Highlights

• • Victoria Falls - natural wonder of the world
• • Lower Zambezi - canoeing
• • South Luangwa NP - game walk & 4WD game drives
• • Lake Malawi - snorkelling & beaches
• • Benguerra Island - explore islands on a dhow
• • Inhambane - beaches and scuba diving
• • Kruger National Park - morning and afternoon game drives

ITINERARY

Livingstone

The group will meet in Livingstone, in Zambia, at 14:00 where we have 2 days to explore Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Adventure activities abound, white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, or an 111m bungi jump (own expense).

Includes: Entrance to see the Victoria Falls
Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, elephant back safaris, scenic flights & many more.

Kafue River

A long drive takes us across the rolling Miombo forested hills of southern Zambia to the Kafue River where we camp the night

Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool & bar

Lower Zambezi Canoeing

We drive down into the Lower Zambezi Valley and spend two nights at our lodge on the banks of the river. Enjoy a full day canoeing down the Zambezi River, home of the tribal mythical god - Nyami Nyami. The river attracts elephants and other wildlife from the surrounding wilderness. After a day highlighted by bird watching and game viewing, relax around the campfire in the evening.

Lusaka

We head to Lusaka where we stock up on supplies in the bustling shops and markets of the Zambian capital. Taking the Great East Road we drive this afternoon until sunset.

Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool & bar

South Luangwa National Park

Make our way down into "the valley" of the South Luangwa National Park. This wild and remote sanctuary is one of Africa's finest wildlife sanctuaries, full of hippo, crocodiles, elephants, lion and leopard. We camp on the banks of the Luangwa River and explore the area on 2 game walks and an open 4WD game drive, with spotlights, to see nocturnal animals.

Includes: Entrance fees to South Luangwa National Park, 2x game walks, and 1x night a game drive.
Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, hot showers, swilling pool, restaurant & bar
Optional Activities: Game walks & game drives

Lake Malawi

Malawi "the warm heart of Africa". We restock with fresh supplies in the markets of Lilongwe before heading to our camp on the beach at Lake Malawi. We'll take a boat out to the islands to explore the fantastic bays and coves in the area.

Includes: Island boat excursion
Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, & hot showers

Transit Mozambique

Heading south again we enter Mozambique at Zobue border post. Making our way back over the Zambezi we travel through the Tete region, camping en route in this remote part of Mozambique.

Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, & hot showers (sometimes!)
Optional Acitivites: Scuba diving, village visits & water sports.

Bazaruto Islands

Upon reaching the Indian Ocean we stay overnight in Vilankulo. We take a full day to explore the Magaruque Island on a local dhow, a traditional ocean going trade vessel. Beautiful blue sea, expansive white beaches and some excellent seafood available - what a day!

Includes: Full day Dhow excursion to Bazaruto Islands
Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, & hot showers (sometimes!), restaurant & bar
Optional Activities: Snorkeling.

Inhambane

Arab influences are strong in Inhambane dating back to when slaves, ivory, gold and spices were traded. Explore Inhambane and its 200-year-old cathedral, before moving to Praia de Barra to our casitas (reed cabin) under the palms next to the beach. Dhow rides and scuba diving on coral reefs are available (own expense)

Overnight: Casitas - twin rooms with shared ablutions, hot showers (sometimes!), restaurant & bar
Optional Activities: Scuba diving, ocean safari, quad biking & horse riding.

Bilene

We travel further south along the coast to the town of Bilene situated on the shores of the Uembje lagoon. The lagoon is 8km wide and 27km long with clear water and white, sandy beaches. We spend the afternoon exploring the lagoon with options of kayaking and snorkelling (own expense), and swimming in the shallow, calm waters.

Overnight: Casitas - twin rooms with shared ablutions, hot showers (sometimes!), restaurant & bar.

Kruger National Park

We travel through the Transfrontier Limpopo Park into Kruger National Park - visit big game country! Exciting game drives to spot lions, giraffe and the mighty elephant. Relaxing in the tranquil bush we experience a land forgotten by time, a true African wilderness.

Includes: Entrance fees to Kruger National Park, morning and afternoon game drives
Overnight: Campsite - good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant,
Optional Activities: Night game drive in National Park game viewing vehicles

Johannesburg

After an early morning game drive we return to Johannesburg in the evening, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to rejoin life. Tour ends @ 18:00

Includes: Early morning game drive

Special Interest:

A walking safari in South Luangwa is an essential Zambian experience. Game scouts will lead us on an exhilarating walk in this big game wilderness

Sustainable Tourism:

In the Luangwa Valley we stay at Wildlife Camp who donate 60% of their revenues to the Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia. A local guide will lead us on a game walk and night drive. Your visit will support employment opportunities.

Accommodation

• Camping - 15 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites in national parks, on private land and in towns. Campsite facilities are at best basic but generally clean. There are hot, but sometimes only cold, showers, washing facilities at some of the campsites. Some camps in Zambia have simple reed enclosures for showers but do have flush toilets! We supply all the camping equipment with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow. The dome tents we use are 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 metres and putting them up or down takes only 5 minutes. Tents have built-in insect nets. We supply mattresses, which are about 5 cm thick, warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest.
• Wild camping - There is a possibility on this trip that, due to local conditions, we will camp wild. Wild camps have no facilities; we will need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. Toilets will be of the "dig and bury" variety.
• Casitas, Casa Barry - for 2 nights in Inhambane (Praia do Tofo) we stay in reed and thatch casitas. These are basic twin or quad rooms with bed and mattress and shared ablutions. Bar, restaurant, telephone.
• Lower Zambezi, Kayila Lodge - on the Lower Zambezi River we spend 2 nights at a riverside permanent tented camp. Tents are twin sharing and have beds with mattresses and insect nets and are en suite.
• Participation - An essential part of your OzBus African Safari is participation - from putting up your tent (while camping) or packing away in the morning to helping with meal preparation and cleaning up - it's all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help with the washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun!

What's Included

• 4 nights in casita/tented lodge en suite, 1 night casita shared ablutions & 15 nights camping
• Entrance fees
• Use of camping equipment (except sleeping bags &pillows)
• Transport in safari truck or 4WD
• Meals as per itinerary
• Professional guide
• Canoeing on the Lower Zambezi
• Benguerra Island excursion

What's Not Included

• International flights
• Sleeping bag and mat on camping trips
• Personal travel insurance
• Visas
• Items of a personal nature
• Optional excursions which are detailed on the trip page
• Restaurant meals and drinks