Zambia Walking Safari

Zambia is the place to experience the thrill and wonder of an African walking safari. It’s one of the few places in Africa where hiking is allowed in national parks, and our journey is ideal for those looking for a more active safari. With expert game tracker and naturalist Jason Alfonsi as our leader, we set off at first light and track leopard, lion, zebra, and more in the spectacular and diverse landscapes of South Luangwa National Park, a pristine setting of savannas, lagoons, and ebony woodlands abundant with game (but not the crowds!). We also explore by open 4WD vehicles and look for nocturnal wildlife on exciting night game drives. Zambia’s environment is as wild as it was a century ago, and our maximum group size of six makes for an intimate experience.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

Days 1-2
Nkwali Camp / South Luangwa National Park

A spectacular charter flight to Mfuwe brings us to beautiful Nkwali Camp, set beside the Luangwa River on private land overlooking South Luangwa National Park. This is superb big game country, and our introduction to the African bush begins at once with 4WD gameviewing to track animals like giraffe and elephant in prime riverine woodlands. Nkwali is also surrounded by thickets and wooded glades that provide cover for the valley’s colorful birdlife (more than 400 recorded species). With the setting of the sun, evening game drives reveal the active nocturnal world of lion, genet, hyena, and Nkwali’s most famous inhabitants, a thriving population of leopards.

Days 3-6
Walking Safari / Luangwa Valley

Our walking safari hearkens back to the days of the early explorers, and is an authentic experience of Africa and its wildlife. Accompanied by our expert Trip Leader, game scouts, and tea bearers who carry our mid-morning tea and snacks, we’re up at sunrise for the morning walk along the Mupamadzi River, a shallow, clear-water tributary of the Luangwa. After lunch and a siesta back in camp, we set out for an afternoon walk, ending with sundowners in a gorgeous setting, a night drive on our way back to camp, and a delicious dinner under a star-filled sky. From examining a bird’s nest to identifying medicinal plants to tracking a lion, we unlock the secrets of the bush, and we should see elephant, waterbuck, hippo, zebra, and with luck, the full complement of predators.

Days 7-10
Nsefu Camp

From Nsefu Camp, set on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River, we enjoy bush walks as well as morning and evening drives by open 4WD vehicle that reveal huge concentrations of plains game and their predators. At a nearby lagoon, a gameviewing blind overlooks a waterhole, and we can watch and photograph animals as they pass through. During the day we may see lions resting indolently, but at night, the “hunt is on” and we’ll watch to find them on the prowl for prey. Depart on Day 10, or join our Zimbabwe Extension.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 2+, easy to moderate. It is an active safari featuring extensive bush walking, supplemented by game drives. Participants must be agile, in good health, and in good shape. At Nkwali and Nsefu, we stay in comfortable, airy bungalows (chalets at Nkwali, rondavels at Nsefu) that have en suite bathrooms with flush toilets and showers. Our day starts with an early wake-up call and tea, coffee, cereals, and toast. After breakfast, we depart on a game drive, with a midmorning stop for tea/coffee and cakes. We return anytime between 9:30 a.m. and midday. After lunch, there is a chance to rest, read, or spend a few quiet hours viewing animals near our accommodation. Around 4 p.m., following tea and cakes, we depart on a game drive that continues through sundown—and sometimes into the evening for exciting nighttime gameviewing. We return for hot showers, drinks at the bar, a three-course dinner, and perhaps a nightcap sitting around the fire under the stars. We retire around 10:30 p.m., as the hyenas begin to call.
 
During the walking safari, we are in mobile camps and our schedule is a bit more flexible. We walk 5-6 miles per day, typically in the early morning and in the late afternoon. Although the walks are not tests of your endurance, we walk cross-country and the terrain can be challenging (lightweight hiking boots or walking shoes with lug soles and ankle support may help). Our fully serviced mobile camps are set up with well-equipped walk-in tents with full bedding. At each camp, there is a shower and a shared latrine-style toilet. Delicious meals of a high standard are served on the walking safari.

Explanation of Trip Levels