5 Nights / 6 Days Great Zambezi Canoe Safari

£0 per person

This safari is geared more towards the canoeing enthusiast who is looking for an added element of excitement. This is the only trip of its kind in Zambia that takes one through the entire length of the floodplains of the Lower Zambezi to the remote Mupata Gorge before ending at the confluence of the Zambezi and Luangwa Rivers.

On this safari, clients can explore the numerous back channels of the Zambezi along with spectacular basalt rock formations of the Mupata Gorge as the river winds its way towards the Indian Ocean. As these trips involve more detailed organization, they only depart on a few selected dates every year or on request for group bookings.

This trip passes through both the entire Zambian Lower Zambezi National Park on the left and the full length of the Mana pools National Park on the right ending at the Luangwa / Zambezi confluence. Optional 5hr road transfer back to Lusaka or a 1hr chartered flight out may be arranged on request. The cost of the air charter is not included in the price of this safari while the road transfer is.

Daily Routine
During the hot summer months, early morning departures are encouraged to make the most of the cooler time and also to cover a reasonable distance before the wind may pick up. Deep shade is sought in the hottest part of the day for lunch breaks and rest. Canoeing continues to overnight stop as it becomes cooler again in the late afternoons. Four-wheel drive vehicles with trailer canoes and equipment are used for the return transfer to Lusaka at the end of the safari.

What to Bring on a Safari

As a guideline on what to bring on your safari, clients are asked to keep luggage to a minimum of +/- 7kgs. Excess baggage may be kept for safekeeping at our office for collection at the end of the safari.

Neutral coloured shorts and T-shirts, swimming costume for summer months.
Personal Toiletries and a .small towel.
Canvas shoes or rafting sandals, a comfortable pair of hiking shoes where walks are involved.
Hat with a wide brim.
Jacket or sweater for the evenings.
Shirts (including a long-sleeved one for sun protection).
A kikoi (or sarong) to help protect your legs from the sun.
Torch or flashlight and extra batteries.
Camera and accessories. Recharging facilities at River Horse.
Binoculars, sunglasses.
Sunscreen, Insect repellent.
Warm clothes to sleep in for winter nights/light waterproof clothing for the wet season.
Personnel drinking flask for your canoe along with a dry bag for personal items if available.

Included

5 nights’ accommodation.
Canoeing safari activities.
Traditional Village Visit.
All meals.
Beverages.
Treated water.
Equipment.
Qualified guides.
Transfers to and from the immediate safari area.
Return Airport Lusaka Transfers (to and from Lusaka).

Excluded

National Park entry fees are to be paid directly on arrival where applicable.

Meals included

Three meals a day, cordial soft drinks and safe, treated water is supplied on every safari. However, those wishing to bring their own bottled water may do so. Cooler boxes are provided should clients wish to bring their own selection of beverages for the duration of the safari.

Daily Meal Plan

Unless notified, meals will follow the program below. Please note that we require a prior warning of at least 2 weeks to cater for special diets or allergies to particular ingredients etc. The main dinners are in most cases part pre-cooked and deep-frozen prior to the safari, so it is important to have sufficient notice of what is required.

Early mornings
Start with tea/coffee biscuits before setting off downstream after packing up canoes and clearing camp.

Breakfast
Generally, after several hours of canoeing, the trip will stop for everyone to stretch their legs while the guide prepares an English breakfast of tinned fruit; eggs, bacon, sausages etc; then toast with marmalade or jam. Tea and coffee is served before starting off again.

Lunch
An assortment of cold meats, green salads, rolls and cheeses are served, along with a variety of sauces and pickled vegetables to complete the meal.

Dinner

Assortments of snacks are served followed by a full dinner consisting of beef, chicken or mutton as main course options with two green vegetables and a carbohydrate of potatoes, rice or pasta.

These canoeing safaris are self-contained. All safari equipment is carried in the canoes for the duration of the trip. Guides prepare meals while the guests participate in erecting their tents, sorting out their bedding and helping with the general loading and off-loading of their canoes.

Africa

Destination

Zambia
Included

Accommondation

Meals

Personal Guide

From Our Gallery

5 Nights / 6 Days Great Zambezi Canoe Safari

Gallery of our Zambezi Canoe Safari.

Day 1: Zambezi Breezes Lodge in Chirundu

Meet at Zambezi Breezes Lodge in Chirundu at approx. 1000hrs for a 2-hour road transfer downstream to the launch site. After a briefing and lunch on the banks of the river, we start our afternoon canoeing Mtondo Island for our first night camp, arriving at around 1700hrs. Canoeing on this day is kept mainstream and is easygoing with a strong current. We then set camp followed by tea/coffee, snacks and later dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 2: Full Day of Canoeing

Canoeing starts early after morning tea/coffee and biscuits, approx. 0630hrs Depart Mtondo Island for downstream breakfast stop at approx. after 2hrs canoeing. Continue through into the Lower Zambezi National Park for lunch between 1230hrs to 1400hrs out of the midday sun. We then canoe through to our 2nd night's camp on or around Chikwenya island weather permitting. This day we cover a good 25km of the river through both Manna Pools and the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Day 3: Set Camp at G. Camp Channels

On this day we canoe through offshoot river channels where birdlife and game abound. Guides will stop at points of interest to observe wildlife from time to time. Some parts of the river at this point exceed 3km in width with a maze of channels to explore. Again both sides of the river at this point are flanked by superb national Parks where one is likely to see the highest concentration of game on the river. Tonight we set camp at G. Camp channels in a densely populated game area.

Day 4: False Mupata Gorge

Today we exit Mana Pools and enter the safari area on the south bank while continuing through the Lower Zambezi National Park to the north. The river begins to narrow down and the current becomes stronger as the river progresses into what is known as the False Mupata Gorge. From this point onwards, the safari is confined to the mainstream for approx. 30km as we pass through this scenic gorge with steep rock formations and cliff edges. Camp on this night is selected from one of many pristine sandy beaches on the mainland within the confines of the gorge.

Day 5: Camping Site

This day is spent canoeing through the rest of the Mupata Gorge observing the 300 million-year-old volcanic rock formations that form part of the Great Rift Valley. Around midday the canoes exit the gorge and the guide proceeds through to Red cliffs for lunch and a break from the mid-day heat before continuing on to the night's Island campsite. Depending on connecting flights the following day, the guide may consult with the team as to a more suitable camping site closer to the endpoint. We do however recommend that connecting flights are caught the day after the safari ends so as not to rush the end of this trip.

Day 6: Lusaka

Depending on the selection of campsite there is an early rise tea/coffee breakfast before the remaining paddle through to the end of the canoeing safari. The takeout point is reached at approximately 0900hrs for the return transfer to Lusaka. This drive is in an open-backed Land Cruiser with a shaded canopy. Alternatively, and depending on the group’s requirements and wishes, clients may continue to paddle on day 5 through to the Feira take-out point. This means the transfer will be able to leave earlier for the return 5-hour trip to Lusaka, but it means there will be no canoeing on the last day. Lunch is had on the way back on the roadside under a tree.