Zambia Off the Beaten Track

You’ll be met on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) and a Wayfairer representative will escort you through the airport to board your next domestic flight to Mfuwe Airport (MFU). On arrival in Mfuwe Airport, you’ll be met by your private driver and transferred to South Luangwa National Park.

You’ll arrive at Tafika Camp, your accommodation for the next three nights. The drive to the camp will take around one hour and you’ll have the chance to spot wildlife as you pass through the national park.

Tafika Camp is set in a secluded spot by the river in the Nsefu sector of the national park and is perfect for those looking to enjoy the tranquility of the bush. This evening you can relax in your charming reed chalet and watch out for wildlife from your private verandah.

Enjoy your first full day on safari in the South Luangwa National Park. With over 60 mammal species, around 450 bird species and extremely high concentrations of wildlife, you’ll have some excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting.

You can take a day or night game drive and your expert guides will lead you to the most game rich areas to see large herds of elephants, Cape buffaloes, rare Thornicroft’s giraffes, prides of lions, endemic populations of zebra and wildebeest, rivers filled with hippos and crocodiles, an abundance of birdlife, and some of the best leopard viewing in Africa.

Tafika Camp offers an array of fantastic game viewing and other exciting activities. You can venture into the wilderness on a walking safari or take a night game drive to spot hunting lions and prowling leopards as they burst into activity after dark. This thrilling experience takes you in search of the park’s nocturnal creatures and the sounds of the bush at night are quite magical.

You can go on a mountain biking safari along the national park’s cycling trails or take a thrilling open cockpit microlight flight. You can also visit the local Mkasanga Village to meet local Zambezis and learn about their unique lifestyle and customs.

After breakfast, check out of Tafika Camp and meet your driver for your transfer to Chikoko Trails. You’ll venture slightly upstream from parent camp Tafika, to an area of true wilderness. Chikoko Trails is made up of two camps - Chikoko Tree Camp and Crocodile River Camp - and the camps are only accessible on foot.

In this stunning corner of the national park there are no roads, which has led to exceptionally high concentrations of wildlife.The camp is refreshingly intimate with only six guests at a time, and you’ll settle into your rustic grass-walled chalet, blending harmoniously with the environment. This evening, enjoy the views from your verandah and enjoy dinner by the crackling campfire.

Today you’ll go in search of big game on foot through unspoiled bush. As you venture into this remote corner of the country you’ll soak up the serenity of the bush, capturing every minute detail from smells to sounds. A walking safari is an incredibly immersive wildlife experience and South Luangwa National Park is the birthplace of this thrilling activity.

Chikoko Trails offers an exceptionally high quality of walking safaris and you’ll pass through idyllic woodland savannahs as you spot birdlife, track wildlife and learn the secrets of the bush. You’ll roam along well-worn elephant and hippo trails and follow in the original footsteps of David Livingstone, the famous Scottish explorer.

This morning you’ll check out of Chikoko Trails and meet your driver for your transfer to North Luangwa National Park. You’ll arrive at Mwaleshi Camp, your home for the next three nights.

You’ve now ventured into the ultimate area of untamed wilderness with few roads, incredible game densities, and an authentic atmosphere of seclusion. Situated on a gorgeous bend of the Mwaleshi River, this seasonal, semi-permanent camp allows you to truly immerse in your natural surroundings.

With just four simple thatched chalets made entirely from natural materials, and stunning views of the river from your verandah, you’ll be completely absorbed into the African bush.

Today is your first full day off the grid in North Luangwa National Park. Although the park has been declared a wilderness area, it is not open to the public and there are no permanent lodges (Mwaleshi Camp is only assembled from mid-June to October each year). The only way to access this beautiful land is with one the few permitted safari operators who conduct walking safaris.

You’ll head out into the isolated bush with trained, expert guides who will share their intimate knowledge of this region. Amble along the Mwaleshi River, making your way to the confluence of Luangwa and Mwaleshi River, where hundreds of hippos congregate. With hardly anyone else around, you’ll relish the tranquility of your wildlife encounter.

North Luangwa is best explore on foot, however the camp does provide a vehicle for short drives to excellent walking areas further afield from the camp. You can also venture further upstream to Mwaleshi Falls, a spectacular spot for a refreshing dip.

As you roam through the pristine wilderness, you’ll have the chance to spot endemic populations of Cookson’s wildebeest, massive herds of buffalo and zebra, prides of lion, spotted hyenas, and an abundance of birdlife including the yellow-throated longclaw and the chestnut-mantled sparrow weaver.

You may even be lucky to spot a black rhino. These incredible creatures were wiped out by poachers by 1987, however since their successful reintroduction to North Luangwa in 2003, their populations are slowly increasing.

