14-DAY WILDS OF ZAMBIA

Transcription

1 14-DAY WILDS OF ZAMBIA Flying Safari to South Luangwa/Lower Zambezi Valley/Kafue Visit Livingstone Program Highlights:- This itinerary combines the South Luangwa floodplain ecosystem, the Lower Zambezi and Kafue National Park, which is remote and rarely visited. Experience day and night game drives in open vehicles as well as participate in walking and canoeing safaris. Your accommodations are thatched chalets or rustic tented safari camps all with en suite bathrooms. The true thrill of any safari to Zambia is the adrenalin rush of a walking safari and canoeing down the Zambezi! End with a night in Livingstone and a tour of Victoria Falls and a sunset cruise East Oakland Park Boulevard, Suite 600 Fort Lauderdale, Florida U.S.A Tel: Tel: Fax: safari@africanadventure.com

2 Day Destination Accommodation 01 Fly USA Dubai Travel 02 Fly Dubai Lusaka Mfuwe South Luangwa Afternoon game activity Tafika Camp, Nsefu Camp or Kaingo Camp South Luangwa Tafika Camp, Nsefu Camp or Kaingo Camp 06 Fly Mfuwe Jeki Lower Zambezi Afternoon game activity Old Mondoro or Chongwe River Camp or Chiawa Camp 07 Lower Zambezi Old Mondoro or Chongwe River Camp or Chiawa Camp 08 Lower Zambezi Old Mondoro or Chongwe River Camp or Chiawa Camp 09 Fly Jeki Lusaka Kafue Kafue National Park Afternoon game activity Busanga Bush Camp 10 Kafue National Park Busanga Bush Camp 11 Kafue National Park Busanga Bush Camp 12 Fly Kafue Livingstone Afternoon at leisure Chundunkwa River Lodge 13 Fly Livingstone Johannesburg USA 14 USA

3 Destinations Base Package Accommodations Optional Upgrade Optional Upgrade South Luangwa Tafika Camp Nsefu Camp Kaingo Camp Lower Zambezi Old Mondoro Chongwe River Camp Chiawa Camp Kafue Livingstone Busanga Bush Camp Chundunkwa River Lodge

4 ITINERARY DAY 01 (WED) USA/DUBAI Depart this morning on your international flight to Dubai (utilizing Emirates Airline departing JFK at 10:40am). DAY 02 (THU) DUBAI/LUSAKA/MFUWE/SOUTH LUANGWA Morning arrival in Dubai. Onward connecting flight to Lusaka, Zambia. On arrival you will be assisted through immigration and escorted to your scheduled inter-africa flight to Mfuwe. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative who will take you to your first lodge. The drive to the camp will take you past numerous villages until you reach the lodge. Estimated time of arrival in camp is 7:00pm. Settle in before joining other guests at the lounge for predinner drinks and snacks. *Please Note* there is a luggage limit of 44lbs (20kg) per person on the scheduled flight so please prepack your luggage accordingly in a soft-sided bag. Scheduled flights times are estimates and may include multiple stops. The South Luangwa Valley has a high concentration of elephants in the woodland savannah areas, along with the indigenous Thornicroft's giraffe. Lion, hyena, buffalo, waterbuck, impala, kudu, puku and zebra are plentiful. Small herds of wildebeest can also be seen. Hippos and crocodiles abound in the muddy Luangwa River and leopard are frequently seen on night game drives. Wild dog, civet and several species of mongoose are also present in the park. A real advantage of this great park is that visitors can experience day and night game drives in open vehicles as well as participate in walking safaris. Destination Base Package Accommodations Optional Upgrade Optional Upgrade South Luangwa Tafika Camp Nsefu Camp Kaingo Camp Tafika Camp is an iconic safari camp located in the South Luangwa Valley. Six thatched chalets (including a family room and a Honeymoon chalet) have been built under giant lead wood trees and each offers en suite bathroom with an open-air shower. The central dining and lounge area overlooks the Luangwa River. You can experience day and night game drives in open vehicles as well as participate in walking safaris, mountain biking and visits to the Mkasanga Village. Accommodation: Tafika Camp (Full Board)

