Name: Highlights of Zambia Big-Game Safari
Brand: Zicasso
Price: 732 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (199 reviews)

What to expect on this itinerary

Zambia takes travelers off the beaten track and into the realm of leopards, elephants, lions, and hippos on this 11-day safari to experience the thunder of Victoria Falls before exploring two sublime safari destinations. South Luangwa is an evocative savanna, where big cats prowl, and surprises occupy each moment. Lower Zambezi is an iconic wetland with an entirely different safari atmosphere. Included over the 11 days are game walks, nighttime drives, photography hides, canoe trips, and aerial safaris. This unforgettable trip will have you planning your next safari trip before you get back home.

Countries Visited

Zambia

Places Visited

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, South Luangwa National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park

Suggested Duration

11 Days

Day 1

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – A Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi

After flying to Livingstone, you will transfer a few miles to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, which is a fertile destination along the Zambezi River. Impala may skip around the park, and hippos may wallow close to the riverbank. You may spot a giraffe or elephant close to your lodge. It will feel like the safari has started with these early encounters getting you excited for the adventure that is yet to come. After checking in, you will kickstart your vacation with a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. Drinks will be served as animals graze along the riverbanks. Sightings of hippos emerging from the water may be the big highlight, but as this is the wilderness, it is impossible to predict exactly the animals that you will see.

Transfer

Accommodation

Activity

Dinner

Day 2

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Encountering Victoria Falls

Through the trees, you will hear Victoria Falls. Its growl will get louder and louder as you approach. Soon, it will become almost deafening. Stepping out from the forest, you will stand alongside the world’s largest continuous sheet of falling water. Great clouds of spray will rise from the chasm and are likely to fall down on you. It is an expression of power. Narrow bridges will lead you to cataracts in the Zambezi River where there are only 50 meters that separate you from the falls. This intense morning experience will be followed by a relaxing afternoon in the national park with options to cruise on the water and go on a short, walking safari.

Accommodation

Activity

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

South Luangwa National Park – Aerial Safari and First Game Drive

Sublime views will accompany your journey to South Luangwa National Park. Zambia is vast and arid, but there will green beneath the wingtips as you descend into the country’s flagship destination. The journey by road would take two days, but the flight is only two hours. On a game drive to the lodge, you may start to encounter famous animals. You may even see an elephant herd briefly covering the trail. Maybe spotted hyena will scamper past and provide you with a ten-minute interlude. You will check into your camp where there will be a real sense of serenity. South Luangwa is in the heart of Africa, and it far from human impact, leading to the sort of escapism that is normally associated with private, ocean islands.

After lunch, an afternoon game drive will introduce you to the key animals of Luangwa. Elephants may be abundant and move around in enormous herds, and giraffes are equally conspicuous, both in the forest and in open stretches of the savanna. Buffalos may gather in large herds, and the guide will point out differences between friendly harems and dangerous, bachelor herds. Zebras are also common, and this is one of the very few places in Africa to spot the rare Crawshay’s subspecies. These have narrower stripes with peculiar shading. Of the predators, it will be lions, leopards, and hyena that dominate the safari experience. However, do not expect to see them all on a single game drive. The wilderness is unpredictable, but you will experience quality highlights.

Transfer

Accommodation

Activity

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - 5

South Luangwa National Park – An Experiential Zambian Safari

Over these next two days, you will create your own safari program. There will be a wide choice of activities, and the guide will explain what is possible and what you are likely to see. Daytime game drives can cover large sections of the park and are perfect for exploring different ecosystems. These are best for spotting lions and hyenas and other predators that regularly bask out in the open. Nighttime game drives track leopards, and South Luangwa is the best national park in Africa for this experience. Guides know where the spotted cats lurk and use a spotlight to follow their serene movements across the savanna.

Safari is never about interaction. Africa’s landscapes are home to many deadly animals, and on this safari, you will start to understand these animals rather than impact their daily rhythm. On game drives, it is easy to get close to big animals like elephants, buffalos, giraffes, and lions. During walking safaris, it is important to avoid these animals. Trackers use their intimate, local knowledge to keep you safe, guiding you instead toward smaller animals. With a game walk, you can cross paths with Cookson’s wildebeest, impalas, pukus, baboons, elands, warthogs, and vervet monkeys. All these animals are also regular visitors to the camp, so you can expect wonderful sightings to continue into the night,

Photography hides are dotted throughout South Luangwa and provide an excellent place for you to relax. You will tuck yourself in and wait for the giants to arrive. Such a perspective means that you often look up an elephant trunk or gain an intimate insight into the behaviors within a herd. After three days in South Luangwa, you will come to understand that a safari is not just about the Big Five. Every animal encounter will teach you something new, and everything will be connected. These quality sightings are what make a Zambian safari so unique and special.

