Zambia
Ultimate Wildlife 7-Day Safari
2024:
$6,598/person to Go On Your Own
2 person minimum, "Group Rates" not available in 2024
Requires domestic flights ~$1,098/person
* Prices based on exchange rate as of Dec 2023. Exchange rates are subject to change without notice, and additional currency equalization fees may be required at the time Wild Planet pays for local services, which may occur up until 30 days prior to departure – even if you have already made your final payment.
A Little More Info
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Single travelers staying in a room by themselves will be charged this additional single supplement fee, as all of our regular prices are otherwise based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SHARE OPTIONS (if available)
If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will make every effort to find you a roommate of the same gender, in which case you will not have to pay the single supplement fee. The single supplement will be charged until we are able to confirm a roommate for you. If we are able to match you with a roommate, the single supplement will be refunded. In the event that we cannot find a share for you, you will be required to pay the single supplement fee.
New: Click the Singles Find a Share' icon below or check our "Community" page to connect with other single travelers looking to share.
Questions? Chat with a Regional Specialist
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Singles: Find a Share
Zambia
Ultimate Wildlife 7-Day Safari
Destinations
- Lusaka
- Nsefu Sector, South Luangwa
Highlights
- Master Guides - We've brought together extraordinary guides who have made an art out of tracking.
- Un-habituated Wildlife - Game in remote areas is less used to human presence so you see true "wild" behavior.
- Avoid the Crowds - Nsefu Sector has only 2 lodges, Busanga Plains 2 lodges, compared to Mfuwe with 25+ lodges.
- Jeep, Walking & Canoe Safaris - for the broadest diversity of game and a more intimate safari experience.
- No Jeep Competition - You won't be part of 5-30 jeeps chasing a lion, as is now common in much of Africa.
- World-Class Safari Lodges and Mobile Bushcamps
- Includes All Meals
Itinerary at a Glance
- DAY 1 Lusaka
- DAY 2 Nsefu Sector, South Luangwa
- DAY 3-4 Nsefu Walking Safaris
- DAY 5-6 Nsefu Sector, South Luangwa
- DAY 7 Lusaka / USA
Fully Customizable
Choose the length and price that's right for you, or take the full 18-day "Ultimate" safari!
Ultimate Wildlife 7-Day Safari
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1 Lusaka
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for the overnight. Radisson Blu or similar.
DAY 2 Nsefu Sector, South Luangwa
South Luangwa is Zambia's premier park and possibly the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Home to a truly impressive number of animals, the woodlands and plains of the valley host huge concentrations of game - including elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, hippo, and over 450 species of birds. It is the only place in Africa you can see the endemic Thornicoft giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest. The abundance of leopards in Luangwa is famous and it is usual for us to see several, a special thrill when walking. But it is the great abundance of game that impresses people the most.
The remote Nsefu sector has only 2 lodges (compared to 25+ lodges in Mfuwe sector), which is why game is so prolific and not used to human presence. On a typical stay you're likely to have lions and leopards right around the camps!
Start your safari with an afternoon game drive continuing into the evening hours, followed by dinner outdoors at our lodge on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River overlooking hippo pods and elephants. Prepare for your walking safari with a Master Naturalist Guide. Overnight at Nsefu Camp.
DAYS 3-4 Walking Safaris - South Luangwa
Without a doubt, this experience is sure to be the highlight of your trip. Imagine seeing leopards, elephants, hippos, cape buffalo, giraffes, and more while walking! South Luangwa is known as the home of the walking safari. Walking through big game country with our elite Master Naturalists is a truly exciting - and more intimate - way to experience Africa. As a participant rather than just a tourist, you'll learn to interpret subtle signs and tracks and to identify new scents, listen for alarm cries that reveal the whereabouts of predators, and discover the wonder of life in the bush. An armed scout will accompany your guide for the utmost safety.
Days are spent walking with our Master Naturalist Guide in the game rich Nsefu sector. Each morning our guide will suggest a different area to explore based on the movement of wildlife overnight and the activity level you desire. We typically walk from camp to camp. During your morning walk the mobile camp will be moved and lunch will be waiting on arrival, or you may picnic en-route. In some cases jeeps may be used to bring us to an area to walk. Overnight at Luangwa Bushcamp.
