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7 Days Of Luangwa’s Hidden Value

Overview

Experience the best of South Luangwa with a thoughtfully curated itinerary that immerses you in diverse landscapes and offers some of Africa’s finest walking safaris. Split between three exceptional camps, this journey blends comfort, adventure, and unique wildlife encounters.

Specific Highlights of This Zambia Safari

  • A quintessential South Luangwa experience.
  • Outstanding value, with accommodations balancing the comforts of a lodge and the seclusion of a bush camp.
  • Exclusive access via the pontoon across the river and to wildlife-rich areas away from crowds.
  • Perfect for those seeking adventure without compromising on comfort.
  • Ideal from June through October.

Overview of the Suggested Zambia Safari Lodges and Activities

This trip is divided into two distinct phases. It starts in the Mfuwe area, known for its abundant wildlife and easy access to the park. You’ll then transition to remote bush camps in the far south, where you’ll explore untouched landscapes and enjoy exclusive wildlife sightings.

We partner with camps from the Kafunta portfolio, a highly regarded name in the safari industry. With prime locations and a focus on delivering exceptional value, Kafunta camps provide an ideal blend of adventure, quality service, and expert guiding. This combination ensures a comprehensive Luangwa experience that we at Yellow Zebra consider top-tier.

Who Is This Zambia Trip For?

This itinerary is tailored for couples (two adults traveling together), offering a mix of romance, adventure, and comfort. However, every trip is custom-made to suit your needs. If you’re a group or family, we can recommend alternative accommodations and adjust the number of days to create your perfect safari. Let us craft a journey that’s uniquely yours!

Days 1–3 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Your adventure begins with a flight into the Mfuwe sector of the South Luangwa National Park, where you’ll settle in at Kafunta River Lodge. Nestled in a prime location overlooking the Luangwa River, this lodge offers breathtaking views and a true sense of the wild.

Zambia Walking Safari | Luangwa National Park

The main lodge, a charming thatched-roof structure, houses a cozy lounge, dining area, and bar. These open seamlessly onto a deck, where you can relax while admiring the river and a lively waterhole frequented by wildlife. Dining often takes place al fresco on the deck, enhancing your connection with nature.

For moments of relaxation, the lodge boasts a fire pit, an infinity pool, a gym, a spa, and even the Luangwa Valley’s only natural hot tub! This geothermal tub, located within the lodge’s grounds, is perfect for unwinding after an exhilarating day of exploration.

The lodge’s eight guest chalets are spacious and inviting, each featuring a private veranda with stunning river views. Additionally, the lodge has a hide beneath the deck, offering exceptional opportunities for photography and wildlife observation.

Activities

Your days will be packed with exciting activities, including day and night game drives and walking safaris. The South Luangwa National Park is accessible via a pontoon or through the main gate at Mfuwe. The region is teeming with wildlife, from lions and leopards to elephants and buffalo – four of the famed Big Five. You’ll also encounter a plethora of other predators, herbivores, and over 450 bird species in this remarkable area of Zambia.

Let the sights and sounds of South Luangwa welcome you to the unforgettable adventure ahead!

Days 3–5 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

South Luangwa National Park | Zambia | The Africa Specialists™

On the fourth day of your adventure, you’ll embark on a scenic 3-hour road transfer to Kafunta Island Bush Camp, located further south in the South Luangwa National Park. This charming camp is nestled on the banks of the Luangwa River, surrounded by a serene grove of ancient mahogany trees, offering a tranquil and picturesque setting.

The main lodge features a thatched-roof design, similar to its sister property, with a lounge, dining area, and bar that blend naturally into the surroundings. From here, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the river, the Chindeni Hills to the east, and the towering Muchinga Escarpment to the west. Outdoor dining areas and a fire-pit create the perfect ambiance for relaxed evenings under the stars.

Guest Chalets

The camp’s accommodation consists of just five bush chalets, each perched on a platform along the riverbank. These chalets are designed for comfort and simplicity, with double beds, mosquito nets, and paraffin lighting. The open-air en-suite facilities include a flush toilet, washbasin, and bucket shower, adding a touch of adventure to your stay.

Activities

The main focus at Island Bush Camp is the walking safari, a thrilling way to immerse yourself in the wild and explore the diverse landscapes of South Luangwa. Guests looking for game drives are better suited to the other Kafunta properties, as this camp specializes in on-foot exploration.

The area around the camp boasts impressive concentrations of wildlife, including large herds of herbivores and an abundance of predators. For birding enthusiasts, the region is a paradise with hundreds of bird species to spot, so don’t forget your binoculars!

Kafunta Island Bush Camp offers an authentic and immersive safari experience, perfect for those seeking adventure and a deeper connection with Zambia’s wilderness.

Days 5–7 SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

South Luangwa National Park - Best Safari and Tours In Victoria Falls
For your final nights, it’s just a short drive to Kafunta Three Rivers, the newest and arguably most luxurious camp in the collection—an ideal spot to conclude your time in the Luangwa! With only five spacious safari tents, the camp guarantees exclusivity and privacy. Each tent is tastefully furnished, offering a cozy sanctuary after thrilling game drives.
From private verandas, guests can enjoy stunning views of the Luangwa River, where elephants, hippos, and crocodiles gather in impressive numbers. Like Kafunta River Lodge, Three Rivers Camp offers a full range of activities, allowing guests to continue their walking safaris or return to game drives to get closer to big game.

