Safari and River Adventure


	Victoria Falls [Full Image]

Both Zambia and Botswana offer superb game viewing in wild, beautiful landscapes each with utterly unique habitats. Zambia's Kafue National Park is a classic example; when uncovered by receding floodwaters, its remarkable Busanga Plains flush green with grass and fill with game whilst idyllic river banks host hippos and crocodiles. Elsewhere in Africa elephant populations are seriously threatened but in Botswana's Chobe
National Park they are present in tens of thousands. A full day spent canoeing down the mighty Zambezi allows you to get up close to wildlife away from the interuptions of man and machines. Whilst Victoria Falls offers an awesome spectacle of nature's power and beauty with activities such as rafting, horse riding, bungee jumping and microlighting adding the spice of adventure and adrenalin!

Details

Price Includes

(SA-5097-P)

Flights

Accomodation

14 Breakfast, 11 Lunches, 10 Dinners

Price Excludes

Local Payment 250 USD.
14 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 evening meals are
included. Vegetarians can be catered for. You must pay for all other meals yourself.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS: Some or all of the excursions detailed below may be available; others not listed may also be available. Approximate per
person costs are given for guidance only, and may depend on the number of participants. Your group leader should be able to assist you in arranging them.
Bungee jumping..............................................UKÂ£60.00
White water rafting half/full day .............. .Â£65.00/75.00
Flight of Angels ......................................................Â£35.00
Helicopter flight ......................................................Â£45.00
River cruise.............................................................Â£28.00
Game drive in Zambezi NP .................................Â£30.00
Eco-cruise (jet boat) .............................................Â£25.00
Horse riding ...........................................................Â£30.00
Elephant-back safari ............................................Â£65.00

Suitability / Level

Easy

Max Group Size

Itinerary & Highlights

DAY 1 - FLY TO LUSAKA. Overnight flight to Lusaka airport.

DAYS 2 - 4 - KAFUE NATIONAL PARK. After your early morning arrival at Lusaka airport, you drive (about 6 hours) to Kafue National Park. This huge park is the size of Wales (22,400 square kilometres)! During the next couple of days you explore the northern section of the park returning to your camp during the heat of the day
for lunch, and then later in the evening for dinner. Slightly undulating plateaus veined by rivers are all tributaries to the main Kafue. The park's permanent waters are wide, deep and slow flowing, to the obvious pleasure of large numbers of hippo and crocodile. Its gentle curving banks are overhung by tall, shady hardwoods - raintrees, knobthorn, jackal berry and the sausage tree are very common - and the occassional islands in the stream are favourite feeding places for elephant and buffalo. The birding in Kafue is very good and about 450 species have been reliably recorded here. You are most likely to see kingfishers, beeeaters,
cranes, storks, ibises, and vultures, but specialities worth noting are the skimmers which nest on the sand banks which split the river and the shy African finfoot that frequent the shady fringes of the slower stretches of water. Most of the park's northern section, between rivers, is a mosaic of miombo woodland, termitaria zones and the enormous Busanga floodplains. During the rains the Lufupa River overflows its banks and then as the plains dry, massive herds of game are attracted to the grasslands known as dambos. Kafue has a superb range of antelope. Amongst others, the Busanga Swamps are home to the secretive sitatunga, which has uniquely adapted to swamp life. These powerful swimmers will bound off with a series of leaps and plunges
when disturbed, aided by their enlarged hooves which have evolved for walking around on floating reed islands. They will stand motionless until danger passes, or even submerge themselves leaving just their nostrils above the water for breathing! Buffalo and lion are widespread over the park, and are easily spotted on the plains. Large prides stalk nervous herds of puku and lechwe and groups of zebra and blue wildebeest.
Occassional sightings of leopard, cheetah and wild dog occur - the park's huge size suits their wide-ranging nomadic habits. The ecolological diversity of the park as a whole has resulted in probably the widest range of mammal species of any park in the country. Camp - 3 nights (Bx2, Lx3, Dx3)

