5 Days Best Zambia Safari to Lower Zambezi National Park
This 5 Days Best Zambia Safari to Lower Zambezi National Park offers an unparalleled wilderness adventure in one of Africa's most pristine and untouched safari destinations. Your Zambia Safari journey takes you to the heart of the mighty Zambezi River valley, where diverse ecosystems support an incredible array of wildlife including four of the Big Five species. The Lower Zambezi is renowned for its intimate wildlife encounters and spectacular scenery along Africa's fourth-longest river. This carefully crafted Zambia Safari combines thrilling game drives, peaceful canoe safaris, guided walking expeditions, and boat cruises for the ultimate African adventure experience.
Your Zambia Safari adventure unfolds in the Lower Zambezi National Park, known locally as "Mana-Pools ya Zambia," where the absence of rhinos and giraffes is more than compensated by incredible concentrations of elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards. The park's unique landscape features pristine floodplains, ancient baobab trees, and crystal-clear channels that create perfect conditions for diverse safari activities. This immersive Zambia Safari experience allows you to witness wildlife from multiple perspectives - on foot, by vehicle, on water, and from comfortable hides. The Lower Zambezi's reputation as Africa's adventure capital stems from its combination of excellent wildlife viewing and thrilling outdoor activities.
Throughout your Zambia Safari, you'll stay at luxury lodges that epitomize the essence of African hospitality while maintaining the highest standards of comfort and service. Your expert guides possess intimate knowledge of the Lower Zambezi ecosystem and will share fascinating insights about wildlife behavior, conservation efforts, and local culture. The park's location along the Zambezi River creates a natural border with Zimbabwe's Mana Pools, effectively doubling your wildlife viewing area during this remarkable Zambia Safari. Each day brings new adventures and unforgettable memories in one of Africa's last great wilderness areas.
Tour highlights
Day 1: Pick Up from Lusaka and Transfer to Lower Zambezi National Park
Day 2: Continue with Canoe Safari and Walking Safari Adventures
Day 3: Proceed with Classic Game Drive and Boat Safari Experience
Day 4: Transfer to Different Lodge Sectors for Varied Wildlife Viewing
Day 5: Continue with Multi-Activity Safari Day Including All Four Safari Types
Price Includes:
- Park fees and conservation levies for Lower Zambezi National Park
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary (canoe, boat, walking, game drives)
- Ground transport in custom 4x4 safari vehicles
- Bottled water during all safari activities
- Full board accommodation at luxury riverside lodges
- Professional English-speaking driver-guides and walking safari guides
- Driver allowances and park fees
- Canoe equipment and safety gear
- All mentioned activities (excluding optional experiences)
Price Excludes:
- Zambia Visa (where applicable)
- International and internal flights
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Optional activities
- Laundry services
- Travel insurance
- Beverages beyond provided water
- Tips for staff and guides
Itinary in details
- Day1Pick Up from Lusaka and Transfer to Lower Zambezi National Park
Your incredible Zambia Safari begins with an early morning pick up from your Lusaka hotel at 6:00 AM, followed by a scenic 2.5-hour drive covering 130 kilometers to the Lower Zambezi National Park entrance at Chiawa Gate. This exciting Zambia Safari journey takes you through rural villages and changing landscapes as you descend into the Zambezi Valley, known locally as "Gwembe Valley" or the land of the Tonga people. Your Zambia Safari adventure officially starts with park entry procedures before continuing to your luxury riverside lodge, where you'll enjoy a welcome lunch and afternoon orientation game drive along the Zambezi River, spotting elephants, hippos, and various antelope species in this pristine wilderness area.
- Day2Continue with Canoe Safari and Walking Safari Adventures
Day two of your Zambia Safari features an early morning canoe safari beginning at 6:00 AM, where you'll paddle silently along the Zambezi channels for approximately 3 hours, observing wildlife from a unique water-level perspective. This peaceful Zambia Safari activity allows intimate encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and elephants coming to drink at the river's edge, while your expert guide points out over 400 bird species including the magnificent African fish eagle. Your afternoon Zambia Safari continues with a guided walking safari through the Chongwe River area, lasting 2-3 hours and offering opportunities to track four of the Big Five on foot while learning about smaller ecosystems, traditional tracking methods, and medicinal plants used by local communities for generations.
- Day3Proceed with Classic Game Drive and Boat Safari Experience
Today's Zambia Safari combines the classic African game drive experience with the unique perspective of a motorized boat safari along the main Zambezi River channels. Your morning Zambia Safari game drive departs at 6:30 AM and ventures into the park's interior floodplains and mopane woodlands, seeking lions, leopards, and large buffalo herds in an area covering approximately 50 square kilometers of pristine wilderness. The afternoon Zambia Safari boat cruise begins at 3:30 PM and covers 15 kilometers of river frontage, providing excellent photographic opportunities of elephants swimming between islands, massive crocodiles basking on sandbanks, and spectacular sunset views over the mighty Zambezi River with the Zambian escarpment as a dramatic backdrop.
- Day4Transfer to Different Lodge Sectors for Varied Wildlife Viewing
Your Zambia Safari continues with a morning transfer to a different sector of Lower Zambezi National Park, approximately 25 kilometers upstream, allowing you to experience diverse habitats and wildlife concentrations within this 4,092 square kilometer wilderness area. This strategic Zambia Safari relocation provides access to the Chongwe River confluence area, known locally as "Nsengwa" (meeting place), where different water sources attract varied wildlife including large elephant herds and predators. Your afternoon Zambia Safari activities include a combination game drive and walking safari in this new area, offering fresh perspectives on the park's four Big Five species and opportunities to spot rare antelope species like sable and roan that frequent these particular woodlands and grasslands.
- Day5Continue with Multi-Activity Safari Day Including All Four Safari Types
The final day of your Zambia Safari showcases all four signature activities of Lower Zambezi National Park, beginning with an early morning canoe trip at 6:00 AM along quiet backwater channels teeming with wildlife. Your comprehensive Zambia Safari experience continues with a mid-morning walking safari focusing on tracking techniques and small ecosystems, followed by lunch at a scenic riverside location within the park boundaries. The afternoon Zambia Safari culminates with a combined boat cruise and game drive lasting until sunset, offering last opportunities to spot any remaining wildlife species and providing a memorable farewell to this remarkable wilderness area before your evening return transfer to Lusaka, completing your unforgettable Lower Zambezi adventure.