Zambia’s biggest conservation area deserves to be explored from top to bottom and this tour delivers just that. Starting in the open woodlands of the southern Kafue and working your way north to the legendary wetlands of the Busanga Plains, you stay at four different camps, each presenting a new aspect of this wild and wonderful park. Morning and afternoon game drives are the main focus but you’ll also explore rivers by motorboat and head out on foot with armed rangers and expert guides. And since some of the accommodation is set in private concessions adjoining Kafue, you can sit back on spot-lit night drives too – a rare treat in Africa – and even go on hot-air balloon safaris.
Another unusual aspect of this safari is that – despite its reputation for wildlife – the Kafue National Park is one of the least visited in the country, leaving you with uninterrupted views and exclusive game sightings. And there is plenty of game: the heavyweights such as elephants, buffalo and hippo are resident in large numbers as are all the big predators: big cats, wild dogs, hyenas and crocodiles. The Busanga Plains are particularly rewarding – a primal landscape of steaming sunrises and great herds of antelope preyed on by lions and cheetahs. And bird watchers will have their hands full: Kafue has a bird list of around 500 species.
Transfers between camps are by vehicle, allowing you to enjoy wildlife sightings all the way, and accommodation takes the form of comfortable chalets or tented suites, each with its own private bathroom and viewing areas. You’ll enjoy great food throughout – often served outside or even away from camp – and have the comfort of electric light in your tent and the convenience of a battery charging station and a laundry service. A tour aimed at delivering as much wildlife as possible, it will appeal to both safari veterans and first-timers, and the accommodation has been chosen to suit both couples and honeymooners as well as multi-generational families travelling together.