13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK TRAVEL BY ROAD TO KAFUE NP // FLY IN & OUT SOUTH LUANGWA NP Kafue National Park is one of Zambia s primary national parks along with South Luangwa. It is also the country s oldest and largest. The Busanga Plains are seasonally flooded grasslands in the far north of Kafue National Park. Fed by the Lupufa River, the floodplains begin to dry out in late May, leaving access to the plains beginning in August. Hippos are trapped in shallow pools by the receding waters. Between August and end of October, Busanga provides some of Kafue s best game observation. Red lechwe and puku cover the plains. It is possible to see roan and sable antelope. It s a great location for big cat observation, especially lion and cheetah. The shy sitatunga antelope also lives in Busanga s swamps. Busanga is simply one of those magical and remote African destinations which should be on every safari-goers to-do list. South Luangwa National Park is Zambia s best known national park with good reason. It provides first class wildlife observation. This safari combines both of these winning Zambian destinations. A luxury safari is not just about how much it costs. It is also about how you prefer to spend your precious leisure time. It s about the pursuit of authenticity (even if that means enduring a few bumpy roads), and an adventure which is defined less by adrenalin-rush and more by the mystique of remote locations and special events or activities. Diversity is the key to great travel. If this matches your criteria for Zambia then consider this itinerary which combines Busanga Plains with two locations in South Luangwa National Park. 1 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
1 2 3 LUSAKA Arrive Lusaka. You are met and transferred to Mama Tembo Cheza, MTTZ s private guest house on a five acre wooded plot in a quiet, rural area of Lusaka. We provide potable water; DSTV; wireless; back-up inverter, batteries and generator for Zambian power cuts, and a private fire pit where you can relax under the stars and listen to owls and night jars. For 3 guests and more, we have several economical accommodation options: Sarek Creek Bed & Breakfast (sleeps 4 people); River Bird Guest House; and Palmwood Lodge (very accessible to the airport). For upgrades, consider Lusaka s boutique Latitude 15 Hotel. Meals included: dependent upon your arrival time KAFUE NATIONAL PARK Drive to Kafue River Lodge, a 6 hour drive, a route which takes the Great West Road to Mumbwa town before following a route through the Mushingashi Conservancy to Kafue NP s Kabulushi Gate. Cross the Kafue River at the Lubungu Pontoon. From there, the lodge is 10 kms. Arrive in time for a late lunch. Afternoon activities can be a game drive or a boat safari (dependent upon the river s depth) or a combination of both. Kafue River Lodge consists of four spacious en-suite chalets facing the river. KRL considers itself home of the slow safari. KAFUE NATIONAL PARK Twice daily game activities in the Lunga Luswishi Game Management Area, Kafue National Park, and Mushingashi Conservancy. Boat safaris, guided bush walks & night safaris are also available. MT Cheza www.mttsafaris. com Kafue River Lodge www.kafueriver Lodge.com 2 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
4 5 6 7 KAFUE NATIONAL PARK: BUSANGA PLAINS Depart after an early breakfast for the Busanga Plains, a full day s drive to this remote area. The first half of the drive is through rural Zambia and its villages. The second half of the drive is through Busanga itself, flat grassland plains dotted with islands of date palms, sausage and fig trees. Wildlife observation gets better and better as you enter the plains proper. Tonight s accommodation is the sister camp to Kafue River Lodge, opened in 2019. Kasonso is a permanent camp open 01 July to 31 October. Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner KAFUE NATIONAL PARK: BUSANGA PLAINS The first of two full days spent exploring Busanga Plains. Twice daily shared game activities which can include guided walking. KAFUE NATIONAL PARK: BUSANGA PLAINS The second full day spent exploring Busanga Plains. KAFUE NATIONAL PARK Drive south through Kafue National Park with a picnic lunch to meet the Great West Road which brings you back to Lusaka, a drive which keeps you in wildlife areas for its entirety. Lusaka is too far to reach by taking this leisurely route through the park, so we break our journey at the long established tented camp of Mayukuyuku, arriving in time to share their afternoon game activity which can be a boat safari. Mayukuyuku consists of four tented en-suite chalets. Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner Kasonso Busanga Camp Mayukuyuku Camp www. Mayukuyuku.com 3 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