5 OR Nsefu Camp is located near the Luangwa River in the central part of the park. It has six brick and thatch rondavels (12 beds) with en suite facilities. The main lounge and bar is tucked beside a huge extinct termite mound and overlooks a waterhole that is very productive for game, especially the illusive leopard at night. Day and night game drives and morning walks are offered. In between game drives, there is a photographic hide next to the camp. Accommodation: Nsefu Camp (Full Board) OR Kaingo Camp is across the Luangwa River from Tafika and Nsefu Camps. It has five thatched chalets with en suite facilities. A unique feature of Kaingo is the wooden deck that is built over the river which provides a relaxing vantage point to witness game coming down for a drink. Walks, day and night game drives and photography from a hide are offered. Accommodation: Kaingo Camp (Full Board) DAY (FRI-SUN) SOUTH LUANGWA Three days of game viewing activities including morning walks and day and night game drives. Each of the three camps have sister bush camps where you may want to book into for a night or two and enjoy more of a walking safari experience (Tafika Chikoko and Crocodile, Nsefu - Tena Tena, and Kaingo - Mwamba). Accommodation: Tafika, Nsefu or Kaingo Camp (Full Board)

6 DAY 06 (MON) SOUTH LUANGWA/MFUWE/JEKI - LOWER ZAMBEZI Depart this morning from Mfuwe on your scheduled inter-africa flight to Jeki and onward to your camp located in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The Lower Zambezi National Park sits along the lower Zambezi River, on the opposite side of Mana Pools National Park (Zimbabwe). The Zambezi Escarpment along the northern boundary towers above the Zambezi Valley also forms part of the Southern limit of the Great East African Rift Valley. With a river frontage of about 120km, the valley floor and the Escarpment combined with the plateau, gives Lower Zambezi National Park magnificent picturesque scenery, providing a memorable experience for any visitor. The park is home to prides of lion, family herds of elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard and a variety of antelope. You can explore the park both from vehicles and boating activities on the river. Destination Base Package Accommodations Optional Upgrade Optional Upgrade Lower Zambezi Old Mondoro Chongwe River Camp Chiawa Camp

7 Old Mondoro is a tented bush camp, only eight beds, on the banks of the Zambezi deep inside the park and 18 miles downstream from Chiawa Camp. Constructed of natural materials and canvas, the tents offer an open-feeling, natural lighting, mosquito netting, Egyptian cotton linens, en suite flush toilets, in-door and out-door showers and a large splash tub on the outdoor deck overlooking the Zambezi River. The emphasis is on walking, canoeing, limited game drives and catch and release fishing. Accommodation: Old Mondoro (Full Board) OR Chongwe River Camp is a comfortable bush camp located just outside the western border of the Park consisting of 8 double classic chalets with one family suite and one honeymoon suite, each with open air en suite bathrooms and private verandahs overlooking the river. Activities include game drives in open vehicles, guided walks, canoeing, boating and fishing. Accommodation: Chongwe River Camp (Full Board) Cassia Suite OR Chiawa Camp is located within the National Park, on the river bank. The camp has been built under a grove of mahogany and acacia trees and is constructed essentially of natural materials. All nine safari tents are under shade, each on a raised timber deck with private veranda, have en suite facilities with flush toilets, hot & cold running water, twin or double beds, insect screens and solar powered lighting. Access paths to the tents run through a grove of mahogany trees, maximizing privacy. The spacious lounge and bar area has an observation platform built into its roof, providing one of the best views in the valley. The dining area also looks out onto the river and the animals which regularly come to drink and feed at and near the lodge. There is a swimming pool for the hotter months. Activities include day and night game drives (maximum of 4 people per vehicle), safaris by boat, canoeing down the Lower Zambezi, catch and release fishing and bush walks. Accommodation: Chiawa Camp (Full Board)

8 DAY (TUE+WED) LOWER ZAMBEZI Enjoy two full days of game viewing. Accommodation Old Mondoro or Chongwe River Camp Cassia Suite or Chiawa Camp (Full Board) DAY 09 (THU) LOWER ZAMBEZI/JEKI/LUSAKA/KAFUE Transfer to your camp's airstrip for your scheduled flight to Lusaka. Onward connecting scheduled charter flight to Kafue National Park. Kafue National Park, one of the largest in Africa, covers 8,687 square miles, making it two and one-half times the size of South Luangwa National Park and half the size of Switzerland. Kafue has the largest number of different antelope species of any park in Africa. Many of the species, such as greater kudu and sable antelope, are said to be substantially larger than elsewhere in the country. Drive further north through the park to the Busanga Plains and marshes that have a greater number and variety of wildlife species. Animals are easier to spot here than in the dense woodland savannah in the south. This region is predominantly miombo forest, which gives way to savannah grasslands, along with rock hills, marshes and riverine forests. The Kafue River runs through the northern part of the park and along its east central border. The rare red lechwe may be seen in the area as well as the sitatunga. Other species found are buffalo, elephant, puku, wildebeest, sable, roan and Lichtenstein's hartebeest. Good sightings of lion have been recorded, and cheetah and leopard are also present.

