22 Night Zambia Self-drive (Lvi-Lvi)

Fly into Livingstone, where you spend the first night at the Victoria Falls Waterfront. The lodge is 4km from the falls in the Mosi wa Tunya National Park. Many activities can be arranged from the lodge once you are there – and you can also cross over to Zimbabwe and see the falls from there too.

Pick up your vehicle in Livingstone and head to Kafue. Drive first to Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp in the south of the park. Nanzhila offers excellent opportunities to see the healthy populations of a number of antelope species as well as all the major carnivores, with a particularly strong population of Wild Dog and Cheetah

Drive from Nanzhila to Hippo Bay campsite by the Itezhi–Tezhi Dam – a very relaxing place. The campsite overlooks the lake and there is only one site, ensuring you have complete privacy. Game viewing in the area is good, with most of the major species represented.

Drive north along the spinal road through the park to Kasabushi Camp, where you spend the next two nights. Kasabushi is beautifully situated on the Kafue River. The focus here is the river and its beauty, and boat trips for game viewing or fishing can be arranged on arrival.

Continue further north to camp for the next night at Mayukuyuku Camp. The camp is very relaxing and peaceful, just downstream from a number of small rapids facing a small island where the river fans out, with spectacular views in many directions.  From Mayukuyuku game drives can be done in the Mukambi area of the park as well as to the north.

Overnight at Forest Inn, a convenient stop-over en route to the Mutinondo Wilderness area.

Spend two nights in the Kasanka National Park – Zambia’s first national park under private management and as such entirely reliant on tourism revenue and charitable funding. Kasanka is a valuable conservation area with diverse flora and fauna including many endangered species and exceptional birdlife. Sightings of Sitatunga antelope are usually good, and there are beautiful miombo woodlands, swamp forest, grasslands, floodplains and riverine bushveld, to be enjoyed on leisurely walks and drives.

The next night is spent camping in the Mutinondo Wilderness area. Mutinondo is an off the beaten track destination – ideal for the adventurous self-drive visitor. Mutinondo offers a range of activities including hiking, riding, birding, swimming, and canoeing.

Kapishya is a quiet secluded lodge just off the Great North Road, situated on the estate of Shiwa Ngandu (The Africa House) and is beautifully set along the banks of the Mansha River. The main attraction of Kapishya is its natural sulphur-free hot springs.

T

he next two nights are spent in the heart of the North Luangwa National Park. Buffalo Camp is a seasonal bush camp which is rebuilt and taken down each year. The reed and thatch chalets all overlook the Mwaleshi River.

The focus here is on walking safaris which are conducted by highly experienced Zambian guides and are always accompanied by an armed Zambia Wildlife Authority guard.

Leave Buffalo Camp and continue south through North Luangwa, crossing the Luangwa River by pontoon. You then follow a bush track south to Luambe National Park where you spend the night at Luambe Camp. The tents are located on the banks of the Luangwa River overlooking a hippo pool.

Make your way to Croc Valley campsite along the Luangwa river bordering the park. The river is permanent but levels rise and fall dramatically which produces an additional seasonal flood-plain habitat which boosts grazer numbers and allows for the existence of puku which are highly dependent on the green belt along the water’s edge.

Head south via Petauke to Redcliffs Zambezi Lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River close to Lower Zambezi National Park. This lodge is only accessible by boat with transfers included. Activities focus on the river with fishing and birding particularly good – the scenery is spectacular too.

Travel back to Lusaka where you spend the night at Pioneer Safari Camp just outside of the city.

Return the vehicle in Livingstone and spend the night again at Victoria Falls Waterfront before transferring to the airport the following day.