Zambian Meander

Transfer by air to Livingstone for two nights at the Royal Livingstone Hotel.

The Victoria Falls is a dramatic scenic contrast and a change of pace from the reserves. The most spectacular views of the Falls are from the Zambian side of the gorge. Activities include canoeing and river cruises on the tranquil Upper Zambezi above the falls and for the more adventurous, microlight flights over the gorge and white water rafting below the falls.

The Royal Livingstone Hotel is an elegant 5 star hotel in an unrivalled setting overlooking the Falls. The 173 rooms, with their hand-carved mahogany furniture, have an African feel with eastern overtones. All have a balcony or patio with views of the mature acacia trees, lawns and river. The hotel has a superb restaurant, large pool (which seems almost in the Zambezi) & pool bar. A splendid large wooden deck affords sweeping views of the falls, ideal for cocktails at sunset.
Bed & Breakfast

Today you are transferred back to Livingstone Airport for your flight to Lusaka and then onto Mfuwe airport in South Luangwa. On arrival at Mfuwe airport, you are transferred to Tena Tena lodge for four nights on safari (40 minute drive) . This is quite a busy road in the season and you travel through villages, so your drive is punctuated by the opportunistic greetings of savvy youngsters, who wave madly in the hope of sweets!

The brooding Luangwa River meanders through the luxuriant valley, supporting thousands of hippo and crocodile and sustaining the park. Elephant, a wide variety of antelope, buffalo, kudu, zebra, Thornycroft's giraffe and wildebeest occur in great numbers, as well as over 400 bird species. Lion, wild dog and hyena are also common and the park is famed for its excellent leopard sightings.

Tena Tena Camp is a renowned safari camp with a stunning location on a remote wooded bend of the Luangwa River within the Nsefu Sector of the National Park. "Tena Tena is altogether beyond superlatives, and must be one of the best safari camps in the whole of Africa" was what The Times of London declared. A grove of mahogany trees shades the five large custom-made tents (under thatch) with en suite open air shower rooms. Dramatic furnishings are complimented by stunning views and a private balcony. From the thatched dining room and bar guests can watch the elephants, hippo and antelope on the river banks. There's also a honeymoon suite with twin basins and showers and a separate sitting and private dining area.

Nearby there is a spectacular lagoon, Buca Buca, where a whole morning can be spent quietly sitting while the game comes down to feed and drink. Being remote and so small, camp guests have these scenes to themselves. Game viewing takes place on foot with expert trackers and experienced guides, or on day and night drives. Tena Tena pride themselves on their flexible approach to game-viewing with meals based around game-viewing and not the other way round!

The beauty of this part of the Park is that, because there are a number of lodges in the area, which was first proclaimed a National Park at the turn of the last century, the game has become habituated to game vehicles so there is plenty of opportunity for viewing animals at close proximity. A game scout is based at the lodge so that you can walk instead of drive, if you wish, but the general idea is that you start the holiday with a couple of days of game drives in the more accessible area of Luangwa.
Fully Inclusive

Your South Luangwa safari ends with two nights at one of our favourite camps, Nsefu. This stylish and utterly charming camp also lies on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. The Nsefu Sector is a phenomenal area for game. The camp overlooks the river and floodplain where game often grazes during the day and leopard are often spotted at night. Nsefu was among the first camps in the park, but the six spacious rondavels have recently been skilfully remodelled with a semi-open spacious en suite bathroom/dressing rooms and large windows added which open onto a wooden veranda with superb views of the river. The bar, tucked in beside a huge dormant termite mound, overlooks a waterhole that is very productive for game, especially leopard, at night. An affable team offer great hospitality and game viewing takes place on foot or on day and night drives.
Fully Inclusive

Return to Mfuwe and then transfer by air to the Lower Zambezi National Park for three nights at Sausage Tree Camp.

The Lower Zambezi National Park is a rich and beautiful water sanctuary for wildlife - great herds of impala, elephant and buffalo, and small groups of warthog, zebra and baboon are drawn to the river and this in turn attracts lion and hyena. Behind the floodplain grasslands rises the picturesque wooded escarpment.

Sausage Tree Camp lies on the banks of the glorious Zambezi river. Accommodation is in six Bedouin-style tents dotted along the riverbank. These tents are spacious and uncluttered with solid Zambian teak furniture and four-poster beds, each serviced by its own Muchinda (private butler). Each has a fabulous open-air en suite bathroom. Activities are extremely flexible here - you choose between game drives, bush walks, boat cruises, canoeing amidst the hippos in the Zambezi's channels and trying your luck at tiger fishing.
Fully Inclusive

End your African safari with a short flight back to Lusaka in time for your onward flight connection.