DAYS 5 & 6 - LOCHINVAR NATIONAL PARK. Lochinvar lies south of Kafue River, a short distance to the north of the Lusaka-Livingstone road. It takes most of the day (about 8 hours) to reach your next camp which is situated near Chunga Lagoon. The park is flat, and the sections nearer the river seasonally flood. The resulting
level grassy plain reflects the sky like a mirror for as far as you can see. Further from the water, the plains gradually merge into woodland where you may spot kudu, baboon or buffalo hiding in the thickets. You have a full day to explore the park, which receives few visitors. The wetland and surrounding floodplains support abundant birdlife. From December to April (the hot rainy season), the lagoon attracts a great variety of migrant
birds from flamingos and pelicans to large flocks of cranes, storks and ibises. Camp - 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2)

DAY 7 - VICTORIA FALLS. Stretching from Kazangula to the Matetsi River mouth, but centred around the superb and always breathtaking Victoria Falls, the Upper Zambezi Valley has a host of adrenaline pumping activities to offer. This morning you drive to Livingstone to your riverside camp (about 6 hours) which provides an ideal location from which to explore the area. This afternoon you head off to see one of the most awesome sights in the world, "Mosi-oa- Tunya"- the Smoke That Thunders (the name given to the falls by the Makololo people). The waterfalls are without doubt one of the greatest and most unforgettably scenic spectacles in
Africa. It's hot and humid here, and walking through the rainforest that thrives in the spray from the falls, you can feel the immense power generated by the Zambezi River. It plummets over a width of nearly two kilometres into a deep gorge over a hundred metres below, causing the ground to vibrate under your feet. The wide basalt cliff over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a wide placid river to a ferocious torrent, cutting through a series of dramatic gorges. You'll pass other vantage points, such as the Falls Bridge and the Look Out Tree, which commands a panoramic view of the area. Camp - 3 nights (B)

DAYS 8 & 9 - VICTORIA FALLS. There are many optional excursions to choose from during your stay here. Considered one of the best stretches of rafting in the world, Batoka Gorge provides one of the most intense sensory thrills imaginable. It has twenty-three white water rapids and striking scenery deep within the
sheer black cliffs; what could be more exhilarating than rafting along a route carved over the millennia by the Great Zambezi! The guides are fully trained professionals and although no previous rafting experience is
required, you should be a proficient swimmer. The British Canoe Union has classified the river as Grade 5 extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas. Nearly half the rapids you negotiate are Grade 5. Due to the steepness of the gorge, wildlife is not abundant. On occasion klipspringer, rock hyrax, vervet monkeys and baboon are spotted. However, the bird life is far more spectacular. Black eagle, augur buzzard, black stork and giant kingfisher are some of the birds normally seen. Having negotiated the Zambezi's exhilarating rapids, you climb out of the gorge and celebrate. You could try the newest of adrenaline fixes on the Zambezi river boarding. It involves descending rapids on a boogie board, wearing fins and a crash helmet. You could leap into space from the 111m bridge bungee jump, situated within earshot of the thunderous noise and spray of Victoria Falls. Bungee jumping is an indescribable feeling and must be the ultimate adrenaline rush! There is also gorge swinging, ziplining, abseiling and rappelling! Many people choose to fly over the falls for the best aerial view - you can either try a flight by light aircraft, microlight or helicopter over the falls. The "Flight of the Angels", as it is known, takes its name from a passage in Livingstone's journal. The overwhelming force and beauty of what he had just seen inspired him to write: "on sights as beautiful as this, angels in their flight must have gazed." Despite the large number of activities concentrated in this small area, the rest of the valley is still very wild. It is possible to head off on a canoe safari on the Upper Zambezi River - a wonderfully relaxing way to enjoy the astonishing beauty along the banks of the river. Paddling lazily down one of Africa's great rivers, a profound sense of peace and tranquillity sets in. As you glide smoothly and silently along, you can relax and enjoy this unique opportunity to
see wildlife at surprisingly close quarters. You may be lucky to catch elephant watering, or see antelope grazing on the riverbank. There are exciting moments too when hippo unexpectedly raise their heads from beneath the surface and crocodile watch with suspicious eyes from the bank - but your experienced river guide is always there to keep a watchful eye on things. During the day you make plenty of stops to stretch your legs and rest your arms. As the day moves on, the changing light brings out all the beauty of your surroundings, and as evening draws in, the rich sunset flushes the African skies with colour. (Bx2)

