8 Days Lower Zambezi, South and North Luangwa Safari
This 8-day Lower Zambezi, South & North Luangwa Safari brings together three distinct wilderness experiences in Zambia, from Zambezi River game viewing to walking safaris in the Luangwa Valley.
The route combines comfortable lodges with increasingly remote safari experiences, ending in North Luangwa, where walking is central to the experience.
Trip Highlights
- Wildlife viewing along the Zambezi River in Lower Zambezi
- Game drives, walking and water-based safari activities
- Three nights in South Luangwa National Park
- Guided walking safaris and game drives around the Luangwa River
- Opportunities for leopard, elephant, lion, hippo and buffalo sightings
- Time to relax at Tafika Camp between safari activities
- Two nights in the more remote North Luangwa National Park
- Walking safaris accompanied by a guide and armed scout
- Stay at intimate Mwaleshi Camp on the Mwaleshi River
- A multi-region itinerary combining three very different Zambian wilderness areas
Overview
The safari begins in the Lower Zambezi, where the Zambezi River shapes both the landscape and the wildlife experience.
Game drives, walking and water-based activities offer different ways to experience the park, with elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of other wildlife concentrated around the river and floodplains.
From Lower Zambezi, you fly to South Luangwa National Park for three nights at Tafika Camp.
This section of the journey gives you more time on foot as well as conventional game drives, with the opportunity for morning and afternoon outings and, depending on the activity schedule, drives extending after dark in search of nocturnal wildlife.
The final two nights take you into North Luangwa National Park and Mwaleshi Camp.
With few roads in the area around camp, walking becomes the principal way of experiencing the wilderness, accompanied by a guide and armed scout. It is a fitting end to a safari that becomes progressively more remote as it moves deeper into Zambia.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Lower Zambezi National Park
Arrive in Lusaka and connect with your flight to Royal Airstrip in the Lower Zambezi region.
On arrival, you will be met by your driver-guide and transferred to Dulini Anabezi, your base for the next two nights.
The rest of the day is intentionally unhurried, giving you time to settle into camp, recover from your journey, and take in the surrounding wilderness.
Overnight: Dulini Anabezi
Day 2: Lower Zambezi National Park
Today is shaped around the conditions, wildlife movements, and activities available at the time of your visit.
You may head out on foot, take a game drive or explore the waterways of the Lower Zambezi.
The Zambezi River and its associated floodplains are particularly important to wildlife in the area, and activities can provide opportunities to see elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles and other species.
The riverfront can also provide good opportunities for predator sightings, including leopards.
Time between activities can be spent relaxing at Dulini Anabezi, where the raised setting of the suites provides an excellent vantage point over the surrounding floodplain.
Overnight: Dulini Anabezi
Day 3: South Luangwa National Park
After your stay in Lower Zambezi, fly to South Luangwa National Park and settle into Tafika Camp.
South Luangwa offers a different style of safari, with the option to experience the park on foot as well as from an open-topped 4×4 safari vehicle.
A typical day can include an early morning activity followed by lunch and time to relax before a second outing in the afternoon.
Walking slows the experience down and brings attention to tracks, vegetation, smaller wildlife, and the many signs of animal activity that can easily pass unnoticed from a vehicle.
Afternoon game drives may continue after dark when conditions and the activity schedule allow, providing an opportunity to look for nocturnal species.
Overnight: Tafika Camp
Day 4: South Luangwa National Park
Continue exploring South Luangwa with another day of guided safari activities.
Morning and afternoon outings can be arranged around wildlife movements and conditions.
The park is particularly known for its concentrations of wildlife around the Luangwa River and associated oxbow lagoons, creating opportunities for sightings of elephants, hippos, predators, antelope and numerous bird species.
Between activities, you can enjoy the quieter side of safari from camp. Tafika has viewing hides overlooking a waterhole where wildlife can pass through during the day.
Overnight: Tafika Camp
Day 5: South Luangwa National Park
Your final full day in South Luangwa gives you more time to experience the park on foot or by vehicle.
With several days in the area, there is no need to treat every outing as a checklist.
The value is in seeing how the landscape changes through the day, following fresh tracks, watching animals around water and giving your guide time to respond to what is happening in the bush.
Depending on the day’s programme, you can enjoy another walking safari, game drive or an afternoon outing that continues into the evening.
Overnight: Tafika Camp
Day 6: North Luangwa National Park
Today you fly onwards to North Luangwa National Park, moving into a considerably more remote part of Zambia.
On arrival at the Mwaleshi area, you will be met and transferred to Mwaleshi Camp.
The camp is deliberately intimate and operates seasonally, with a small number of guests staying in rustic but comfortable thatched chalets beside the Mwaleshi River.
Walking is central to the safari experience here. The limited road network around camp means that many wildlife encounters take place on foot, accompanied by a professional guide and armed scout.
Overnight: Mwaleshi Camp
Day 7: North Luangwa National Park
Spend a full day immersed in North Luangwa.
Guided walking safaris allow you to experience the bush at a slower pace, following tracks and reading the smaller details of the landscape as you move through it.
The Mwaleshi River also draws wildlife into the area, with opportunities to encounter buffalo, elephants, lions, hyenas, antelope and other species.
The atmosphere changes again after sunset as the sounds of nocturnal wildlife become more apparent.
With the small scale of the camp and relatively low visitor numbers described in the source itinerary, this final section of the safari is intended to feel particularly removed from the usual safari circuit.
Overnight: Mwaleshi Camp
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Mfuwe Airstrip.
From Mfuwe, continue by air to Lusaka International Airport, where you connect with your onward departure flight.
Your 8 Days Lower Zambezi, South & North Luangwa Safari ends here.
What’s Included
- Park fees and conservation levies for all national parks
- Activities specified in the itinerary
- Ground transportation in a custom 4WD safari vehicle where applicable
- Bottled water during safari activities
- Full-board accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Driver allowances
- All mentioned activities
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities for safari guides and lodge staff
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Drinks and beverages at the lodges and camps
- Taxes
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes this Zambia safari different from a standard game-drive itinerary?
The route combines three different safari environments and progressively shifts towards walking.
Lower Zambezi introduces river-based wildlife viewing, South Luangwa combines vehicles and walking, while North Luangwa places a much greater emphasis on exploring the bush on foot.
2. Is North Luangwa suitable for travellers who want a remote safari?
This itinerary is particularly suited to travellers looking for a more remote experience. The area around Mwaleshi Camp has few roads, so walking with a guide and armed scout is a central part of the experience.
3. What wildlife can I see in the Luangwa Valley?
The itinerary highlights elephants, buffalo, hippos, lions, leopards, hyenas and various antelope species, alongside substantial birdlife. As with any wildlife safari, sightings depend on season, conditions and animal movements.
4. Can I do walking safaris in South Luangwa as well?
Yes. Walking is an important part of the South Luangwa section of this itinerary, with guided walks offered alongside game drives.
5. When does Mwaleshi Camp operate?
The supplied itinerary describes Mwaleshi Camp as seasonally operated between June and October. Availability should therefore be confirmed for your intended travel dates before booking.
Ready to start planning your safari in Zambia? Send us an inquiry through our contact page or WhatsApp us on +256 705 161344.