DAYS 5-6 Tena Tena Camp, Nesfu Sector, South Luangwa Nat'l Park
It's easy to see why The London Times raves; "Tena Tena is altogether beyond superlatives and must be one of the best safari camps in the whole of Africa." Return from your walking safari and explore the remote Nsefu sector by jeep and foot. Option to visit a Kwaza village to meet local people and enjoy an authentic cultural experience. Overnight at Tena Tena Camp.
DAY 7 Lusaka / USA
Return to Lusaka and transfer for your return flight.
Zambia Lodging
Our Ultimate Wildlife itinerary specializes in small mid and high end safari lodges and luxury mobile camps, many of which have been featured in top travel magazines. Great care has gone into our selection of lodging partners, with particular emphasis on lodges that offer outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities. These breathtaking lodges offer all the comforts of home, including hot & cold water, flush toilets, tastefully decorated beds and delicious meals, sometimes extravagant, always healthy, and catering to special dietary needs.
LUSAKA
Radisson Blu
The Radisson Blu Hotel is an upmarket accommodation 5 kilometers from the city center of Lusaka and 7.5 kilometers from the Airport. The ideal starting and/or finishing point for our Zambian adventures, guests enjoy free high-speed wireless Internet access, a lovely outdoor pool and a spa.
Don't miss the hotel's Chuma Grill Restaurant & Bar, which hosts a complimentary Super Breakfast Buffet and serves African fusion and international dishes. For a midday snack or cocktail while you lounge by the outdoor swimming pool, order something from the Pool Bar.
SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
Tena Tena Camp
Situated in the exclusive Nsefu Sector Tena Tena sits nestled under a magnificent and thick grove of mahogany trees. On a double tiered river bank each room enjoys its own private view onto a long stretch of the Luangwa River.
Nsefu Camp
Situated in the exclusive Nsefu Sector on a magnificent meander on the Luangwa River across which elephants often cross lies the historic camp Nsefu. Nsefu is one steeped in history and was built in 1951 and barring some upgrades the camp and rooms are still in the same place in the original style. The Nsefu sector was first pronounced a game reserve in 1966 some five years before the South Luangwa was even declared and has always been recognized as an outstanding game-viewing area. Robin Pope Safaris took over Nsefu in 1998, spent a year upgrading it and opened it the following July. The camp welcomes just twelve guests in six original brick and thatch rondavels with en-suite facilities, each room opening up to what can simply be described as the best view in the South Luangwa.
Luangwa Bush Camping
What is "bush camping"? Walking with the best of guides, dipping deeper into the bush from the fixed camps by camping out for a couple of nights, dinner and stories around the fire, simple but delicious food! When staying at Tena Tena and Nsefu you can walk between the two for two or three days, camping on the way. This is simple camping but with that extra touch of comfort. There are stand up tents, mattresses on the ground, sheets and blankets, wash basin, shared 60L bucket shower, bush loo, full bar and food service, fully serviced camp (except laundry). The walking is in one of the most lagoon rich areas of the Luangwa and hence the game is superb.
Zambia Wildlife
Prolific Sightings
Wild Planet's wildlife safaris are designed for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Our "Ultimate Wildlife" eco-adventures are specially designed for maximum wildlife viewing. We take care to seek out wildlife that is rare, off the beaten path, and in greater numbers than you will see on conventional tours.
