Zambian Odyssey

After arriving at Livingstone Airport you will be greeted with a friendly smile by a member of the Simalaha horse safari team. Your journey to the Chundukwa River Lodge is approximately 35 minutes by car. Take in the sights of the rural Zambian countryside and local communities along the way. After a break at Chundukwa River Lodge with some light refreshments, you’ll head to the Mombova Harbour for your first river safari. From the comfort of a riverboat, you will travel 1.5 hours upstream to the Simalaha Conservancy. Doug’s horses and safari guides will meet you at the river’s edge to take you the final distance into camp on horseback. Then you enjoy your first tasty dinner and watch the beautiful African sunset before settling down for the night. It’s an incredible start to your adventure! Overnight Simalaha Camp

An overnight stay at Chundukwa River Lodge is possible on arrival day, depending on your flights. In this itinerary, we have suggested that you go directly to the Simalaha Community Conservancy to begin your horse safari experience and then end with a few days of relaxation at Chunkukwa but the trip can be tailored to suit you. We can arrange transfers from Victoria Falls as well as Kasane if you’re combining this with other destinations (at an additional cost)

Today you will ride to another part of the Conservancy, riding alongside the big herds and getting lost in the wilderness. Then it’s time to stop off at a local Village. Community members will give riders an introduction to their homes and you will learn first-hand about community involvement within the Conservancy and the special bond the people and wildlife share. This is a privileged insight into Lozi life and it is wonderful to be welcomed into a traditionally-built mudstyle home. You may possibly even learn a few local techniques, like beer brewing or basket weaving.

After a day’s adventure, a rare Star Bed experience can be found here at Zambian Horseback Safaris! Riders have the option to fall asleep gazing at open African skies in the safety and comfort of open Star Beds. It’s pure magic falling sleep with just the stars above you and the horses grazing nearby. Overnight Simalaha Camp / Star Bed

After breakfast at camp, you will have a long ride along the edge of the river. Take in the incredible sights of local herds of zebra, antelope and wildebeest along the way and meet local fishermen in traditional dugout canoes called “makoros”.  This ride offers some lovely long canters across the open plains as well as slower walks along the river taking in the sights and sounds. After your safari river ride, relax and watch the sun go down treating yourself to a gin and tonic. Overnight Simalaha Camp.

Canter across the plains on the last ride of your Simalaha camp stay. After lunch, say goodbye to your trusty steeds before heading to the Chundukwa River Lodge by boat and vehicle, keeping an eye out for elephants, hippos and other wildlife.  Check into your luxury riverside lodge for the next two nights. Enjoy a relaxing evening and delicious dinner and watch the sun go down over the magnificent Zambezi before putting your head down for the night. Overnight Chundukwa River Lodge

After a good night’s rest and a hearty fresh breakfast,  feel free to explore Livingstone and Victoria Falls today! Inclusive in your stay you’ll have a vehicle and guide who will take you to visit Victoria Falls. We suggest having a few hours to walk to the different viewpoints, across Knife’s Edge Bridge and if you’re up for it, down to the Boiling Point.

There are many additional experiences that you may want to do and the driver guide will take you there, wait for you and bring you home safely at the end of the day. These outsourced activities are extra and for your own account. A magnet for tourists of all descriptions, Victoria Falls is one of Earth’s great spectacles. View it directly as a raging mile-long curtain of water, in all its glory, from a helicopter ride or peek precariously over its edge from Devil’s Pools – the sheer power and force of the Falls is something that simply does not disappoint! Overnight Chundukwa River Lodge

Activities you can do: Helicopter Flight over the falls; Microlight flights over the falls; Walking safari to see the endangered White Rhinos; Visit the local village markets; Buy traditional material and crafts; Visit the Livingstone Museum; Take a Swim in Devil’s Pool or Angel’s Pool, followed by lunch or tea; etc. Devil’s Pool and Helicopter flights need to be pre-booked in high season to avoid disappointment

After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the river, say goodbye to your hosts at Chundukwa. You’ll head back to Livingstone Town, where you’ll meet your driver who will take you to Kafue. It’s a 4 – 5 hour drive from Livingstone to the Camp, situated in the Southern part of Kafue National Park. The last hour is in the park itself and you might encounter wildlife en-route so keep your cameras ready. Then it’s time to settle down in your new home for the next few nights. Over tea, you’ll be briefed about what to expect at the lodge and what the day’s itinerary might look like, plus the guides will ask about your interests and what you’d like to see.  Then it’s time for your first game drive to explore the park! Overnight Nanzhila Plains Camp.

Each morning you’ll be woken up by the dawn chorus and head out on your morning drive as the light brightens. For those who wish to do something more leisurely, head out on a safari walk instead where you can learn the art of tracking, uses of plants and appreciate the smaller creatures and birds that live here.

Most clients will see at least 12 different antelope species on an average three-night stay at Nanzhila, with sable, roan, Defassa waterbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, kudu, eland, wildebeest, common reedbuck, oribi, impala and duiker to name a few. Nanzhila Plains provides visitors with the opportunity to sight 4 out of the Big 5 including lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo (more specifically around Lake Itezhi-Tezhi). The numbers of these species have been increasing steadily over the last ten years and remain a highlight sighting for any safari enthusiast.

You’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and a long afternoon siesta. Then it’s time for a delicious tea before grabbing the binoculars and hopping aboard the game drive vehicle once more. Heading out in a different direction, you might follow a lion’s or leopard’s tracks into the bush. Who knows what you might see! You also stand a chance of sighting other special wildlife species such as cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, servals and honeybadgers on the late afternoon drives.  Before sunset, you’ll stop somewhere scenic for the all-important sundowner drinks. Then head back home to enjoy chats around the campfire before dinner and retiring for the night.

If you spend 4 nights in Kafue, we can combine 2 nights at Plains Camp and 2 nights at Lake Camp – giving you more chances to see wildlife in different areas of the park (additional transfer costs apply)

Another early mornig as you head out for a last morning game drive. Then enjoy a late breakfast and freshen up at camp. You’ll be transferred back to Livingstone Airport for your departure flight. If you’re heading elsewhere in Africa, we can arrange your transfers accordingly. Then it’s time to say goodbye to Africa, until next time!