8 Day Zambia Walking Safari in South Luangwa Valley

Day 1: Lusaka to Mfuwe, South Luangwa National Park – Zambia

At the start of this Zambia Walking Safari, you'll fly from Lusaka to Mfuwe, near South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia. Your safari guide collects you from the Mfuwe airport and transfers you to the nearby tented camp.

If you arrive at camp during the morning then you'll have free time to settle into your luxury tent and enjoy lunch. For those arriving later, we have tea in the courtyard at about 15h30 before embarking on our first afternoon-to-night game drive. At about 16h00 we head into South Luangwa National Park in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, ready to encounter all kinds of African animals and birds in the wild.

At sunset, we stop in a scenic spot to enjoy sundowners in the bush. After witnessing our first dramatic sunset we climb back into the vehicle and continue our game drive. As darkness falls over the bush, we use a spotlight to find nocturnal species like leopards, porcupines, civets, genets, owls, hyenas and lions. We make our way back to the camp, listening out for animal and bird calls.

We arrive back at the tented camp in South Luangwa National Park by about 20h00 when dinner is served in the thatch-roofed restaurant or outdoors. Then you are free to relax around the campfire beside the Luangwa River, have a drink at the bar or retire to your comfortable safari tent.

• Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
• Activities included: Afternoon-to-night Game Drive in South Luangwa National Park

Day 2 & 3: South Luangwa National Park – Zambia (Tented Camp)

The first two days of our Zambia Safari are spent exploring the untamed South Luangwa National Park on early morning game drives (and/or optional game walks in the dry season) and on sunset game drives that last into the night.

Mornings get off to an early start, kicking off with a light breakfast served at about 05h30. The light breakfast is a selection of tea and coffee with cereal and toast.

At about 06h00 we board our open safari vehicle and venture out into the wild African bush. Mornings are ideal for game viewing, so keep your cameras ready for interesting sightings in the soft morning light. Alternatively, you can set off on a guided game walk in South Luangwa (in season) or do a combination of game walks and drives, split into two hours of game viewing by vehicle and two hours of walking. Whether you decide to walk or drive the expert guides are there to ensure your safety every step of the way and help make the most of your time in the Zambian wilderness. Drawing on years of experience in the Luangwa Valley, the guides are able to identify animal calls, tracks, scat, and other signs of activity, using their skills and knowledge to track down wildlife and birds. Your qualified guides share their insights and interesting facts about the African bush and its inhabitants with you, adding to your unique adventures!

At about 10h00 we return to the tented camp for brunch, consisting of a great selection of tasty breakfast and lunch dishes. Brunch is followed by leisure time at the safari camp, leaving you free to nap, swim or sit back and relax in nature. Later, after tea at the lodge, we set off into South Luangwa National Park again.

We venture into the wild habitat of South Luangwa Valley on a sunset game drive in our open 4x4 vehicle, eyes open for roaming animals and darting birds. Along the way, we stop to marvel at the serene sunset, sipping on cold drinks as the colors of the sky and surrounding bushveld intensify and then fade into darkness. Then we drive back to our safari camp along the Luangwa River, game viewing with a spotlight en route. Scan the bush carefully as night falls and you may be rewarded with nocturnal sightings of predators and small creatures. At about 20h00 we have a hearty dinner at the lodge's restaurant and spend the remainder of the evening unwinding beside the campfire or at the bar.

If you are interested in the local culture and rural life in this remote part of Zambia, visits to the nearby Mfuwe village can be arranged. Such visits typically include a stop at the Luangwa Community & Conservation Fund, where the local anti-poaching unit and community projects are based.

• Meals included: Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners
• Activities included: Morning Game Drives and/or Game Walks & Afternoon-to-night Game Drives in South Luangwa National Park

Day 4 & 5: South Luangwa Walking Safari – Zambia (Bush Camps)

On day four of our South Luangwa Safari we wake up early, packed and ready to head to our next camp by 06h00. From our first tented camp, we drive north through South Luangwa National Park, game viewing along the way.

At about 10h00 we reach the rendezvous point where we meet up with the guides and porters of our first bush camp. The safari crew carries your luggage to camp from here. Depending on the day you'll either walk from the meeting place to the first bush camp or get ferried further along the river by boat and then cover the last stretch to the next bush camp on foot. The order of your stays at the bush camps is determined by availability and may thus change. Either way, both of the remote bush camps can only be accessed on foot, so the last leg of the journey entails walking through the bush.

An official, armed scout of South Luangwa National Park escorts you through the bush, along with your guide and porters. Walking to camp you get your first taste of being immersed in the African wilderness, without being weighed down by your baggage. You need only carry a few essentials - your camera, binoculars, sunhat, and sunscreen. Arriving at the first camp, there is time for you to settle in and rest. Later on, we venture out into the bush on an afternoon game walk. We return to camp by dusk for sundowners, followed by dinner under the stars. Dinner is a delicious barbecue-style meal, cooked over an open fire by your skilled bush chefs.

Wake up early on day five to watch the sunrise while wildlife and birds visit the waterhole. Then we depart on our four-hour game walk in South Luangwa Valley. We walk during the cool hours of the early morning, avoiding the hottest part of the day. The walk is conducted at an easy pace, enabling you to tune into the details of the bush. Your guides stop to show you interesting sights and tell you more about the fascinating flora and fauna of the micro-ecosystems around us. While on our bush walk, we break for tea and coffee with a sweet treat. Soak up the unspoiled bush surroundings as you sip on your refreshing tea or coffee, giving your legs a rest. Plenty of drinking water is provided on the walking safari, so you can keep well-hydrated.

