Highlights of Zambia: South Luangwa & Victoria Falls

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 on the Zambian side, 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 you cross the knife-edge bridge to gaze into the boiling gorge. You feel the ground tremble beneath the astonishing roar and take in the sheer scale, power and beauty of the falls. In the afternoon you might visit the Livingstone Museum or the curio markets. As the day ends, you return to your lodge, awed by the falls. Rest well beside the Zambezi.

Today you enjoy the Zambezi and the many pleasures of Livingstone at your own pace. The morning 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 for the breathtaking bird's-eye view, 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 the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, home to white rhino, or a visit to a local village. 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. Rest well tonight.

This morning you transfer to Livingstone airport and board a light-aircraft flight, with a stop in Lusaka, bound for Mfuwe and the legendary South Luangwa National Park in Zambia's remote east, one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in Africa. On arrival you are met and driven to your bush camp along the meandering Luangwa River, the scenery growing wilder and more beautiful as you go, with your first game sightings likely on the way in. After settling into camp and enjoying lunch, you head out on an afternoon game drive as the heat softens, meeting the park's abundant elephant, giraffe, zebra, antelope and hippo, perhaps 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. Rest well in the wild Luangwa.

Today you immerse yourself in the wildlife of the South Luangwa, widely regarded as 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 river 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 from your deck. 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, civet and hunting lions. The abundance and intimacy of the Luangwa are extraordinary. As the day ends, you dine beneath the stars. Rest well.

Today you experience the walking safari where it was born, in the South Luangwa, the birthplace of this thrilling and intimate way to explore the African bush. 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, experiencing the bush with all your senses. Your guide reads tracks and signs, points out the smaller wonders often missed from a vehicle, from birds, dung beetles and medicinal plants to the drama of the food chain, and approaches game quietly and respectfully on foot, a humbling and unforgettable experience. You pause for coffee in the bush, then return to camp for brunch. An afternoon game drive follows, ending with sundowners. Rest well in the wild Luangwa tonight.

Today you enjoy a final full day exploring the wild beauty and abundant wildlife of the South Luangwa. You might choose another early morning game drive or guided walk in search of leopard, lion and wild dog, or spend time near the river watching the endless procession of elephants coming down to drink and cross, the hippos jostling in the pools, and the crocodiles basking on the sandbanks. The Luangwa is superb for birds too, from carmine bee-eaters nesting in the banks to fish eagles, storks and rollers. In the afternoon you head out again, enjoying sundowners in a beautiful spot as the sun sinks over the bush, before a final night drive reveals the park's nocturnal hunters. As the day ends, you savour a farewell dinner under the vast starlit sky. Rest well, cherishing your last night in the Luangwa.

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 the airstrip for your light-aircraft flight to Lusaka, Zambia's lively capital. On arrival you are met and transferred to a comfortable hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure to relax, reflect on your remarkable journey, and perhaps explore a local market or craft centre for souvenirs and Zambian handicrafts, from baskets and carvings to malachite and copper. As the day ends, you enjoy a final dinner in Lusaka, reflecting on the thundering falls and the wild Luangwa you have experienced. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow, carrying warm memories of beautiful Zambia.

After a final morning in Lusaka, perhaps some last souvenir shopping or a relaxed breakfast, you are transferred to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for your onward international departure. You leave having experienced the very best of Zambia, the thundering curtain of the Victoria Falls amid spray and rainbows, the golden sunset cruise on the Zambezi, and the legendary South Luangwa, with its superb leopards, pioneering walking safaris, teeming river and abundant game, all guided by expert professional guides and warmed by genuine Zambian hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the smoke that thunders rising above the gorge, a leopard draped along a branch in the golden light, and the elephants crossing the Luangwa at dusk. Zambia offers wilderness, beauty and authentic adventure in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this wild and welcoming land.