DAY 10 - CHOBE NATIONAL PARK. Your journey continues west as you cross into the vast country of Botswana (about 2 hours drive although there can be delays at the Kazangula ferry). Beyond the border lies the
town of Kasane, once the capital of the Makololo people, who came to this area as refugees from the invading Ndebele. Chobe National Park is a compelling wilderness packed with game. The park was created in1968, and named after the river that defines its northern boundary. The different vegetation types, such as thickets of bush, open grassland and riverine forest, are ideal for spotting an abundance of animals. The entire park
encompasses an area of 11,000 square kilometres and provides sanctuary for the great herds of game that follow the ebb and flow of water. Arriving at your camp on the banks of the Chobe River, a short distance from Kasane, you have time in the afternoon to relax. The site also has a pool, so there's opportunity for a refreshing
swim! Camp- 2 nights (BLD)

DAY 11 - CHOBE NATIONAL PARK. This morning you take an early morning game drive through the park. The flood plains, with their different vegetation types; thickets of bush, open grassland and riverine forest are
ideal for spotting an abundance of animals. Besides herds of elephant and buffalo, there's a good chance of seeing other game, such as wildebeest, tsessebe, waterbuck, roan, sable antelopes, eland, giraffe, hyena, kudu and the indigenous Chobe bushbuck. The reserve is also a paradise for a medley of African birds and
common sightings include jacanas, skimmers and the beautiful carmine bee-eater. The principal aim of your morning drive is to spot some of the park's big cats and there are viewing sites en route to stretch your legs and enjoy the early morning sunshine. In the late afternoon, you explore more of this wildlife paradise by boat. Afternoons are the favoured time for elephant herds to make their way to the river, and Chobe's 50,000-strong
population is legendary. Hopefully you'll be able to get up close to some of these amazing animals as well as hippos and crocodiles. (BLD)

DAY 12 - LAKE KARIBA. Today you cross the Zambezi back into Zambia on the Kasungula Ferry and make your way to Sinazongwe. This small town was originally built as the fishing centre for the southern lakeshore
area. After the day's drive (about 7 hours) you arrive at your camp situated near the lake's attractive shoreline which is now a national park. Kariba's peculiar stark beauty is best seen as the sun sets and the leafless branches of submerged trees protrude above the surface, silhouetted against a backdrop of blue-black mountains. Camp - 1 night (BLD)

DAYS 13 & 14 - LOWER ZAMBEZI VALLEY. This morning you drive down into the Lower Zambezi Valley and spend two nights on the banks of the Zambezi River in a lodge. The following day, after a thorough briefing on how to handle the canoes and safety while on the river, you head off downstream for a safari with a difference. Your canoes are stable and easy to handle, you slip noiselessly along with the gentle current past herds of elephant and buffalo wallowing in the river, see crocodile slink from sunny sandbanks stealthily into the river and glide past pods of hippo. At the end of the afternoon after a full day on the river you return to the fixed
camp area. This evening you can enjoy dinner overlooking the river and keep your eyes peeled for elephant and buffalo. Fixed Camp/Lodge - 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2)

DAY 15 - LUSAKA. Leaving the Lower Zambezi behind you travel (about 5 hours drive) to Lusaka where you stay overnight. Hotel - 1 night (BL)

DAY 16 - FLY TO LONDON. Transfer to the airport (about 30 mins) and fly from Lusaka to London. (B)

(BLD = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Accommodation & Centre Details

Transport & Accommodation

Safari truck, boat, canoe, on foot. Hotel (1nt), lodge (2nts), camp (11nts). 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners included. Flights (Schedules & airlines can change.) Direct flights with British Airways from London Heathrow. Depart UK 19.15, Return UK 18.00. UK domestic add-on available.

Safari and River Adventure

Victoria Falls

Details

Itinerary & Highlights

Accommodation & Centre Details

Holidays Extras