Package includes:

  • Transport: vehicle, fuel, and  driver
  • Gorilla permit
  • Full board accommodation for the
  • Entrance fees.
  • All activities.
  • Bottled drinking water

Package excludes:

  • Visas
  • Air ticket
  • Personal expenses.
  • Cost for anything that is not mentioned in the itinerary.

We use 4×4 safari cars for our safaris and therefore every traveler is guaranteed a window seat, bellow are photos of the cars.

EXCELLENT
69 reviews on
Tony M
Tony M
2024-01-08
Jewel Safaris has a jewel in a female driver, Rachel My trip to Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park on 5th Jan 2024, could not have gone better. My great experience was all down to Jewel Safaris' professionalism and industry experience. The car arrived at my house on time (5 am) to pick me up for the trip. The tour guide driver, a lady named Rachel Aheebwa, was such a delight. Female tour guides drivers are so rare, so this was unexpected. But looking back at how much of a success my tour went, Rachel was the best part of the trip. Two hours into the drive, she suggested a breakfast place that turned out to serve the best coffee I'd ever taken. The small eatery happened to be ran by a lady with tourism experience of 17 years. We set off for Lake Mburo about an hour later and arrived at the park gate three hours later. Because we planned to sleep in Queen Elizabeth National Park and we still had hundreds of kilometers to cover, she made sure we wasted no time Mburo. She was always friendly and firm in her advice when it came to time keeping. We made it to our final destination before dark and had time to rest. Before going to bed, she told me, firmly that we must leave at 7 if we are to see all the animals we wanted to see. I would have loved to sleep in but she made it clear that this was not an option. I was later thankful for this. There were several tourist vehicles at the UWA offices when we arrived. After payments, all the cars left through a Northwards track but Rachel went Eastwards and in less than thirty minutes of Game driving, we hit a jack pot. We found lions on the road and I was able to take close up pictures for several minutes as she made calls to all her friends letting them know that she had found lions. By the time all the vehicles crowded around the lions, I had spend over half an an hour with them. One of the best moments of my life. Jewel safaris couldn't have chosen a better tour guide driver for me. Every thing was well planned to help me see all there was to be seen.
TimmyHensel
TimmyHensel
2023-08-10
Murchison Falls Adventure This was my first safari adventure and it was a trip of a lifetime. The owner, Dona was very professional and helpful and made sure he understood what we wanted. The vehicle was wonderful and roomy and well kept. Our guide, Patrick made the trip exceptional. He knew the park, he knew the animals and he was a former ranger who spent years protecting the animals of that park. It was clear that the other guides respected him and Patrick was kind, funny and made sure we had a wonderful adventure. The first night, the owner called me to ask how everything was going and he messaged me after the trip to make sure we had a great time. That was above and beyond what I expected. Great company, great customer service and fantastic guide with years of experience. This is the company I would choose over and over.
pablo
pablo
2023-08-09
Great safari!!!! Fantastic. The owner went out of the way to make sure we had what we wanted. I highly recommend Patrick as guide and driver. He loves what he does and you can tell.
Simon T
Simon T
2023-08-07
Two-day trip to Lake Mburo Our two-day trip to Lake Mburo with our driver and guide Patrick was great. He delivered what we asked for, and more! Other than being a very kind person and good driver, Patrick was able to share a lot of information about the different animals and places we encountered. A big thanks to Jewel Safaris and Patrick! 100% Recommend!
Sander T
Sander T
2023-08-07
2 days Safari to Lake Mburo We had a blast of a weekend with Patrick from Jewel Safari's. He knew so much about the animals, was so friendly and flexible to arrange it the way we wanted. I would advice to go on a Safari with him!
George H
George H
2023-05-31
Uganda 2023 We had the great pleasure of having Patrick from jewel safaris for a week in Uganda. Hugely informative and fun, Patrick is a perfect ambassador for a fun, beautiful and dramatic country which is Uganda. A fabulous tour by a class guide. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting most of Africa and Uganda is top. Will go back
astrid H
astrid H
2023-05-31
Incredible experience Amazing service and amazing country and people. It was an incredible trip, I can’t fault anything. We all enjoyed it so much and our guide was so attentive and catered to what we wanted to do
goran52
goran52
2022-11-30
Utmärkt service, bra bil och kunnig guide. Jewel Safaris arrangerade vår resa till Uganda, med bland annat gorillorna i Bwindi. Vi var även i nationalparken där schimpanserna finns. Jewel Safaris har lång erfarenhet av att anordna safaris i Uganda. Goran
K F
K F
2022-11-29
good service We had a great trip with Jewel Safari and would definitely recommend to book trips with Jewel Safari.
Ola Karlsson
Ola Karlsson
2022-11-10
Great agency We ordered the trip in 2019 to go to Uganda in April 2020. Then Covid came and the trip was postponed for 2,5 yrs and in the meantime we kept contact and When we finally could go it all went super-smooth. Well organized and very friendly personnel and a fantastic guide. Nothing went wrong during the 10 days we visited and the arrangements were spotless.

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