Accommodation

Activity

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Lower Zambezi National Park – Big-Game Safari Along the River

South Luangwa has classic African ecosystems. You will have explored savanna, riverine forest, woodland, and arid plains. Upon landing in Lower Zambezi National Park, you will find something new. This is a UNESCO World Heritage wetland with lush vegetation and open floodplains. Permanent water is the lifeblood of the park, and it attracts tens of thousands of migratory animals during the dry season. During these months, animals gather around the rivers, grazers come to drink, and predators lie and wait, often leading to intense battles between predator and prey. Again, this safari will not be about seeing a lion pride, but it does concern lion prides and understanding their behavior.

Your camp will be situated along the Zambezi River. Many incredible scenes can be witnessed directly from an elevated deck above the water. You may see elephants using their trunks as snorkels during a swim across the river, or buffalo herds slowly crossing from Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. Different animals come to drink at different times of the day, and during these three days, you will understand more about the wetland ecosystem. Today’s activity will be an afternoon game drive that follows the Zambezi riverbanks. This will be the best way to appreciate how the park’s animal population is different from Luangwa and how everything here is dominated by the river.

Transfer

Accommodation

Activity

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - 8

Lower Zambezi National Park – Experiencing in the Wetlands

Just like in South Luangwa, you will customize a program to your interests. There are different activities here than in South Luangwa. Daytime game drives are complemented by canoe and motorboat safaris. Drifting along the rivers in a canoe is beautiful, and wildlife will not see you coming. You will travel slowly and serenely without disturbing the animals. Sometimes, you can look across, and just a few meters separate you from a huge elephant herd or a rare antelope.

Motorboat safaris are just like game drives except on the water. You can cover large distances and explore parts of the park that are otherwise inaccessible. For example, it is possible to visit the park’s eastern boundary where the Mpata Gorge plunges into the water. Most visitors combine one land and one water-based activity each day, but it is entirely up to you. Guides will also tailor the route to animals that you want to see. So, if you really want encounters with lions, they will plan the drive accordingly.

Accommodation

Activity

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Rhino Walking Safari

Today, you will fly back to Livingstone where you will be transferred to the same lodge that you stayed in during days one and two. Here, the safari continues, and you will probably see more wildlife than before. After six days on safaris, all your senses will have turned to the natural world. You will pick up on small clues and have an appreciation for small animals as well as the famous giants. You will spend time in the middle of today with rhino conservationists. The rhinos may be snoozing during these hot hours, so you will be able to walk within just 10 to 20 meters of them, which is an extremely rare privilege anywhere in Africa.

Transfer

Accommodation

Activity

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Free Day to Explore Around Victoria Falls

This final day will be left free and will give you some chance to completely rest before your flight home. Victoria Falls is filled with potential activities, and these can be arranged locally. One option is for you to cross the bridge into Zimbabwe and view the great waterfall from a different country. There will also be options for canoeing, game walks, river cruises, and scenic flights. In such blissful surroundings, it will be easy to spend the day doing nothing it all. All you have to do for the rest of your trip is reflect on your safaris while gazing over the river, watching the unusual impala or hippo pass your way.

Accommodation

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park to Livingstone – Departure

Trip Highlights

Discover one of Africa’s ultimate safari destinations with three days in South Luangwa
Explore the African wetlands during a three-day safari in Lower Zambezi National Park
Experience Victoria Falls by walking parallel to the world’s longest continual cascade of falling water
Fly across Zambia on light aircraft, enjoying three expressive aerial safaris
Indulge in a safari where you track spotted cats during daytime with nighttime game drives in South Luangwa
Luxuriate in the serenity of photography hides and wait for incredible close-ups with Africa’s large mammals
Marvel at animals that crowd around floodlit waterholes as you spend leisurely evenings in the bush
Bask in three Zambezi sunset cruises and admire hippos and elephants along the Zambezi riverbanks
Spend half a day on an exhilarating walking safari in South Luangwa
Immerse yourself in nature during a full day of canoeing through Lower Zambezi National Park, including paddling around hippos and encountering wonderful scenes along the riverbanks
Create a tailored program of safari activities that individualize each day to your interests and mood

Detailed Description

Zambia remains off the beaten track, and it does not have world-famous destinations like its neighbors Tanzania and Botswana. The country is home to Africa’s evocative wildlife and provides an entirely distinct safari experience. There are fewer rules and more opportunities to get closer to the animals. Evening game drives and walking safaris are part of the every day rather than an add on to your trip. Photography hides and floodlit waterholes provide endless highlights. It always feels as if you are sharing the land with Africa’s biggest mammals whether an elephant wanders past the camp or the chance to canoe alongside hippos arises. This is the country that does safaris differently, and this handcrafted vacation explores the best that Zambia has to offer.