Our expert naturalist guides will educate you in the field so your experience is intimate and unparalleled. Still, wildlife viewing can unpredictable and requires patience and sensory awareness. A partial list of some of the animals you are likely to see is below
Large Mammals: African Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Southern Giraffe, Plains (Burchell's) Zebra, Roan, Sable, Bushbuck, Common Duiker, Impala, Puku, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck
Small Mammals: Warthog, Bushpig, Aardvark, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, White-Tailed Mongoose,
Predators/Scavengers: Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Side-striped Jackal, African Civet, Large-Spotted Genet
Primates: Vervet (Green) Monkey, Yellow Baboon
Rodents & Shrews: Scrub Hare, Porcupine, Tree Squirrel
Reptiles: Snakes, Lizards, Chameleons, Crocodile, Turtles/Tortoises/Terrapins
Birds: Goliath Heron, White Stork, African Openbill, Marabou Stork, Grey Crowned Crane, Sandgrouse/Pigeons/Doves, Swifts/Spinetails, European Bee-Eater, Southern Carmine Bee-Eater, Larks/Sparrow-Larks (Finch-Larks), Swallows/Martins/Saw-Wings, Robin-Chats/Palm-Thrush/Aleths/Scrub-Robins
Likely Sightings
Large Mammals: Red Lechwe, Oribi, Common Reedbuck, Blue Wildebeest (Gnu), Eland
Small Mammals: Sharpe's Grysbok, Klipspringer, Rock Hyrax (Dassie), Yellow-Spotted Rock Hyrax, Water (Marsh) Mongoose, Striped Weasel
Predators/Scavengers: Cheetah, Leopard, Wild Dog, Honey Badger (Ratel), Cape Clawless Otter, Spotted-Necked Otter
Primates: Thick-Tailed Galago (Bushbaby), Lesser Bushbaby
Rodents & Shrews: Woodland Dormouse, Four-Toed Elephant-Shrew, Multimammate Rat, Tree Rat, Springhare, Smith's Bush Squirrel
Birds: Ostrich, Grebes, Cormorants/Darter, Purple Heron, Malagasy Pond-Heron, Hamerkop, African Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Secretarybird, Bat Hawk, Tawny Eagle, Booted Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Western Banded Snake Eagle, African Goshawk, African Marsh-Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Crested Francolin, Shelly's Francolin, Swainson's Spurfowl, Helmeted Guineafowl, Wattled Crane, Rails/Crakes/Finfood/Jacanas, Bustards/Korhaans, Shorebirds/Waders, Thick-knees (Dikkops)/Coursers/Pratincoles, Skuas (Jaegers)/Gulls/Terns, Skimmer, Grey-headed Parrot, Meyer's Parrot, Lilian's Lovebird, Schalow's Turaco (Loerie), African Scops Owl, Southern White-Faced Scops Owl, African Barred Owlet (Owl), Verreaux's (Giant) Eagle Owl, Pel's Fishing Owl, Mousebirds/Trogons, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Pygmy-Kingfisher, Lilac-Breasted Roller, Racket-Tailed Roller, Trumpeter Hornbill, Red-Billed Hornbill, Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Black-Collared Barbet, Acacia Pied Barbet, Fork-Tailed Drongo, Corvids, Tits/Creeper, Babblers, Bulbuls/Greenbuls/Nicator, Thrushes/Rock-Thrush, Wheaters/Chats, Hyliotas/Tit-Babblers/Warblers, Apalis/Crombecs/Eremomelas, Camaropteras/Wren-Warblers, Grassbird/Rockrunner/Grass-Warbler, Cisticolas/Prinas, Flycatchers/Batis, Wagtails/Pipits/Longclaws, Shrikes/Boubous/Tchagras, Bush-Shrikes/Helmet-Shrikes, Starlings/Oxpeckers, Sugarbirds/Sunbirds/White-Eyes, Buffalo-Weavers/Sparrow-Weavers/Sparrows, Weaver/Cuckoo-Finch, Quelleas/Bishops/Widowbirds, Pytilias/Waxbills/Firefinches, Finches/Mannikins, Whydahs/Indigobirds (Widowfinches), Canaries/Seedeaters/Citril/Siskin/Buntings
Rare or Endangered Possible Sightings
Large Mammals: Grysbok, Steenbok, Suni, Tsessebe, Crawshay's Zebra, Hartebeest, Black Rhino
Small Mammals: Aardwolf , Bat-eared Fox, Tree Hyrax, Dwarf Mongoose, Bushy-Tailed Mongoose, Selous' Mongoose, Marsh Mongoose, Meller's Mongoose, Temminck's Pangolin, Striped Polecat (Zorilla)
Predators/Scavengers: Serval, Caracal, African Wild Cat, Small-spotted Genet, Black-Backed Jackal
Primates: Chacma Baboon, Samango (Blue) Monkey, Maloney's Monkey, Night Ape
Rodents & Shrews: Rock Elephant-Shrew, Hedgehog, Four-striped Mouse, Sun Squirrel
Birds: Yellow-Billed Stork, Saddle-Billed Stork, Shoebill, Steppe Buzzard, Grey Go-Away-Bird (Lourie)
Zambia Guides
Jason Alfonsi
Nsefu Sector, South Luangwa National Park Walking Safaris
Jason began guiding in South Luangwa in 1984 and is widely respected as one of the park's top Master Guides, with an unparalleled knowledge of the wildlife and natural history of South Luangwa. He is a member of the Zambia Ornithological Society and an enthusiastic amateur astronomer.
