Lower Zambezi & Mana Pools Exclusive Camping Safari
Summary of this Budget Safari Package
Combine the wildest areas of the mighty Zambezi River on one absolutely amazing adventure in southern Zambia and northern Zimbabwe!
On this fully-serviced camping safari, you can look forward to exceptional, close-up wildlife and bird watching in the game-rich Lower Zambezi National Park of Zambia and the truly wild Mana Pools National Park of Zimbabwe. Expert guides take you to explore the unspoilt African bush on game drives, walks and canoe trips where you encounter an abundance of wildlife, including buffalo and elephant herds, plenty of hippos and crocodiles and lions, amongst others.
This is an authentic African bush experience with fantastic perks – your own professional guide, a vehicle shared between every two guests, a dedicated chef, an experienced safari crew that sets up and dismantles camp along the way and exclusive use of the campsites!
Itinerary for this Tour
Day 1: Lusaka – Zambia
Our Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari adventure begins in Lusaka, the burgeoning political and economic capital of Zambia.
When you land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport your guide welcomes you and transfers you the guesthouse in Lusaka. Your first overnight stay in Zambia is at a comfortable guesthouse where dinner is included. Your tour guide takes you through the plans for the next day and makes sure that you settle in comfortably at the guesthouse.
- Meals included: Dinner
Day 2: Mvuu Lodge, Chiawa Game Management Area – Zambia
This morning your safari crew collects you from the guesthouse, vehicles all packed and fuelled up, ready to hit the road.
Our drive from Lusaka to Mvuu Lodge takes about half the day leaving the afternoon free to unwind at the lodge. The lodge is tucked away in the trees along the Zambezi River which attracts a variety of wild animals and birds. This afternoon you can pull up a deck chair beside the river and relax, keeping an eye out for wildlife.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 & 4: Mvuu Lodge & Lower Zambezi National Park – Zambia
The next three days are set aside for exploring the Lower Zambezi National Park, situated close to the lodge.
We embark on 4×4 game drives in search of the abundance of wildlife found in this wild game park. Other activities available here include birdwatching tours with experienced guides, canoeing trips and sunset boat cruises on the Zambezi River. In between game drives and other activities you are free to relax at the lodge, soaking up the incredible wild scenery. Watch the elephants visiting the river to bathe and drink as you cruise along on the boat or sip on sundowners at camp. Fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush with the whoop of hyenas interrupting the quiet nights.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Mvuu Lodge to Mana Pools – Zimbabwe
Today we are up early for our journey to Mana Pools in Zimbabwe.
Leaving Mvuu Lodge we travel to Chirunda, about a three-hours’ drive. In Chirundu we pause to stock up on supplies and refuel, before continuing to the border. We cross the Zambezi River into neighbouring Zimbabwe and proceed to our next camp. Once in Zimbabwe, it takes about half a day’s drive to reach our camp, which is located inside Mana Pools National Park. After collecting our entry permits at the park office we enter the World Heritage Site of Mana Pools National Park. Also a designated Ramsar Site, Mana Pools is recognised as an IBA (Important Birding Area). This is rated as one of Africa’s finest safari destinations.
During our stay here we enjoy exclusive use of the camp, ensuring a crowd-free and personal African bush experience. Relax and enjoy the unspoilt natural setting of the camp on the banks of the Zambezi River. Don’t forget to bring a good set of binoculars for birdwatching and game viewing. The camp offers sweeping views of the river and surrounding bush and binoculars are a must.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 & 7: Mucheni, Mana Pools – Zimbabwe
Immerse yourself in the African bush! Mana Pools is a truly wild part of Southern Africa!
We visit Mana Pools during the dry season when animals are drawn to the river through necessity because water becomes scarce in the bush. We are thus there to enjoy the best game viewing season offering outstanding wildlife sightings. We have the campsite to ourselves which adds to the exclusivity of our unique African bush adventure.
The camps are unfenced allowing wildlife to roam free which means that you may come across wild animals, large mammals included, at any time! Keep your eyes open for surprise encounters, especially at dawn and dusk. At night it is strongly advised that you do not leave your tent or wander around the camp. A powerful LED torch will be needed to find your way around at night.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 – 10: Ndungu, Mana Pools – Zimbabwe
On day eight we shift to a new camp for our last three days in the African wilderness. Our next camp lies further west, some distance away. This is the most remote camp in Mana Pools and again we have exclusive use of the camp during our stay. We spend the next few days exploring this new part of Mana Pools, encountering the magnificent wildlife and birds of this truly wild place.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11: Mana Pools to Lusaka – Zambia
Our final day gets off to a laid-back start with breakfast at camp. Then it is time to dismantle the camp and make our way out of Mana Pools National Park.
Crossing at the same border post we return to Zambia and travel back to Lusaka, in the geographic centre of the country. This afternoon we arrive back in the capital and return to the same guesthouse that you stayed at on your first night in Zambia. Here your safari crew bids you farewell bringing this memorable African camping adventure to a close.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Please Note: Luggage is restricted to a maximum of 20kgs in a soft bag (no hard-shell cases permitted). Excess luggage can be stored safely at the guesthouse.
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