Victoria Falls is well known; however, the country’s other two main destinations are unknown outside of Africa. This is to your benefit because less fame means fewer visitors, and the sense of going off the beaten track remains strong here. For example, a game drive could be extended if you spot a hyena clan hunting a wounded wildebeest, or the guide may change the morning activities due to an incredible lion sighting next to the camp. In the mornings, you may open the tent flaps to elephants drinking from the waterhole below. On another, you may see buffalo swimming across the Zambezi River. Even at the most popular spots in Zambia’s two most visited parks, there are not many other visitors.

Livingstone is the most convenient gateway airport and is just a few miles from Victoria Falls. Spend the first two nights at a lodge inside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park where you will enjoy your first encounters with a range of animals. Day two is dedicated to the falls, and it is the roar and spray that you will most remember. Each of the subsequent destinations is connected on safari flights. These provide stunning views over the Zambian wilderness and make for effortless travel in a huge country. On day three, the flight takes you to the heart of South Luangwa National Park.

This is Zambia’s flagship destination and one of the finest in all of Africa. Leopards can be a particular highlight along with wild dogs and enormous elephant herds. The landscape is classic Africa, which is a mix of savanna, woodland, and riverine forest. On each day, you will explore a different piece of the ecosystem, building an excellent understanding of wildlife in the wild. On day six, you will fly to Lower Zambezi National Park. This is a lush and enchanting wetland, which is a landscape that attracts migratory animals from hundreds of miles. Hippos and buffalos may blur into the landscape here. Dramatic battles of predator and prey are common along the riverfront. Experiencing the contrasts between the two parks will be one of the biggest highlights on your trip.

On day nine, you will fly back to Livingstone where you will stay at your lodge inside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. A rhino walking safari provides another new experience this afternoon, and then, the final day is left free. Walking with rhinos epitomizes the style of a Zambia safari. Most visitors to Tanzania have their exploration restricted to daytime game drives. On this vacation, you will tailor a daily itinerary to your interests. There is a chance to do many different activities, and each provides a new perspective and experience. Options include game walks, sunset river cruises, canoeing trips, nighttime game drives, photography hides, and motorboat safaris. Combine these with Zambia’s impressive wildlife, and this is a safari for connoisseurs that want to truly experience wild Africa. Don’t take just our word for it - consider reading some of our travelers’ reviews of Africa, and see how you can customize your own dream vacation.

Starting Price

$8,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

Accommodations
In-country transportation
Some or all activities and tours
Expert trip planning
24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 199 reviews

Travel Review: Luxury South Africa Safari with Zambia - Cape Town, Victoria Falls (Toka Leya Camp),...

Travel Review: Luxury South African Safari with Zambia - Tongabezi, Londolozi Lodge, Blue Train, Wine Tours and Robben Island

Outstanding service, dedicated, easy to work with! Great guides! Londolozi was spectacular. We stayed in the owner's house (at Tongabezi Lodge), near Victoria Falls in Zambia right on the river. Capetown and wine country could not have been better. This African safari company is great!

Travel Review: Multi-Generational Africa Family Safari, South Africa, Zambia, Victoria Falls, Cape Town, Wine Country

My trip itinerary was a challenge from the start. The plan was to meet my son who is serving in the United States Peace Corps in Zambia.We needed to satisfy my husband and myself in our early fifties, my elderly parents, and my two sons in their mid twenties. Everyone in our group had an outstanding time while traveling through Zambia and South Africa. The attention to detail that we received from our travel planner was beyond our highest expectations. Every place we stayed at was exactly what we wanted. Most importantly was the fact that despite the 6 hour time difference between my home and our travel planner's, she was always easily accessible while planning this vacation. There were so many details to iron out between hiring drivers and setting up my parents in a good location while we spent some time in my son's village. Everything went smoothly.