This morning you’ll check out of Mwaleshi Camp and meet your driver for your transfer to Mfuwe Airport. The journey also acts as a game drive and you’ll have one last chance to spot some incredible Luangwa wildlife.

You’ll board your domestic flight to Lower Zambezi National Park, flying directly into Old Mondoro Camp, your accommodation for the next three nights. Old Mondoro Camp is the Lower Zambezi’s most private and immersive safari camp. With only five reed chalets, the lodgings are a beautiful ode to the natural environment.

They’re furnished with comfortable amenities and you can spend the evening soaking in your outdoor stone splash tub overlooking the Zambezi River. Relax on the day beds on the large private deck and watch elephants passing only metres below as they come to feed on the surrounding grove of acacia trees.

This morning you’ll wake up in Old Mondoro’s picturesque setting with uninterrupted views of the iconic Zambezi River and its islands dotted with hippos and the idyllic woodland where elephants, buffalo, impalas and waterbuck roam beneath the giant trees.

There’s also the famous “loo with a view,” an outdoor toilet with spectacular views overlooking the Zambezi. Old Mondoro offers a wonderfully remote experience in a destination that is renowned for its pristine, undeveloped environment.

Today you can venture out on an exclusive game drive through Lower Zambezi National Park with the chance to spot lions, Cape wild dogs (also known as painted wild dogs or painted wolves), zebra, bushbucks, hippos, crocodiles and around 400 bird species.

Old Mondoro also offers the most prolific leopard sightings in Africa and you’ll have the chance to spot this elusive creature on both day and night game drives. A night game drive also offers the exciting chance to spot the Zambezi’s nocturnal creatures including hyenas, porcupines, genets, civets and honey badgers.

There are plenty of ways to get to know the Lower Zambezi. Take a spectacular bushwalk with expert naturalists, roaming through the beautiful, unspoiled mopane forests, riverines and floodplains. You’ll spot a fascinating array of birds, insects and plants and may even spot big game on foot.

Get out on the famous Zambezi River with a canoe trip or a boating safari to get closer to the hippos and crocodiles. Venture further afield to the Chongwe Falls, where you can enjoy a peaceful picnic by the churning rapids. Visit a local Goba village to learn about their culture and even witness traditional African Goba dancing.

You can also get involved with the conservation efforts of Conservation Lower Zambezi by attending an elephant workshop. This is a fascinating session about the world of elephants and the damaging effects of poaching in Africa.

After breakfast, check out of Old Mondoro Camp and board your light aircraft flight to Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) in Livingstone. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to Islands Of Siankaba Lodge, your camp for the next three nights.

Islands of Siankaba Lodge is a unique luxury lodge in a world-class destination. Spread across two private islands in the middle of the mighty Zambezi River, the lodge is flanked by Victoria Falls, the spectacular natural wonder, and the Chobe National Park, Botswana’s world-renowned wildlife reserve.

With only seven chalets surrounded by an unspoiled environment, the lodge is the perfect place to escape the crowds while still enjoying the majesty of the Victoria Falls.This evening, settle into your secluded chalet and enjoy the gorgeous pool, spa and an exquisite meal in the onsite restaurant and bar.

Today you’ll visit the Victoria Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. The Victoria Falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest falls in the world, with a soaring height of 108 metres and a width of 1,708 metres.

Known to the locals as Mosi Oa Tunya or “The Smoke that Thunders,” the falls are a truly jaw-dropping spectacle and there are many ways to experience them.

Take a white-water rafting cruise through the gorge below or see the falls in all their churning glory from the air, with a helicopter flight. Brave a thrilling dip in Devil’s Pool, a natural infinity pool slipping over the edge of the falls or take a boat trip to Livingstone Island for the best view of the falls.

Islands of Siankaba Lodge offer a range of fantastic in-house activities. You can see more of the Victoria Falls on either the Zambian or Zimbabwean side, go shopping at the Curio market at the top of the falls, go on a guided nature trail walk, a Mokoro trip, a catch and release fishing trip, or take a cultural tour of the local villages either by foot or on a bamboo bike.

You can also enjoy a picnic island lunch and a sundowner cruise, soaking up the brilliant sunset over the Zambezi in tranquil surroundings.

Daredevils will find plenty of thrills in Livingstone, the adrenaline capital of southern Africa. Get your heart racing with a bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge, go jet-boating under the falls, or take an open-cockpit microlight flight.

Sadly your incredible Zambia Off the Beaten Track holiday has come to end. After breakfast this morning, you’ll check out of Islands of Siankaba Lodge and will be transferred to Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport for your return flight home.

After two weeks of total immersion in the tranquil African bush, we’re sure you’ll be leaving with a trove of spectacular memories and special stories. You’ve explored the most pristine and untouched corners of Zambia, experienced intimate wildlife encounters and stayed in some beautiful remote camps. Where you will you get off the beaten track next?