Duration: | 8 Day(s) - 7 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Visiting Parks |
Affordable - South Luangwa & Lower Zambezi Tour
This safari package offers the clients an opportunity to combine seeing the magnificent wildlife found in the South Luangwa National Park and the rich-cultural experience at Kawaza Village in the Luangwa Valley with the World-class water based activities on the Zambia River in the Lower Zambezi Valley.
Here is a summary of the itinerary for this package.
Day 1 – flight from Lusaka Airport to Mfuwe Airport
On arrival at Lusaka International Airport, you will catch a connecting local flight to Mfuwe Airport.
At Mfuwe Airport, a guide from Zikomo Safari Camp will welcome you and transfer to the Camp, where you will stay for the first 3 nights of your unforgettable Zambian safari.
Day 1 to Day 4 – Zikomo Safari Camp, South Luangwa National Park
Zikomo Safari is a comfortable eighteen (18) bed camp located in one of the best game viewing areas in the Nsefu Sector of the South Luangwa National Park. Built on the banks of the Luangwa River, Zikomo Safari Camp offers great views of the river and great views of the abundant birds and wildlife that live in and around the area. Far away from other camps, Zikomo Safari Camp has the best location from which to enjoy an unforgettable South Luangwa safari.
Zikomo Safari is owned and operated by an American family who work with experienced Zambian managers and staff. The Camp employs top professional guides, some of them with over fifteen (15) years experience in the Luangwa Valley. With immediate access to the Park, Zikomo Safari Camp guests can treat themselves to wonderful day and night game drives. Magnificent walking safaris, for which the South Luangwa is famous, are also available and they begin and end at the well-appointed main lodge and dining room in the company of a qualified walking guide and an escort scout.
Day 4 – Transfer from Zikomo Safari Camp to Kawaza Cultural Village
At some stage on this day, clients will be transferred from Zikomo Safari Camp to Kawaza Cultural Village in the nearby Nsefu Community. Clients will spend one night at Kawaza Village with the local people learning about the traditions and cultural of the local Kunda people.
Day 4 to Day 5 – Kawaza Cultural Village
This part of the Valley is the home of the Kunda tribe who migrated from the Luba area in Congo in the first half of the 19th century. The Kundas form a small tribe of about 35,000 people. Traditionally the Kundas were hunters but today the majority live as subsistence farmers. The conditions are tough, with extreme seasons and crop raiding animals. The villagers in the Nsefu area are still living in the very traditional way.
In 1997 the community, took the exceptional step of introducing cultural tourism. They believe that modern tourists are not only interested in wildlife but also have an interest in meeting with and learning from the local people. And they certainly feel that the school children will gain from interacting with guests from different cultures.
At Kawaza Village, guests will stay in traditional huts in a village, sleeping on raised mats (with mattresses) and eating local dishes prepared on an open fire. Upon arrival, a detailed program based on the wishes of the guest is drawn up.
Some of the options include:
However, probably the best way of getting close contact with the people is to take part in the daily life activities. Guests are invited to join the villagers in drawing water, hoeing the field, grinding maize, brewing the local beer or whatever the villagers will be planning for the day.
In the evenings the villagers entertain with dances, drumming and drama. And the finest story tellers will recount the old, dramatic Kunda stories with everyone around the fire.
Throughout the stay there will be hosts allocated to you who speak excellent English and who understand the needs of tourists. In the village, the guest will experience the traditional way of living. However, the toilet facility has been built as an English style long drop with a thunderbox and the beds have a mattress with sheets and a mosquito net.
Kawaza Village has not been 'set up' as a profit making scheme by a tourist company. It is the community who wish to exchange ideas and culture with guests from outside the area. They feel that they and their children will benefit from this exchange. They also wish to raise money for the community development projects and for the school.
Day 5 – transfer from Kawaza Village to Mfuwe Airport
On this day, you will be on a road transfer to Mfuwe Airport where you will catch a local flight going to Lusaka Airport.
At Lusaka Airport, you will be welcomed by a driver who will transfer you to Kiambi Safari Lodge in the Lower Zambezi Valley.
Day 5 to Day 8 – Kiambi Safari Lodge, Lower Zambezi
Kiambi Lower Zambezi is your first gentle, mellow taste of the Lower Zambezi, and sets the uniquely African stage for your forthcoming journey of discovery.
Kiambi Safari owns and operates an exclusive lodge in the Lower Zambezi Valley – Kiambi Lower Zambezi, situated in the Chiawa Game Management area of the Zambezi Valley, in a prime location on the confluence of the Zambezi and Kafue Rivers. The Lodge welcomed the first guests at Kiambi Lower Zambezi in May 1999 and has from its inception, enchanted one and all by truly capturing the essence of the Lower Zambezi. Kiambi Lower Zambezi offers a unique composite experience, a rare combination of Africa’s culture, scenery and wildlife. This is “The real Africa”.
Each of the luxury thatched chalets is set on a raised wooden platform, with spacious en-suite facilities and private verandas with a view over the Zambezi. While relishing the supreme comfort, furnished stylishly in Rhodesian teak and equipped with the necessities to make your stay comfortable; Kiambi guests never lose that close-to-nature experience.
All luxury thatched chalets come with a fully stocked bar fridge, tea and coffee facilities, fans, an en-suite bathroom with hot showers and can accommodate 3 single beds comfortably or 4 at a squeeze.
Activities included in the package during your time at Kiambi Safari Lodge are;
Day 8 – transfer from Kiambi Safari Lodge to Mfuwe Airport
As this is the last day of your safari in Zambia, you will be on transfer from the Lower Zambezi to Lusaka Airport where you will catch an international flight out of Zambia going back home.
Zikomo Safari Camp – South Luangwa
Kawaza Cultural Village – Nsefu Community
Kiambi Safari Lodge – Lower Zambezi Valley
Local flights