.

Board your charter flight back to Lusaka for your onward connection, bringing your Victoria Falls and Lower Zambezi safari to an end.

Meals: Breakfast

End of the 7-Day Zambia Safari

What’s Included

• Accommodation for 6 nights
• Experienced guides
• Open 4×4 safari vehicles
• Full-board meals
• Domestic flights
• Transfers
• Listed activities and entrance fees
• Tourism levy
• Applicable taxes

What’s Not Included

• International flights
• Personal and medical insurance
• Drinks
• Gratuities

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Victoria Falls on the Zambian or Zimbabwean side?

This itinerary visits Victoria Falls from the Zambian side in Livingstone. The waterfall itself forms part of the Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls World Heritage property, which spans Zambia and Zimbabwe.

2. What wildlife can I see in the Lower Zambezi?

The Lower Zambezi supports elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, lions, leopards, antelopes, monkeys and numerous bird species. Sightings remain dependent on season, habitat and normal wildlife behaviour.

3. Why combine Victoria Falls with the Lower Zambezi?

They offer distinctly different experiences.

Victoria Falls is centred on the dramatic waterfall, gorge and surrounding landscape, while the Lower Zambezi is a more traditional safari environment where wildlife can be encountered by vehicle, boat, canoe and on foot.

4. Is canoeing suitable for everyone?

Canoe safaris are guided activities and conditions can vary with water levels, weather and wildlife activity.

Your safari team can advise whether canoeing is appropriate for you and suggest an alternative activity where necessary.

5. Is the elephant experience guaranteed?

Activities involving wildlife are subject to animal behaviour, reserve procedures, availability and current welfare protocols.

The experience should be understood as an opportunity for guided observation rather than a guaranteed close encounter.

Ready to start planning your Zambia safari? Send us an inquiry, or WhatsApp us on +256 705 161344. The itinerary can be tailored around your preferred travel dates, activities, and accommodation arrangements.