8 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK Lusaka is 250 kms distance, a 4 5 hour drive from Mayukuyuku. Enjoy the early morning game activity before departing for Lusaka by 9 a.m. Once in Lusaka, we drop you to the airport for your late afteroon Proflight departure (usually 16:00 16:30) for Mfuwe, gateway to South Luangwa National Park. Your accommodation will collect you upon arrival at 17:30 and drive you to your lodge. Flatdogs is the long established, good value lodge near the park entrance. Alternative economical accommodation near the park entrance: Track and Trail River Camp Economical accommodation inside the park: Nkonzi Camp Upgrade near the park entrance: Kafunta River Camp Upgrade inside the park in remote locations: Lion Camp or Chikunto Camp Please request quotes on any accommodation changes and upgrades. Between game activities, request your lodge for a driver and vehicle to take you into Mfuwe town to visit Tribal Textiles and Mulberry Mongoose Jewellery. Mulberry s snareware collection is made from snare wire collected by anti-poaching patrols, thus protecting the South Luangwa s iconic wildlife and creating beauty from brutality. www.tribaltextiles.com www.mulberrymongoose.com Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner Flatdogs Camp www.flatdogs Camps.com Track and Trail River Camp www.trackand TrailRiverCamp. com Nkonzi Camp www.jackalberry Safaris.com Kafunta River Lodge www.luangwa. com 4 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
9 10 11 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK Twice daily shared game activities at Flatdogs. The afternoon game drive stops for sundowners in the bush after which follows a night game drive. SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK: NSEFU Transfer from the park entrance area to the Nsefu sector of South Luangwa, a 40 minue drive provided by your accommodations. Nsefu is a game-rich and less visited area of South Luangwa. Game observation improves as the dry season wears on and thirsty wildlife congregate along the river for water. Zikomo Camp consists of tidy, en-suite chalets, some with river view. SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK: NSEFU Twice daily shared game activities in Nsefu, which can include guided walks. The afternoon game drive stops for sundowners in the bush after which follows a night game drive. This is your opportunity for sighting leopards. Zikomo Camp www.zikomo safari.com 5 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
12 13 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK: NSEFU Twice daily shared game activities in Nsefu, which can include guided walks. The afternoon game drive stops for sundowners in the bush after which follows a night game drive. LUSAKA INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE Zikomo provides airport transfer to Mfuwe airport. Return to Lusaka with Proflight, a one hour flight, and connect with your departing international flight. Meals included: breakfast, other meals depend on airline schedules END OF SAFARI SERVICES COST PER PERSON (BASED ON TWO PEOPLE SHARING) >> Lusaka x1; Kafue River Camp x2; Kasonso Busanga Camp x3; Flatdogs Camp x2; Zikomo Camp x3 6 paxs: $5,782 USD 4 paxs: $6,015 USD 2 paxs: $6,339 USD >> Please add to the above Proflight-Zambia tickets Lusaka Mfuwe Lusaka, typically about $535 USD pp return >> Please inquire about the cost of accommodation options and upgrades. >> Please inquire about estimates for 3 paxs 5 paxs. Single supplements might be incurred at accommodations where triple rooms are unavailable. 6 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
SAFARI INCLUDES Return air transfers to South Luangwa National Park Land cruiser for the road section, Day 02 08, seats 4/6 comfortably with small fridge, inverter for charging batteries Open shared game vehicle in Busanga Plains Road transfers in South Luangwa NP provided by park accommodations Accommodation on full board basis per the itinerary (double or twin share) English-speaking driver/guide for the road section and his expenses All National Park, Conservancy, Pontoon and Vehicle Entry fees Game Activities per the itinerary, provided by your accommodations Bottled drinking water in the vehicle at all times Airport Transfers, Lusaka & Mfuwe Airport meet and greet, Lusaka Laundry services at Kafue River Lodge; Kasonso Busanga Camp; Flatdogs and Zikomo Camps House beverages of wine and beer at Kafue River Lodge; Kasonso Busanga Camp SAFARI EXCLUDES Zambia visa (typically $50 USD) International flights to Zambia Travel and health insurance which should include emergency evacuation to home country Single room supplements Personal spending for services and meals not mentioned in the itinerary (beverages in camps, telephone calls, wireless, spa treatments, laundry etc.) Tips/Gratuities Extra costs incurred as a result of alterations to the original tour MTTZ vehicle: sits five or six passengers, includes small refrigerator, interior inverter for charging camera and phone batteries, popup roof hatches with sun protection for game viewing, and private driver/guide. Any extension travel services upon completion of the safari (we are happy to provide you assistance with any add-on travel.) Alcoholic beverages at Flatdogs & Zikomo Camps. Please pay bar bill in cash or with credit card before departure. 7 MTT ZAMBIA 13- ZAMBIA WINNING COMBO: KAFUE NATIONAL PARK S BUSANGA PLAINS + SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK