Grand Zambia Safari: Falls, Kafue, Zambezi & Luangwa

Today you meet one of the greatest natural wonders on earth, the mighty Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. With an expert local guide, you walk the network of paths through the rainforest that faces the falls, where a wall of the Zambezi plunges more than a hundred metres into a mile-wide chasm, drenching you in mist and framing you in rainbows, and cross the knife-edge bridge to gaze into the boiling gorge, feeling the ground tremble beneath the astonishing roar. You take in the sheer scale, power and beauty of the falls. In the late afternoon you glide out on a sunset cruise along the upper Zambezi, drink in hand, watching elephants and hippos at the banks as the great river turns to gold. As the day ends, you dine beside the river. Rest well beside the Zambezi.

Today you enjoy the Zambezi and the many pleasures of Livingstone at your own pace before heading into the wilderness. The day is free for optional adventures for which Livingstone is famous, from white-water rafting through the thundering gorges below the falls and a bungee jump from the historic bridge to a helicopter or microlight flight over the falls, or, in the low-water months, the thrilling swim at Devil's Pool on the very lip of the falls. Gentler options include a guided tour of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, home to white rhino, or a visit to a local village to experience Zambian culture. In the late afternoon you might enjoy a final gentle activity on the river. As the day ends, you dine beside the Zambezi, ready to fly into wild Kafue tomorrow. Rest well beside the great river tonight.

This morning you transfer to Livingstone airport and board a scenic light-aircraft flight to Kafue National Park, one of the largest and wildest national parks in Africa, the vast wilderness unfolding beneath you. On arrival at a remote airstrip you are met by your guide and driven to your camp beside the beautiful Kafue River or on the edge of the plains, with game likely on the way in. After settling in and enjoying lunch, you rest through the heat, watching wildlife from your deck. In the late afternoon you head out on an afternoon game drive as the light softens, meeting herds of elephant and antelope and searching for the park's predators, or glide out on a boat cruise along the Kafue past hippos and crocodiles, with sundowners as the sun sinks, perhaps rolling into a night drive. As the day ends, you dine beneath a vast canopy of stars. Rest well in wild Kafue.

Today you immerse yourself in the vast, pristine wilderness of Kafue, encountering game with a rare sense of having the wild to yourself. You rise early for a morning game drive through the miombo woodland and along the river, encountering herds of elephant and buffalo, antelope such as kudu, roan and sable, and searching for leopard in the riverine thickets and lion in the woodland, with almost no other vehicles in sight. You return to camp for brunch and rest through the heat, watching the river. In the late afternoon you head out again for a game drive or a boat cruise along the Kafue past hippos, crocodiles and elephants amid prolific birdlife, with sundowners as the sun sinks, and a thrilling night drive as darkness falls. As the day ends, you dine beneath the stars beside the great river. Rest well in the pristine wilderness of Kafue tonight.

Today you enjoy a final full day in the vast wilderness of Kafue, exploring by land and water. You might set out on a morning game drive in search of predators and great herds, or take a guided walking safari, experiencing the pristine bush on foot with an expert professional guide, reading tracks and signs and meeting the smaller wonders of the wild far from any crowds. Alternatively, you explore more of the beautiful Kafue River by boat, drifting past hippos, crocodiles and elephants amid superb birdlife. You soak up the profound peace, space and solitude of one of Africa's wildest parks. In the late afternoon you head out again, enjoying sundowners in a beautiful spot as the sun sinks over the river and woodland. As the day ends, you dine beneath the stars, reflecting on wild Kafue. Rest well, cherishing your last night here.

This morning you bid farewell to Kafue and transfer to the airstrip for a scenic light-aircraft flight to the Lower Zambezi National Park, one of Africa's most beautiful wildernesses, the great river shining below and the escarpment rising beyond. On arrival at a bush airstrip you are met and transferred to your riverside camp, with game likely on the way in. After settling into your tent overlooking the Zambezi and enjoying lunch, you rest through the heat, watching elephants and hippos from your deck. In the late afternoon you set out on your first activity, perhaps a gentle introduction to the river by boat or a game drive along the floodplain, enjoying sundowners as the sun sinks behind the escarpment. As the day ends, you dine beside the great river to the sound of hippos and frogs. Rest well in the wild, beautiful Zambezi.