Our morning walk brings us to our next bush camp where we enjoy brunch and a rest. As before, the porters carry your luggage and place it in your chalet at the second camp. As the heat subsides this afternoon we continue our bush walk, keeping an eye out for the animals that begin to stir as the day cools down. We explore the area on foot, returning to the camp by dusk. Settle down around the cozy campfire before falling asleep in the middle of the undisturbed wilderness.

• Meals included: Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners
• Activities included: Morning and Afternoon Game Walks in South Luangwa National Park

Please note: Although the area of Luangwa Valley we explore is relatively flat the walking trails can be uneven, so lightweight, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Natural-colored clothing is also highly recommended to ensure that you blend into the bush.

Day 6 & 7: South Luangwa Walking Safari – Zambia (Lagoon Camp)

Day six of our Zambia Walking Safari begins with an early morning walk. This game walk ends at our final bush camp, overlooking a large lagoon inside South Luangwa National Park. The porters carry your luggage from one camp to the next, leaving you free to enjoy your morning walk unburdened.

We arrive at the camp in time for a well-deserved brunch. After brunch, you can settle into your elevated chalet, where your luggage awaits. The chalets are set amid the trees, raised above ground level in the canopy, providing sweeping views over the surrounding plains and lagoon.

Take it easy at camp, resting in your treehouse and enjoying the beautiful views. Later in the afternoon, as temperatures begin to fall, we head back out on a game walk. Immersed in the wildlife-rich African bush, we discover a new area of South Luangwa Valley, marveling at the unique ecosystems encountered up close. We walk back to the bush camp and enjoy another blissful African sunset with sundowners in hand, followed by a hearty dinner.

On day seven, we wake up bright and early for an extended morning walk. Your guide leads the way, following animal calls and tracks in search of interesting wildlife sightings. Then you return to camp for brunch and a siesta before venturing back into the bush on foot later in the afternoon. In the evening we have a final dinner together, relaxing around the campfire under the stars.

• Meals included: Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners
• Activities included: Morning and Afternoon Game Walks in South Luangwa National Park

Day 8: South Luangwa National Park to Lusaka – Zambia

Today we head out on one more early morning game walk in South Luangwa National Park. Then we have breakfast and leave the camp on foot. Our last bush walk takes us to the river crossing, where you are ferried across the river to the transfer vehicle. You are then driven back to the airport in Mfuwe to catch your flight back to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, where your Zamia Walking Safari comes to an end.

• Meals included: Breakfast
• Activities included: Morning Game Walk in South Luangwa National Park

Zambia Park Fees Note:

The national park entry fees are subject to change by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and thus may increase without notice. Any increases in the park fees are not included in the tour price.

Victoria Falls Tour Add-on

This Zambia Walking Safari in Luangwa Valley is ideal as an add-on to our short Victoria Falls Tours. These tours make an affordable and easy combination adventure. We highly recommend our Victoria Falls Adventure Tour Package (Zambia), or our Victoria Falls Budget Tour Package (Zimbabwe), for either before or after your South Luangwa Safari.

South Luangwa Tented Camp Accommodation

Our tented camp in South Luangwa Valley offers comfortable camping accommodation in luxury safari tents. The camp is located on the banks of the Luangwa River, near Mfuwe. The tented camp is surrounded by the unspoiled bush near the gate of South Luangwa National Park.

A stay here offers a back-to-nature wilderness experience with added comforts. The safari tents have en-suite bathrooms that partially open out onto the bushveld surroundings. The bathrooms are fitted with hot showers, flushing toilets, and basins. The rooms consist of walk-in canvas tents with large windows on three sides, all with screens to keep insects out, whilst immersing you in the wild setting. These spacious tents feature small deck areas looking out over the Luangwa River, where roaming wildlife and birds are commonly sighted.

Furnishings include beds with linen and overhead mosquito nets, bedside tables with lamps, safes, and a hanging rack for clothes. The rooms have self-service stations for making tea and coffee. There are also electric power points (plug sockets) for charging batteries, as well as electric lights and fans for your comfort.

South Luangwa Bush Camps Accommodation

The remote bush camps used on this Zambia Walking Safari lie deep in the wilderness and are only accessible on foot. Both of these secluded camps offer an intimate bush experience, fully immersed in nature, but with some comforts and lots of charm. The camps cater for at most six guests, keeping the atmosphere personal and exclusive.

One of the bush camps features en-suite chalets raised up in the trees, providing beautiful views over the acacia-studded plains. The other features chalets nestled in a grove of ebony trees, overlooking a waterhole. The chalets are built out of natural materials, blending in with the bush around them. The en-suite bathrooms have flush toilets and showers. Hot water is provided in the evenings and upon request.

The morning walks last for about four hours setting off early to beat the heat and stopping often so that you can take in the details of the wild ecosystems. Along the way, you break for snacks and tea, which the camp's tea-bearer carries and prepares in the bush. The afternoon walks are shorter and leave camp after tea at 15h30, returning before dusk.

South Luangwa National Park Lagoon Camp

The final camp that guests stay at on this Zambia Walking Safari, is located inside South Luangwa National Park. The camp is set on the banks of a large lagoon visited by plenty of animals and birds.

Accommodation at this camp is in charming chalets nestled in a grove of ebony trees overlooking the lagoon. The chalets are constructed of natural materials and have en-suite bathrooms with hot showers in the evenings or upon request. This camp offers a simple, yet comfortable and intimate bush experience.