South Luangwa Diversity

SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA Arrive at Lusaka International Airport and board a small aircraft for the journey to Mfuwe Lodge, which has won several awards. This lovely resort, located within the South Luangwa National Park and overlooking a lagoon, is the ideal spot to acclimatise to Zambia. The camp, which is spread out under enormous leafy trees, offers multiple viewing decks, a lounge, and a pool area where you can rest and take in the views of the Luangwa River. Zambia's flagship park is home to a diverse range of animals, including herds of elephant and buffalo as well as the near-endangered Thornicroft's giraffe and Crawshay's zebra. Hippo wallow in the deep pools, crocodiles recline on the riverbanks, lions and leopards prowl the woods, and birds abounds - this is a site suited for keen photographers and wildlife aficionados. The cares and anxieties of your everyday life just melt away as you recline on the terrace overlooking the murmuring waters, overpowered by aromas and sounds of the woods, and a rising enthusiasm for the adventure ahead of you. After a delicious high tea, you go on your first adventure, an afternoon wildlife drive. Your first night in Africa is spent in the warm hospitality of Mfuwe's wonderful crew, returning at twilight to a crackling campfire.

ZAMBIA'S SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK On the second day, you will be driven to Chindeni Bushcamp. The sensation of vigour in the fresh air is obvious on your first morning game drive. Dew shines on the grass, and grazing antelope are alert, their ears twitching in anticipation of danger. Elephants congregate at the water's edge to drink, revealing their deep family dynamics. Teenagers push and shove one other until they are silenced by an adult female's harsh trumpet blow. Toddlers – young calves that don't yet have complete control of their trunks - imitate their moms by drinking, splashing, and generally getting in everyone's way. Before you've had your fill of these gentle giants, a subtle signal pulls them from the water and back into the forest. When the temperature rises, you return to Mfuwe for brunch, a feast to fuel you for the game drive to Chindeni Camp, which is built on stilts and offers views through an ebony tree forest to a hippo-filled lagoon. Chindeni, one of Luangwa's most stunning tented lodges, with four sumptuous suites strategically placed to take advantage of wildlife coming down to drink all year. With views of the lake and distant purple hills, it may be difficult to resist the luxury of your private terrace hammock, but there is plenty to discover in this new slice of heaven. Join your guide and an armed scout for a cold morning nature walk, revelling in the feeling of being a part of nature rather than an aloof observer as you follow antelope tracks and elephant routes, engaging all of your senses. Inhale fresh fragrances, listen to the symphony of untamed sounds, and feel the air on your skin. Scuff marks on the ground, paw prints, and bent leaves are all indications that convey a narrative to the experienced eye. Back at Chindeni, share your day's adventures over a refreshing beverage before settling down to a magnificent meal beneath a canopy of stars. Conversation and laughing continue throughout the night, until you slip between crisp cotton sheets and drift off to sleep, serenaded by the distant call of lions.

ZAMBIA'S SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK The beauty of your adventure continues as you travel by road to Bilimungwe Lodge, or 'Bili' as it is lovingly called. Its lounge is nestled in the cool shadow of a massive mahogany tree, with views of three permanent waterholes nearby. Your elevated suite offers a front-row seat to all the activity at the waterholes, allowing you to enjoy comfortable game viewing from your private balcony - elephant, kudu, impala, and giraffe are regular visitors quenching their thirst. Your guide keeps an eye out for rare animals, such as large cats and wild canines, that you may not have seen before. Every animal that moves to and from the water leaves a record of its passage: here the crescent hoof-marks of a lone buffalo bull, there the footprints of a leopard and her cub. You gradually make your way out from camp, each turn of the road revealing a new surprise, until the sun begins to set low on the horizon and it's time for sundowners and nibbles. You return to camp with your guide, who is expertly using a flashlight in pursuit of Africa's elusive nighttime wildlife.

ZAMBIA'S SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK This safari concludes in the pleasantly small Zungulila Bush Camp on the Kapamba River. Game drives and guided nature walks, once again, take full use of the area's diverse ecosystems and consistently produce excellent animal encounters. Your guide reads tracks and listens for warning sounds that indicate the movement and vicinity of predators and their prey using their refined senses and years of expertise. Zambia is big cat country, and no cat is more elusive or coveted than the leopard. South Luangwa is one of Africa's greatest spots to witness this magnificent wildlife. Spotlighted night drives add to the intensity, and with two nights here, Zungulila is likely to provide an unrivalled game viewing experience. Before bidding Zungulila a warm farewell and settling down for the trip back to Lusaka and your onward flight, have a leisurely breakfast. While driving through this pristine region, the raw beauty of the South Luangwa, encounters with elephant and buffalo in their natural habitat, and your first exhilarating glimpse of a leopard rush back. Close your eyes and you can smell wild sage released in the late afternoon heat and feel the sun kiss your skin as you stand beneath Africa's boundless, yearning blue sky.