I did quite a lot of research before the trip and wanted to stay at the Royal Livingstone Hotel. While we did stay there for part of the trip, (incredible accommodations), Our travel planner recommended that we spend two nights at a lodge on the Zambezi River. I cannot say enough about the outstanding accommodations in their cottage, the wonderful hospitality of the owners, and the gourmet quality of every meal. It was truly a surprise and I never would have sought this resort out without the assistance of our travel planner. After being wowed there, we spent 4 amazing nights at the Thornybush Game Lodge near Kruger. The safaris were awe inspiring. The guides were knowledgeable and so much fun to spend time with. Truly the highlight of our trip. The final leg of our vacation landed us in the breath taking city of Capetown. We had four private tours arranged for us and we could not have been happier with our guide. After spending time with him in Capetown, Tabletop, a full tour of Cape Point, Hermanus, and then wine country, we truly felt as if he is a part of our family. Every suggested restaurant was incredible.

What more can I say? I have planned many vacations for my family prior to this trip, but organizing a vacation in Africa for a multi generational group was a daunting task. Finding this travel planner was a godsend. I knew from our first phone conversation we made the right choice! Her knowledge and travel experience in Africa gives her the edge over any travel agent from the States.

Review: Luxury Africa Safari, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cape Town, Robben Island, Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls

Our African vacation was the trip of a lifetime! After a year of planning with our agent, we were truly on our way. We flew Qatar airlines, business class and had a wonderful flight. The club was beautiful and extremely spacious. Our guide was wonderful, always on time and very informative. We had daily trips to Robben Island, Cape Hope, Table mountain, the city of Cape Town and so much more. Our visit to the wineries was beyond perfect. A magnificent lunch at Tokara, tastings at Ernie Ells, Haute Carriere, Rupert were individualized and perfect. The towns of Franschoek and Stellenbosch were charming. We went to dinner in a winery in Constancia, Buitenverwachting that was wonderful. We even treated ourselves to a tasting dinner at Nobu!!!

The Rovos Train was perfect. The service, meeting Mr Rovos himself and hearing his story, the food was all very special. We had the master suite with its own soaking tub...amazing. The staff was wonderful and full of old world charm. Truly living the good life

Our night at the African Rock Hotel was delightful. It was small and very comforting, beautiful grounds for relaxing and wonderful food..

Upon arriving at Tinga, our first bush camp, we thought we were truly living the life of the Rich and Famous. I said to my husband, Kardashian's move over, because we have arrived. The accommodations, food and service were fabulous. Our safari's were wonderful, full of excitement and amazing seeing all the animals in their natural settings. We were not on a time schedule, so if they knew the animals were somewhere special, we were there watching.

Dulini, our next camp was a little smaller, only 6 cabins, but even more detail to the client, We were really treated as if we were the only guests there. A very special treat was being taken to our room after safari and being surprised with a candlelit table set for the 2 of us outside with a bucket of champagne. The menu was on the table and we were to call our personal butler when we were ready to order. To top this, they had a bubble bath with candles lit up in the bathroom!! Beyond fabulous....

Next to Victoria Falls hotel. It was somewhat of a hassle going thru immigration, but we survived! Our room looked out to the falls and the beautiful gardens. The buffet breakfast was amazing. After being in the plush camps, we were a little disappointed in the hotel...what a shame. We had dinner al fresco at the restaurant and got bitten alive...The only time during the entire trip. We could have done without the sunset cruise, especially since we were going to be on the river for 3 days. This is the only thing we would have changed. The tour of the falls, helicopter and elephant rides were terrific....

Last stop, the Zambezi riverside hotel. We had a beautiful room in the front with double balcony perfect for watching the beautiful sunrise and sunsets. The room was very comfortable and the staff warm and friendly. The meals were good, wine ever flowing and a good chance to meet some great people. The water safaris were wonderful and were somewhat different from the ones in Kruger. Our trip to the village gave us a first hand experience of how the natives actually live. It was wonderful having the 3 experiences, as they each were a little different.

The personnel and workers at each camp were wonderful. Everyone called you by your name and truly wanted to do whatever they could for you. A wonderful experience in each one, was when the crew would do their songs and dances for us. It was wonderful to see them in their natural settings, so warm and giving..

We have traveled all over the world, and can truly say this was a trip of a lifetime and a "true life experience" . We don't think we will ever have another vacation to top this. Thank you to our agent for all her hard work. Our memories will last forever.

