9 Days Best Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday

Your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday begins with an early morning pick-up from Lusaka, followed by a scenic 2.5-hour drive (130km) southeast to Lower Zambezi National Park through the dramatic Zambezi Escarpment. This exciting Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday adventure starts with check-in at your riverside lodge, where the mighty Zambezi River forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in an area known locally as "Mana" (Four Waters). Your afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience includes a gentle boat cruise along the Zambezi, offering your first wildlife sightings of hippos, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife while enjoying sundowners against the backdrop of the Zambezi Valley's golden light.

Today's Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday features the iconic Lower Zambezi canoe safari, starting with a 6:00 AM departure for a 3–4-hour paddle downstream through channels known locally as "Mwambashi" (Place of the Hippos). This unique Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience brings you incredibly close to elephants drinking at the water's edge, while expert guides navigate the pristine waters of Africa's fourth-longest river. Your afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday continues with a traditional game drive through the park's inland areas, targeting the four members of the Big Five present here (lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant) across the 4,092 square kilometer wilderness sanctuary.

This morning's Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday adventure focuses on an exhilarating walking safari through the Lower Zambezi's diverse ecosystems, departing at dawn for a 3-hour trek through mopane woodlands and riverine forests. Your experienced Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday guide leads you through areas known locally as "Chiawa" (Place of the Baobab), where you'll track wildlife on foot and learn about the intricate relationships between predators and prey. The afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience combines relaxation at the lodge with another boat safari, maximizing your chances of spotting the park's famous tree-climbing lions and the diverse antelope species that gather along the Zambezi's life-giving waters.

Your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday journey continues with a morning transfer to Lusaka Airport for a 1-hour flight to Mfuwe Airport, gateway to South Luangwa National Park located 550km northeast of the capital. This transition in your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday takes you to Africa's premier walking safari destination, where you'll check into your lodge in the heart of the 9,050 square kilometer park known locally as "Nsefu" (Place of the Leopard). Your afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday game drive explores the legendary wildlife concentrations along the Luangwa River, targeting the park's famous leopard population and the endemic Thornicroft's giraffe found nowhere else on Earth.

Today's Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday highlights the world-famous South Luangwa walking safari, departing at 6:00 AM for a 4-hour trek through the park's diverse habitats with armed scouts and expert guides. This authentic Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience takes you through areas known locally as "Mwaleshi" (Place of the Carmine Bee-eater), where you'll encounter wildlife at ground level and learn traditional tracking techniques. Your afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday features a classic game drive to the park's renowned lagoons and oxbow lakes, where massive elephant herds gather and the park's exceptional predator population, including Africa's highest concentration of leopards, provides thrilling viewing opportunities.

Your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday transitions today from the African bush to tropical paradise with a morning flight from Mfuwe to Lusaka (1 hour), followed by an international flight to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2 hours). This pivotal day in your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday includes a short connecting flight to Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, covering approximately 1,200km from landlocked Zambia to the spice island known locally as "Unguja." Your evening Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience begins with arrival in Stone Town, where you'll check into your historic hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner featuring authentic Swahili cuisine infused with aromatic spices that made Zanzibar famous worldwide.

Today's Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday immerses you in Zanzibar's rich cultural heritage with a morning guided tour of Stone Town, the UNESCO World Heritage site known locally as "Mji Mkongwe" (Old Town). This fascinating Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday experience explores the narrow alleyways, historic buildings, and bustling markets that reflect centuries of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences in this ancient trading hub. Your afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday continues with a comprehensive spice tour to plantations located 45 minutes from Stone Town, where you'll discover why Zanzibar earned its reputation as the "Spice Island" through hands-on experiences with cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, and other precious spices that shaped the island's history.

Your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday shifts to pure relaxation with a morning transfer to Nungwi Beach, located at Zanzibar's northern tip approximately 60km from Stone Town via a scenic 1.5-hour drive. This tropical phase of your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday showcases some of the world's most pristine beaches, where powder-white sand meets crystal-clear turquoise waters in an area known locally as "Ras Nungwi" (Nungwi Point). Your afternoon Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday features snorkeling at nearby Mnemba Atoll, a 20-minute boat ride from shore, where vibrant coral reefs teem with tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins in waters that consistently rank among the Indian Ocean's clearest.

The final day of your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday begins with an early morning dolphin tour to Kizimkazi, located 1.5 hours south of Nungwi, where resident populations of bottlenose and humpback dolphins frequent the deeper waters off Zanzibar's southern coast. This magical conclusion to your Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday offers swimming opportunities with these gentle marine mammals in their natural habitat, guided by local fishermen who know the best viewing spots. Your unforgettable Zambia Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday concludes with a traditional sunset dhow cruise departing from Nungwi at 5:30 PM, where you'll sail on a traditional wooden boat while enjoying refreshments and watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean, creating the perfect ending to your diverse African adventure.