Kafue National Park, Zambia’s largest protected area, is easily accessible from Livingstone and Lusaka. It extends over 22 400 square kilometres and is roughly the size of Wales. This enormous and under-developed pristine wilderness area is home to an impressive variety of big game including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo and hippo. In addition, the Kafue conserves some fascinating species of special interest including Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable, roan, puku, the diminutive oribi, and, incredibly, lechwe in their thousands. Boasting almost 500 recorded bird species, Kafue is truly a diverse African National Park and one of its last “wild frontiers”.

Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted by a professional trained guide, who shares in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.

Exclusive experience: Musanza Tented Camp is private and for the use of Exploration travellers only, while Lufupa Camp and Lunga River Lodge are open to other Wilderness Safaris guests. All activities are private for the group on this safari.

Routes: To maximise guests’ travel time, a variety of travel modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in charters and private overland transfers which provide both a bird’s-eye view and an in-depth visual experience of the contrasting landscapes of Zambia. Due to guests combining Kafue with various other destinations, our safari begins and ends at Lusaka Airport, allowing the flexibility to tailor further pre- or post-safari arrangements.

Seasonality: To truly enjoy the experience in the Kafue, you will need three nights in the Busanga Plains. Due to the diversity of habitat and associated experiences, from riparian forest, broad-leafed and Miombo woodlands (around the Lunga River Lodge) to the open grassy plains of Busanga and the enormous Kafue river, each area allows for different impressions and highlights, creating a continually changing and interesting safari.

Safari Style:  Discoverer

SAFARI COST (2008):  $2,772 per person sharing
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT (2008):  $420

If a guest is willing to share and we can match with another guest of the same gender, the single supplement will not be charged. However, if there is no suitable match, the single supplement surcharge will apply. No triple rooms are accepted.

Upon arrival at Lusaka airport you are met by a representative of Sefofane Air Charters who will transfer you by light aircraft to Kafue National Park. Your private guide will meet you at the airstrip in Kafue and transfer the group to Lufupa Camp. This transfer is approximately 1 hour in duration, and en route we may encounter eland, roan and sable to name a few.

Accommodation is in 6 large meru tents with en-suite facilities. Dining and bar area are under huge Jackalberry trees, overlooking the Kafue River. Dinners served in a traditional-style boma under the stars, next to a lively campfire or in the tented dining room overlooking this impressive river.

Lufupa Camp is situated in the centre of the northern sector of the 22 500 square km Kafue National Park, at the confluence of the Lufupa and Kafue rivers; these and the Lunga River are all perennial tributaries of the Kafue River.  The beauty of the park is evident in its diverse habitats with floodplains, miombo woodland, thick riverine vegetation and open grassy areas called dambos. There are resident prides of lion and leopard is frequently seen. Wild dogs are occasionally sighted. Hippos are always out in front of the camp frolicking in the cool waters of the Kafue River. There is also a wide variety of plains game ranging from zebra, buffalo, roan, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable, kudu and impala to the diminutive oribi. Elephants are also often seen roaming through the concession.

Depart Lufupa for an early morning game / transfer drive to Musanza Tented Camp.

Musanza Tented Camp is located deep inside the wildlife haven of the Busanga Plains of Kafue National Park. Accommodation consists of four well-appointed tents with wall-to-wall views of the spectacular wildlife that frequents the grassy plains. The main dining and bar area are tented and situated under a majestic canopy of trees. The simple bush style of this camp creates the perfect atmosphere to enjoy dinner under a canopy of stars around a campfire.

The Busanga Plains’ most dominant antelope species include red lechwe and puku, while buffalo, bushbuck, kudu, oribi, reedbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable and roan are also often viewed in this enormous open plains system. There are also hippo and crocodile; however the main plains predators are lion and cheetah and spotted hyaena with wild dogs less often seen. Leopard can also be spotted along the wooded tree lines fringing the plains, as well as elephant. Bird life is fantastic, with large flocks of pelicans, crowned cranes and wattled crane in the plains at certain times of the year.

After an early breakfast, we transfer by road to Lunga River Lodge, enjoying our last shortened game drive on the Busanga Plains as we leave the area and re-enter the Miombo woodland.

Located on a raised bank of the Lunga River and within lush riparian bush, each of Lunga River Lodge’s six thatched-roof chalets share a beautiful vantage point over the river’s meandering channel. Each room is stylishly furnished (with minimalist touches) and includes an en-suite shower, flush toilet and vanity basin. Lighting is by 12v lamps, candles and hurricane lanterns.

The deep and clear Lunga River is the largest tributary of the Kafue River and flows north to south through a mosaic of miombo woodland, riverine woodland and grassy dambos in the north-east of the Kafue National Park. Species like puku and impala are abundant while roan and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest occur in lower densities. Viewing of buffalo herds and elephant bulls is good while lion and leopard are regularly encountered. Additional interesting species in the form of yellow baboons and tree hyrax occur in the vicinity of the camp while a high-density hippo population occurs in the Lunga River. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, guided canoe and boating trips as well as fishing. Night drives provide the added excitement of the nocturnal wonders of the area.

Early morning light aircraft transfer from Lunga River Lodge to Lusaka Airport, where the safari ends.