Zambia Safaris: Kafue's Rivers and Plains

Tour direction: Lusaka to Lusaka.
Combination Wilderness Vintage, Discoverer and Classis camps in the northern part of Kafue National Park.

TAILOR-MADE ITINERARY OPTIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES, FOR GROUPS OF UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
Kafue National Park, Zambia’s largest protected area is easily accessible from Livingstone and Lusaka. It extends over 22 400 square kilometres and is roughly the size of Wales. This enormous and under-developed pristine wilderness area is home to an impressive variety of big game including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo and hippo. In addition, the Kafue conserves some fascinating species of special interest including Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable, roan, puku, the diminutive oribi, and, incredibly, lechwe in their thousands. Boasting almost 500 recorded bird species, Kafue is truly a diverse African National Park and one of the last “wild frontiers”.

The spectacular Busanga Plains in the north of the park is a vast flat expanse and forms one of Zambia’s most significant wetland resources. This enormous watery wilderness, flooded in the wet season (mid-December to end May) by several rivers and tributaries covers an enormous 750 square kilometres. After the rains the floods reach their height from March to May, and large pods of hippo are to be found in the shallow pools that are left as the water recedes in the dry season.

Kafue, combined with the cascading waters of the thundering Victoria Falls (one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World) creates a short diverse itinerary that is perfect for add-on tailored extensions to Cape Town, Botswana, Luangwa and Malawi.

Experience a nostalgic, old-style luxury serviced camping / lodge safari that recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the great African explorers in the vast Kafue National Park.

Discoverer-styled camps aim to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of a lively campfire and hurricane lanterns. Wide-ranging activities complement the comfort and added luxury of the lodges visited. Discoverer Camps are specifically outfitted to ensure that traditional camping feel with a clear emphasis on necessary and stylish comfortable interiors, creating a peerless wilderness experience.

Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted by a professional trained guide, who shares in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.

Exclusive experience: Musanza Tented Camp is private and for the use of Exploration travellers only, while Lufupa Camp and Lunga River Lodge are open to other Wilderness Safaris guests. All activities are private for the group on this safari.

Routes: To maximise guests’ travel time, a variety of travel modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in charters and private overland transfers which provide both a bird’s-eye view and an in-depth visual experience of the contrasting landscapes of Zambia. Due to guests combining Kafue with various other destinations, our safari begins at Lusaka Airport and ends at Lusaka Airport, allowing the flexibility to tailor further pre or post arrangements.

Seasonality: To truly enjoy the experience in the Kafue, you will need three nights in the Busanga Plains. Due to the diversity of habitat and associated experiences, from riparian forest, broad-leafed and Miombo woodlands (around the Lunga River Lodge) to the open grassy plains of Busanga and the enormous Kafue river, each area allows for different impressions and highlights, creating a continually changing and interesting safari.

ITINERARY

Days 1, 2 & 3: Lufupa Camp, northern Kafue
Upon arrival at Lusaka airport you are met by a representative of Sefofane Air Charters who will transfer you by light aircraft to Kafue National Park. Your private guide will meet you at the airstrip in Kafue and transfer the group to Lufupa Camp. This transfer is approximately 1 hour in duration, and en route we may encounter eland, roan and sable to name a few.

Accommodation is in 6 large meru tents with en-suite facilities. Dining and bar area are under huge Jackal berry trees, overlooking the Kafue River. Dinners served in a traditional style boma under the stars, next to a lively camp fire or in the tented dining room overlooking this impressive river.

Lufupa Camp is situated in the centre of the northern sector of the 22 500 square km Kafue National Park. The Kafue River is fed by the perennial tributaries of the Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers. The beauty of the park is evident in its diverse habitats with floodplains, miombo woodland, thick riverine vegetation and open grassy areas called dambos. There are resident prides of Lion and Leopard is frequently seen. Wild Dogs are occasionally sighted. Hippos are always out in front of the camp frolicking in the cool waters of the Kafue River. There is also a wide variety of plains game ranging from zebra, buffalo, roan, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable, kudu and impala to the diminutive oribi. Elephants are also often seen roaming through the concession.