Today you experience the signature adventure of the Lower Zambezi, the canoe safari. After breakfast, you set out with an expert river guide, drifting silently downstream in a stable canoe, gliding at eye level with wild Africa. You pass elephants feeding among the islands and wading at the banks, thread carefully between pods of grunting hippo, and glide past crocodiles basking on the sandbars, all against the backdrop of the great escarpment, with fish eagles calling overhead and bee-eaters darting from the banks. Your guide reads the river, shares his deep knowledge and keeps you safe, and the silence, closeness and gentle rhythm of the paddle make it thrilling and deeply peaceful at once. You pause on a beautiful sandbank for a riverside lunch, then continue by canoe or return by boat. As the day ends, you dine beside the river. Rest well in the wild Zambezi.

Today you explore the Lower Zambezi by land and water. You rise early for a morning game drive through the riverine forest and open floodplains, searching for the park's celebrated predators, prides of lion, elusive leopard, and the packs of endangered wild dog for which the park is famous, alongside herds of elephant and buffalo, zebra, kudu and impala. You return to camp for brunch and rest through the heat, watching the river. In the late afternoon you glide out on a boat cruise, drawing close to elephants swimming between islands, pods of hippo and prolific birdlife, enjoying sundowners on the water as the sky flames over the escarpment, perhaps rolling into a night drive as you return. As the day ends, you dine beneath the stars beside the great river. Rest well, lulled by the sounds of the wild Zambezi.

This morning, after a final gentle activity on the Zambezi, you transfer to the airstrip and fly by light aircraft to the legendary South Luangwa National Park, the birthplace of the walking safari and one of the finest parks in Africa. On arrival you are met and driven to your bush camp along the meandering Luangwa River, with your first game sightings likely on the way in. After settling into camp and enjoying lunch, you rest through the heat, then head out on an afternoon game drive as the light softens, meeting the park's abundant elephant, giraffe, zebra and hippo, and rolling into a thrilling night drive with a spotlight as darkness falls, when leopards and other nocturnal hunters emerge. As the day ends, you dine under the stars beside the river. Rest well in the wild Luangwa, in the home of the walking safari.

Today you immerse yourself in the wildlife of the legendary South Luangwa, one of the finest safari destinations in Africa. You rise early for a morning game drive in an open 4x4, the golden light perfect as the bush comes alive, encountering huge herds of elephant and buffalo, giraffe browsing the treetops, pods of hippo crowding the pools, and the park's celebrated predators, with an outstanding chance of leopard. You return to camp for brunch and rest through the heat of the day, watching the river. In the late afternoon you head out again, staying out for a thrilling night drive as the spotlight sweeps the darkness to reveal leopard, genet and hunting lions. The abundance and intimacy of the Luangwa are extraordinary. As the day ends, you dine beneath the stars. Rest well in the wild Luangwa tonight.

Today you experience the walking safari where it was born, in the South Luangwa, on a final full day in the wild. Setting out in the cool of the early morning, in a small group led by an armed professional guide and an experienced scout, you leave the vehicle behind and walk quietly through the wilderness, reading tracks and signs, meeting the smaller wonders often missed from a vehicle, and approaching game quietly on foot, a humbling and unforgettable experience. You pause for coffee in the bush, then return to camp for brunch and rest. In the late afternoon, a game drive and sundowners follow, with a final night drive revealing the park's nocturnal hunters. As the day ends, you savour a farewell dinner under the vast starlit sky, reflecting on your epic grand journey through Zambia. Rest well, cherishing your last night on safari.

After a final morning in the South Luangwa, perhaps one last game drive or a quiet coffee watching the river as the bush wakes, you bid farewell to your guides and camp and transfer to Mfuwe airport for your onward flight via Lusaka, connecting to your international departure. You leave having experienced the very best of Zambia on an epic grand safari, the thundering Victoria Falls, the vast, pristine wilderness of Kafue, the canoeing floodplains of the Lower Zambezi, and the legendary South Luangwa, with its superb leopards and pioneering walking safaris, guided by the best guides in Africa and warmed by genuine Zambian hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the smoke that thunders, a lion in wild Kafue, the canoe gliding past an elephant, and a leopard in the golden light of the Luangwa. Zambia offers wild Africa at its finest, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this beautiful and welcoming land.