Travel Review: Luxury Africa Birthday Safari, South Africa & Zimbabwe, Cape Town, Victoria Falls, WInelands

I can’t begin to decide what made my 50th birthday trip, organized by this travel company, our best trip ever. Could it be the personal service? From the very beginning, our travel agent made sure he knew what we wanted and our expectations. He narrowed down each area we wanted to visit with three suggestions of lodging and let me research and pick. All spot on suggestions and we could not have been happier with our choices.

Could it be our amazing stay in the Winelands? Four nights at a picturesque farm with one of the best restaurants in the area, Bablyonstoren was everything we hoped for. A great guide, who chose all the right stops for our wine tour and the most amazing day in Cape Town (including the highlight of my birthday, holding a penguin!).

Could it be the safari lodge that took our very high expectations and blew the top off of them? Sabi Sabi Little Bush was amazing. From the manager, to our ranger and tracker, to the service staff, every single person was immediately like family. The animal viewing was unbelievable even spotting 2 of the Big 5 on the way to the lodge from the airport! Four nights, all of the Big 5 plus cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and more , numerous amazing meals in a different location each night later, we were sad to leave but excited about our next stop.

Could it be relaxing at the most beautiful spot on the Zambezi River? Two nights in the tree house followed by two nights in the honeymoon house made for the cherry on the top of the most glorious trip ever. Hippos, champage bubble baths, sitting on the edge of Victoria Falls and meals with the most exceptional views in the world brought our journey to a happy end.

Could it be all of it rolled into one amazing company? Yes – I believe that had we not had the experience, diligence and oversight of these wonderful people, our trip would not have been what it was and it was perfect.

Travel Review: Luxury Africa Safari, South Africa, Zambia, Tongabezi Lodge, Franschhoek, Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Stellenbosch

The trip was definitely the "trip of a lifetime" for us and we both have enjoyed more international travel than most. Our representative at this Africa safari travel company was amazing in her listening skills and how quickly she gleaned our tastes, trip goals, likes and dislikes. We spent 2 weeks in Africa and stayed in 4 different and wonderful accommodations. In Capetown we were at a beautiful hotel on the water within walking distance to several great restaurants. In Franschhoek we stayed at the Quartier Francais then on to Tongabezi Lodge on the Zambezi River in Zambia and finally Singita Boulders. The Tongabezi and Boulders were our favourites, but all were wonderful accommodations.

We were assigned our own guide for the 1st week. He is a superb guide - always positive, quite motivating, approachable with any questions and very funny. During this week with our guide we saw everything we wanted to see in the Cape area and the winelands. We enjoyed 2 games of golf (Clovelly and Arabella), loved seeing Ernie Els' vineyard in Stellenbosch, and enjoyed visitting a brewery. The 1st week with our guide was absolutely wonderful (as was the entire trip).

Our 2nd week was focused more on safaris but also included Victoria Falls and another round of golf. Our stay at the Tongabezi Lodge was amazing. We loved our cottage (The Nut House!). The service was great, food was great,....everything amazing. Then we moved on to our 4th accommodation back in South Africa and were blown away by the beauty and quiet perfection of the service at the Singita Boulders. We stayed in cabin #1, loved it and enjoyed the safaris and flying to a round of golf at Leopard Creek. It was out of this world!!!!

I am usually a tough reviewer but we had nothing but excellence throughout the planning and execution of the trip. With out any hesitation I give this company 5 stars and highly recommend them for anyone wanting a custom African trip itinerary. Nor would I hesitate to recommend any of our hotels especially Tongabezi and Singita Boulders. And if you go with this company and want a guide for South Africa - would highly recommend you request this guide.

Sincerely,

MEW

Zicasso in the News

Highlights of Zambia Big-Game Safari

What to expect on this itinerary

Countries Visited

Places Visited

Suggested Duration

Customizable Itinerary

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – A Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Encountering Victoria Falls

South Luangwa National Park – Aerial Safari and First Game Drive

South Luangwa National Park – An Experiential Zambian Safari

Lower Zambezi National Park – Big-Game Safari Along the River

Lower Zambezi National Park – Experiencing in the Wetlands

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Rhino Walking Safari

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Free Day to Explore Around Victoria Falls

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park to Livingstone – Departure

Trip Highlights

Detailed Description

Starting Price

What's Included

Verified Traveler Reviews

Customizable Itinerary

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Personalized Zambia Safari: Victoria Falls & More

Exclusive Big-Game Zambia Safari

Zambia Honeymoon: Safari, Victoria Falls & Zambezi River

Up Close & Personal: Exclusive Zambia Safari on Foot, Horseback and Water

Following the Elephants: A Multi-Country Safari to Zambia and Botswana