5 Day South Luangwa Tented Camping Safari

August 30, 2017August 30, 2017admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

This budget-friendly Zambia Tented Lodge Safari is focussed on game viewing in South Luangwa National Park, one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in the world.

Accommodation is in luxury en-suite tents at an authentic safari camp just outside of the national park. All meals, game viewing activities and transfers are included in the tour price, as well as flights from Livingstone to Mfuwe and back. Two game viewing activities are included per day – typically an early morning game drive and a sunset-to-night game drive with sundowners. In season (June to October) you will also have the option of embarking on game walks in South Luangwa, which is world-famous for its exceptional walking safaris. Other activities include cultural experiences in Mfuwe village, along with visits to the local conservation base and community projects.

An outstanding wildlife and wilderness experience in Zambia’s leading game park – the wild South Luangwa Park.

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Livingstone to Mfuwe & South Luangwa National Park

At the start of this 5 Day South Luangwa Tented Camping Safari you catch a domestic flight from Livingstone to Mfuwe, close to South Luangwa National Park. Your guide collects you from the Mfuwe airport and transfers you to the tented camp near the Mfuwe main gate to the national park.

Arriving at the classical tented camp you are free to rest and relax after your journey. Then we have lunch at camp and take it easy until tea time at about 3:30 pm. During afternoon tea, you get to meet your guides and talk about your special interests, before embarking on your first game drive in South Luangwa National Park.

We set off into the national park this afternoon at about 4:00 pm in our custom-built, open safari vehicle. Our exploration is conducted in a fully-equipped 4×4 Land Cruiser that provides unobstructed views over the bush. The guides are fully qualified professionals who pride themselves on their excellent service and in-depth knowledge of the African bushveld. As you explore the guides search out signs of wildlife activity, using their keen senses and years of experience to track down wildlife and birds in the wilderness.

While out on our game drive we stop in a scenic spot to watch the sunset and have drinks. After sundowners in the bush, our game viewing adventure continues with the aid of a spotlight. Using the powerful spotlight we scan the ever-darkening wilderness around us for nocturnal wildlife and birds, possibly spotting a leopard, lion, civet, genet, porcupine, hyena, porcupine or owl.

Our sunset game drive is followed by dinner back at the lodge and a laid-back evening around the campfire.

Meals included: Lunch & Dinner

Please note: Your flight from Livingstone is included in the tour price, but your guide meets you at Mfuwe

Day 2 – 4: Mfuwe & South Luangwa National Park

Spend the next few days exploring South Luangwa National Park on game drives and walks with your expert guides.

Our days begin early with a light breakfast at about 5:30 am. The early morning breakfast consists of coffee or tea and toast and cereal served at the lodge. At 6:00 am we board the open safari vehicle and head into the wild South Luangwa National Park on our morning game drive. Your guide shares all kinds of fascinating facts about the flora and fauna of this unspoilt wilderness area as you go, giving you insight into the intricate ecosystem and pointing out intriguing details of the bush and its inhabitants.

We return from our rewarding game drive at about 10:00 am and enjoy brunch, consisting of your choice of breakfast or lunch dishes. Brunch is followed by leisure time at the lodge. Spend the hottest part of the day napping in your comfortable tented room or take a refreshing swim in the pool.

Later, we venture back out into the game park on a sunset game drive, stopping for sundowners in the bush. After watching a beautiful African sunset with cold drinks in hand, we continue our game drive with powerful spotlights. As darkness falls we make our way back to the lodge, using the spotlight to find nocturnal animals and birds. Back at the lodge dinner is served (at about 20:00) and the remainder of the evening is free for star gazing and unwinding around the campfire.

Alternative activities include walking safaris, cultural tours and visits to local community and conservation projects.

South Luangwa is famous for its outstanding walking safaris and is widely considered the birthplace of African walking safaris. During the dry season (about June to October) you can embark on early morning game walks with the guides, getting a close-up look at the wilderness and its creatures. The lodge offers three to four hour bush walks, as well as combination safaris which entail a game drive of about two hours and a bush walk of about two hours. Walking safaris reveal the finer details of the bush, zooming in on the tracks, scat and other signs of animal activity and immersing you in the untamed bush.

For a taste of Zambian culture, the lodge can take you on a trip to the nearby Mfuwe village. On this cultural village tour, you also visit the Luangwa Conservation & Community Fund (LCCF) to find out more about the conservation work carried out at this local anti-poaching centre. We also stop in at a community project, visiting a school in the area to find out about the important support work being done here.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Mfuwe to Livingstone – Zambia

On the final morning of this South Luangwa Tented Camping Safari, you have breakfast at the lodge, before packing up and saying goodbye. You are then transferred back to Mfuwe airport for your return flight to Livingstone at Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Meals included: Breakfast

South Luangwa Tented Safari Camp

On this Zambia Lodge Safari accommodation is at a tented camp close to the Mfuwe gate of South Luangwa National Park. The tented lodge is located on the banks of the Luangwa River overlooking the untamed bush and tranquil river.

We sleep in luxury safari tents with en-suite bathrooms under thatch cover. The permanent tents are set apart along the Luangwa River, overlooking the water and bushveld. The tents feature small deck areas with chairs for soaking up the views and spotting wildlife and birds. Hippos, crocodiles and various birds are commonly sighted along with the occasional elephant, giraffe or even leopard on the opposite banks of the river. These walk-in tents are spacious and well-furnished offering more comfort and amenities than camping, without losing the back-to-nature feel of being immersed in the African bush. The tents have large windows with mosquito netting on three sides, allowing you to take in the sights and sounds of the bush and visiting wildlife and birds around you. Furnishings include comfortable beds, bedside tables and lamps and a hanging rack for clothes. Fittings include electric fans, overhead mosquito nets for each bed, electric lights, safety deposit boxes, plug points (power sockets) for re-charging batteries and tea/coffee making facilities. The en-suite bathrooms of the luxury tents are semi-open and equipped with hot showers, flushing toilets and basins.

The tented camp has a swimming pool and comfortable outdoor seating areas. The a la carte restaurant serves a wide range of meals at outdoor tables in the garden overlooking the river or in the courtyard and in the thatch-covered dining area.

Guides at the lodge have all passed the challenging South Luangwa Guide Exam, ensuring the highest standards of guiding. These professional guides are passionate about the wilderness and wildlife, priding themselves on their work. The guides are experienced and able to answer questions about the flora and fauna of the region, providing insight into the incredible diversity of mammals, trees, birds, insects, and even fish found in Luangwa Valley.