Zambia FAQ
Zambia Facts for Visitors
Visas
If your itinerary includes Mana Pools, you will be crossing the border into Zimbabwe and you will need a multiple-entry Zambian visa. Multiple-entry visas must be applied for in advance through the Zambian Embassy. Complete information, including a downloadable application, can be found at www.zambiaembassy.org under "Visa and Consular". The cost of a multiple-entry visa is about $80. It is recommended that you submit your application 1-2 months prior to your departure date.
If your itinerary does not include Mana Pools, you can obtain a visa at the point of entry into Zambia. Current charges are around $50 for tourists of most nationalities (U.S., Canada, and the U.K. If your nationality differs from those listed, please ask about visas before booking.
Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended date of departure from Zambia and have at least two blank pages.
Departure Tax
Is payable locally in dollars by all guests for each departure. International Airport Tax - US$25; Domestic Airport Tax - US$8.
Water
It is recommended that you only drink bottled water as the bacteria in the water can be quite aggressive to unfamiliar intestinal flora. If you have doubts, do not use the tap water, even for brushing teeth. TIP: Your local natural market, health food store, or vitamin shop may carry a natural product called Grapefruit Seed Extract. Other names include Naturbiotic Citricidal GSE. This totally natural product is a wonder for both prevention and treatment of all sorts of intestinal problems. It kills a long list of bacteria and protozoa, including Giardia, when used properly! 2-4 tablets of Grapefruit Seed extract with water once or twice each day acts as a prophylactic and will go a long way in preventing Montezuma's Revenge and other intestinal upset. Highly recommended.
Money / Currency
Zambia's unit of currency is the kwacha (ZMK.) At the airport and in the larger cities and towns, you can exchange travelers' checks and US dollars to kwacha. When changing U.S. dollars, use new or undamaged bills, as torn or heavily crinkled bills are not accepted. Some of the larger banks will have ATMS that can withdraw funds using Visa cards - be sure you know your PIN number. Additionally, Robin Pope Safaris accepts Visa for payments made in their camps. Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, however not in remote areas, and should not be relied on. If you plan to use a credit or debit card, remember to call your bank in advance of your trip and let them know you will be using the card internationally. If you don't do this, banks will sometimes flag your account for fraudulent activity when you use your card abroad and it can be difficult to have the fraud alert lifted quickly.
Voltage / Outlets
Electricity can vary by location in Zambia but is usually 220-240 volts with Type C, Type G or Type D outlets. You will need to bring a converter for any appliances you plan to use that can't handle the higher voltage. Additionally, you will need a plug adapter that fit the specific plug types mentioned above. At the camps with generators (Nsefu and Tena Tena), hairdryers cannot be used, however simple battery recharging will be fine.
Climate
June-July: This is the "dry season" and is also winter. The grass dies back and the lagoons start to dry up. Expect warm days, but cold at night and in the early mornings. Jackets are needed.
August: Varies from cool to hot, can still have cold spells, bush is dry, lagoons are shrinking, and game viewing is increasing.
September: Hot, dry and hazy. Trees flower and lose leaves. Game viewing is excellent.
October: Very dry with excellent game viewing. There will likely be an occasional rain where it will cool down and clear the air. It can be very hot (up to 40 degrees C in the shade). New growth starts and there are newborns everywhere by the end of the month. The woodlands are all very green near the end of Oct.
This Trip's Exclusive Wildlife Features:
- Master Guides - who relies on advanced tracking skills, not radios
- Un-habituated Wildlife - in remote areas are less used to humans so you see true "wild" behavior
- Jeep, Walking & Canoe Safaris - for the broadest diversity of game and a more intimate & authentic safari experience not available elsewhere in Africa
- Avoid Crows - Nsefu Sector has 2 lodges, compared to Mfuwe's 25 lodges!
- No Jeep Competition - you won't find 5-30 jeeps chasing a lion pride as is typical in most of Africa
- Max 2 Per Row in Jeeps - for unobstructed wildlife observation
- Master Guides - who relies on advanced tracking skills, not radios
- Un-habituated Wildlife - in remote areas are less used to humans so you see true "wild" behavior
- Jeep, Walking & Canoe Safaris - for the broadest diversity of game and a more intimate & authentic safari experience not available elsewhere in Africa
- Avoid Crows - Nsefu Sector has 2 lodges, compared to Mfuwe's 25 lodges!
- No Jeep Competition - you won't find 5-30 jeeps chasing a lion pride as is typical in most of Africa
- Max 2 Per Row in Jeeps - for unobstructed wildlife observation
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