Days 4, 5 & 6: Musanza Tented Camp, Busanga floodplain, north-western Kafue
Depart Lufupa for an early morning game / transfer drive to Musanza Tented Camp.

Musanza Tented Camp is located deep inside the wildlife haven of the Busanga Plains of Kafue National park. Accommodation consists of four well-appointed tents with wall-to-wall views of the spectacular wildlife that frequents the grassy plains. The main dining and bar area are tented and situated under a majestic canopy of trees. The simple bush style of this camp creates the perfect atmosphere to enjoy dinner under a canopy of stars around a camp fire.

The Busanga Plains most dominant antelope species include red lechwe and puku, while buffalo, bushbuck, kudu, grysbok, oribi, reedbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable and roan are also often viewed in this enormous open plains system. There are also hippo and crocodile, however the main plains predators are lion and cheetah and spotted hyena with wild dogs more seldomly seen. Leopard can also be spotted along the wooded tree lines fringing the plains, as well as elephant. Bird life is fantastic, with large flocks of pelicans, crowned cranes and wattled crane in the plains at certain times of the year.

Day 7: Lunga River Lodge, Lunga River, northern Kafue
After an early breakfast, we transfer by road to Lunga River Lodge, enjoying our last shortened game drive on the Busanga Plains as we leave the area and re-enter the Miombo woodland.

Located on a raised bank of the Lunga River and within lush riparian bush, each of Lunga River Lodge’s six thatched roof chalets share a beautiful vantage point over the river’s meandering channel. Each room is stylishly furnished (with minimalist touches) and includes an en-suite shower, flush toilet and vanity basin. Lighting is by 12v lamps, candles and hurricane lanterns.

The deep and clear Lunga River is the largest tributary of the Kafue River and flows north to south through a mosaic of Miombo woodland, riverine woodland and grassy dambos in the north-east of the Kafue National Park. Species like puku and impala are abundant while roan and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest occur in lower densities. Viewing of buffalo herds and elephant bulls is good while lion and leopard are regularly encountered. Additional interesting species in the form of yellow baboons and tree hyrax occur in the vicinity of the camp while a high density hippo population occurs in the Lunga River. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, guided canoe and boating trips as well as fishing. Night drives provide the added excitement of the nocturnal wonders of the area.

Day 8:  Depart Kafue National Park
Early morning light aircraft transfer from Lunga River Lodge to Lusaka Airport. The safari ends at Lusaka airport.

ADDITIONAL SAFARI NOTES
International air connection onto the safari: If arrival is planned for the day of the safari’s departure, please ensure that this arrival is with the British Airways flight from London arriving in Lusaka at 06h15 on a Saturday morning. Arrival on a later flight may necessitate additional road or air transfers into Kafue National Park (as departure for the first camp/lodge will already have taken place), subject to extra cost.

International air connections leaving the safari: The departure time from Lunga airstrip to Lusaka airport is based around the departure of the British Airways flight to London which is 08h50. For later international departure flights, an additional transfer will be required to arrive for this connection, subject to extra cost. Alternatively, you could wait at Lusaka airport for hours.

Flashlights/ torches: Please ensure that a minimum 2-D cell flashlight is brought on safari, with spare batteries. Head lamps are also useful. Wilderness Safaris does not supply flashlights.

Camera battery charging facilities: Please note that a 12V cigarette lighter adaptor will be required (that is compatible with camera make) on this safari for charging batteries while on game drive or transfer drives. 110/ 240V outlets are available at the permanent lodges at Lunga and Lufupa; however Musanza Tented Camp only has 12V electricity.

Dietary requirements and special occasions: Due to remote locality of camps, please ensure that full dietary requirements and special occasions are advised at the time of your booking confirmation.