9 Busanga Bush Camp is located deep inside the wildlife haven of the Busanga Plains. Placed under the large fig trees of a small tree island, the camp features superb views of the game-rich plains that surround it. Accommodation is in four reed and canvas rooms, with canopy beds and en suite hot and cold shower, flush toilet, and basin. The bar and lounge provides a perfect ambience to make friends and share stories around the campfire. Activities include night and day game drives. Accommodation: Busanga Bush Camp (Full Board) DAY (FRI+SAT) Enjoy two days of activities. KAFUE NATIOANL PARK AUG-OCT An optional balloon safari is available to guests ($ per person Conservation fee payable directly). Depart camp before sunrise and transfer to the launch site where you will meet your balloon captain and other guests (a maximum of eight people). As the balloon rises up over the vast Busanga Plains you will see the beauty unfold through the mist. The ride last approximately one hour under favorable weather conditions. Enjoy a champagne breakfast on a secluded island before returning to camp. Accommodation: Busanga Bush Camp (Full Board) DAY 12 (SUN) KAFUE/LIVINGSTONE This morning board your scheduled charter flight to Livingstone. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your lodge. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

10 The afternoon is usually an excellent time to view Victoria Falls (US20.00 park entry fee). Fortunately the area immediately around the falls has not been commercialized, and there are unobstructed views connected by paved paths. Visitors can follow a path that goes right up to the falling water. An alternative view can be had from the Boiling Pot, right in the depths of the gorge at the bottom of the falls. The Victoria Falls Bridge can be crossed for excellent views of the falls and the winding blue-green waters of the Zambezi River. If you are at the falls during the dry season (September to December) it is definitely worth taking a look from the Zimbabwean side, which will still be quite spectacular despite less water flowing. During the rainy season from March to May, the falls are at their most impressive due to the volume of water. Chundukwa River Lodge is located about 18 miles (30 kms) upstream from Victoria Falls. The lodge consists of five unique tree houses, which blend naturally with the waterberry trees that adorn the riverbanks. Each Tree house is complete with en suite bathroom and views of the Zambezi River, Chundu Island opposite and the Zambezi National park across the river. An open-air dining and lounge area overlook the splash pool and river. Sightings of hippo, elephant and other game are a common occurrence. Included is a tour of the falls and sunset cruise. Accommodation: Chundukwa River Lodge (B.L.D) DAY 13 (MON) LIVINGSTONE/JOHANNESBURG/DUBAI Today you will be transferred to the airport. Board your scheduled inter-africa flight to Johannesburg. Continue onward overnight to the Dubai. DAY 14 (TUE) DUBAI/USA Continue onward international flight to USA. WELCOME HOME!

11 2018 LAND ARRANGEMENTS: Based on Tafika and Old Mondoro Accommodations Jun Jul/Oct 1-15 Aug-Sep Oct Base Program from $8, from $11, from $11, from $9, Camp Substitutions Nsefu Camp + $ $ $ $ Kaingo Camp + $ $ $ $ Chongwe River Lodge + $ $ $ $ Chiawa Camp + $ $ $ $ * All rates are per person sharing a room AIR ARRANGEMENTS (subject to change until ticketed): Please note the following sample airfares. Lower promotional airfares are offered throughout the year so please take a moment to contact our in house air department for even better pricing options! INTERNATIONAL: Economy Class: From $1, per person (low season) New York/Dubai/Lusaka - Johannesburg/Dubai/New York -Please call for add-on fares from your departure city. INTER-AFRICA: From $1, per person Lusaka/Mfuwe/Jeki/Lusaka - Livingstone/Johannesburg LAND COSTS INCLUDE: - Accommodations - All meals and safari activities (Full Board) - Airport, road and scheduled air charter transfers between camps (Lusaka/Kafue/Livingstone) - Park and guiding fees - Meals as stated: breakfast (B), lunch (L) and dinner (D) - Local drinks and laundry in safari camps - Complimentary tour of Victoria Falls and sunset cruise at Chundukwa River Lodge NOT INCLUDED: - Tips to staff and guides - Other drinks and laundry (not included above) - Optional tours in Livingstone/Victoria Falls - Airport departure taxes - Other personal expenditure - Scheduled air fares - Travel insurance - Zambia visa - Optional balloon safari at Busanga Bush Camp (available Aug-Oct, $ per person payable directly)

12 NOTES: 1) Charter flights operate with a minimum of two travelers. 2) The departure day for this safari is based on the Kafue/Livingstone charter flight. 3) Busanga Bush Camp is opened June 1-Oct 31, ) We are particularly excited about the Emirates Airline schedule which allows you to wake up on Day 3 and begin game viewing right away. If your airline routes through Johannesburg, an overnight at an airport hotel can be substituted for one night at Tafika. Approximate reduction - Less $ to less $ per person sharing (based on 1 night at Southern Sun ORTambo). TOUR CODE: ZAM14WILDS of ZAMBIA Trip Reports: This was our 5 th trip with The AAC and it was our best trip ever. It turned out to be an amazing adventure. By the second or third day we felt the trip was totally worthwhile even if we saw or experienced nothing more. And then it continued to be amazing. There was no let up and no day ever came close to being uneventful. The selection of camps: Busanga Bush Camp, Tafika Camp, and Old Mondoro was ideal. The staff at each was totally helpful and bent over backwards to meet our every need. The food was excellent and as we have learned to expect on safari, too plentiful. At Busanga the two camp managers Leah and Raphael were particularly helpful and a lot of fun. Our local camp guide Newton was highly skilled and very personable. He spotted 2 cheetahs by noticing the tail of one of the cheetahs approximately 100 yards away. We spent the next several hours tracking and observing the cheetah brothers. They climbed trees, which Nic assured us they never do, and later in the day took down a Puku. The balloon flight at Busanga was a spectacular experience. Not only was the flight beautiful looking out over the plains but was made even more spectacular by changes in altitude which allowed us to closely hover over a variety of animals and points of interest. As the flight was ending we witnessed Newton rescue our breakfast chef from charging elephants. Quite a morning! Tafika Camp was a very pleasant open facility with everyone helpful and engaging. Food and particularly lunches were great. We had the experience of tracking a lion on foot and discovering him lazily laying in the shade watching us as we watched a giraffe. Morning tea in the bush with a fire started with a stick and a board was memorable. On a night drive we spotted a mother and baby leopard. Before we knew it another leopard entered the area and a brief territorial dispute took place. Pretty intense! We also saw a wild dog take down an impala and then leave the area for a few minutes. Sixteen dogs returned and in a few minutes the kill was entirely gone. An impromptu visit to a nearby village that is home to all support staff and local guides was a fun and unique experience. We talked to villagers, visited the school, children sang to us and we all danced! Local guide Lloyd was particularly charming as he entertained us with a bush quiz as we waited for the second flight to Old Mondoro. The location of Old Mondoro is spectacular and beautiful. Room views look out over the Zambezi or a lagoon with elephants eating and bathing. A wooded area is behind the camp. There are excellent opportunities for water activities here. We had 6 leopard sightings in the area. Four of them were in a one night drive within about an hour s time. One very large male leopard briefly focused his attention on us and let us know in no uncertain terms we were annoying him. We moved on to more relaxed leopards! We were particularly impressed with local guide Sebastian who tracked and spotted an almost invisible leopard in a dense tree. In general he displayed a very relaxed easygoing confidence in everything he did. What a great trip, what a great adventure and experience! Thank you so much! Dave, Lugena and Michelle Wahlquist

13 Chiawa Camp was excellent. The staff was wonderful and made the time there all the more memorable with all their creative mealtime arrangements such as a private dinner on the river. We had one of the nicer tents with a view of the lagoon from our back deck. In the afternoons, we saw herds of elephant, impalas and a variety of birds go by. For our safari drives, they switched safari guides which we thought was a good idea so we got to go out with different guides. We particularly liked their docking station to get on and off the vehicle! and that they had a maximum of 4 in a vehicle. We had fantastic wildlife viewing with my favorite being the leopard mom and her two cubs. One was very curious and would come up to the vehicle till mom called him back and he bounded back to her. We also saw several lions, several other leopards, beautiful kingfishers and so many safari animals and birds. Tafika was very good. The staff and owners were also wonderful as well as the safari guides. Again, we like that there was a maximum of 4 in a vehicle. We were not interested in doing a walking safari or riding bicycles although others in the camp did and enjoyed it We particularly enjoyed seeing the large numbers of cranes fly in. Patti Rhymer