Day notes
On arrival in Lusaka you will be met by a representative of Tours Africa,
who are our representatives at Lusaka Airport. A Tours Africa representative will be holding a board with your name on it, and will be standing just before you pass through immigration.
Although Lusaka is a friendly and safe Airport, Tours Africa will guide you to the best queue at passport control.
When you have your bags, our representative will take you to meet Tony McKeith who will be escorting you throughout on this exciting wildlife tour. The drive to Pioneer will take around 20 mins. Situated in a rural area near Lusaka. Pioneer is a very friendly informal lodge, full of character and a great place to get over the flight and get in tune with Africa, the trees in camp attract lots of colourful birds.
We have booked you an en-suite cottage at Pioneer for tonight. We will meet other guests here and have time to relax and enjoy Dinner.
Transfer from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport [LUN] to Pioneer Lodge, Camp & Safaris
14 Oct 2018
Pioneer Camp
Transfer
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport [LUN]
Pioneer Lodge, Camp & Safaris (Pioneer Lodge & Camp)
Check-in to Pioneer Lodge, Camp & Safaris
Expert tips:
You are now on Africa Time and immigration can be a slow process, but don’t worry you are not in a rush. You can pay your visa fee at the passport control desk ($50pp), no need for a pre arranged visa.
Day notes
Today is an early start, waking at around 5.30 followed by breakfast on the patio. We will driven from Pioneer camp back to Lusaka Airport. We have booked you to fly with Proflight Zambia to the heart of the Kafue.
Departing at 07.15 the flight takes a little more than an hour, below the scene gradually changes as the city gives way to villages and farmland as we head west towards the Kafue National Park where habitation by people disappears. The Kafue is a vast area of wilderness dotted occasionally with cone shaped hills and disected by the Kafue River as it flows south from its source in Angola to join the Zambezi.
On landing at the Lufupa air strip you will be met by your guide from Jeffery & McKeith Safaris . From the plane you will drive a short distance to find a boat waiting for you, your guide will load you and your bags aboard before setting off on a short river safari to the Musekese concession
The boat journey is a pleasant assault on the senses, as the startling beauty of the river and the sight of Hippos and birds begins to sink in.
The safari really begins at Kaingu.
For the next two nights you will stay in a luxury tented style chalet facing directly on to the river. The habitat around camp is a mixture of riverine woodland and bush. Our stay here will focus on enjoying the river taking boat safaris in the myriad channels in the area, this is a sublimely beautiful location (canoe trails are available if you feel adventurous). Gentle walking safari to one of the giant rock Kopje’s which dot the bush in this area, these massive rocks provide a fantastic way to get a feel for the vast wilderness you are in.
Check-out from Pioneer Lodge, Camp & Safaris
Transfer from Pioneer Lodge, Camp & Safaris to Kaingu Lodge
15 Oct 2018
Kaingu / Busanga Safaris
Transfer
Pioneer Lodge, Camp & Safaris (Pioneer Lodge & Camp)
Kaingu Lodge
Check-in to Kaingu Lodge
Day notes
Today day after an early light break fast, we will offer to arrange your choice of activity, possibly a combination of a walk and a river safari, either by boat or a more adventurous canoe safari.
Both activities give an eye level view of the river where there is chance of encountering many birds but also Elephant and Hippo and maybe a Leopard coming to drink. We will spend the morning exploring before returning to camp as the heat builds for lunch, then after a few hours down time and obligatory tea and cake! We will set off again exploring. Days generally end with a cold drink as the sun sets over the bush, then with time to freshen up and enjoy dinner, which like all meals are enjoyed with your fellow guests and guides.
Day notes
Today our safari begins in earnest. Moving north, we will journey on an extended game drive to Ntemwa-Busanga Camp on the Busanga Plains. Following the path of the Kafue and then Lufupa Rivers we will pass through a variety of bush types. This journey can take 5 hours often generating interesting sights as the bush changes from woodland to semi open Savannah to emerge on to the Busanga Plains. This is an adventurous drive in an open game drive vehicle with a shade roof.
We will stop on route for breaks, but plan to reach camp for lunch.
Ntemwa-Busanga sits on edge of the southern Busanga Plains, this tree line location gives access to the wood land and on to the vast Busanga Plains. The next days will allow us to explore all aspects of the plains.
Tyrone McKeith is amongst the most knowledgeable and skilled guides specializing in this area and knows this place intimately, Tyrone has years of experience living here which is essential to navigate and to predict animal activity and seasonal movements.
The combination of Tony and Tyrone McKeith looking after you and guiding on the Busanga Plains will bring the Busanga to life and take you under the skin of this very unique environment to help you to get the most from your visit to the plains.
A welcome cool drink and warm welcome from the camps team at Ntemwa - Busanga and you can begin to take in the view and look forward to your days in this incredibly rich wildlife habitat. After Lunch you will have time to take a first foray to explore. Returning to camp after Sundowners for warm showers, diner with you hosts, a fireside night cap before heading off to your tent for a comfortable night surrounded by the sounds of the African night.
Check-out from Kaingu Lodge
Game Drive from Kaingu Lodge to Ntemwa-Busanga Camp
17 Oct 2018
Jeffery & McKeith
Game Drive
Kaingu Lodge
Ntemwa-Busanga Camp
Check-in to Ntemwa-Busanga Camp
Day notes
Ntemwa-Busanga is a small classic bush camp.
Large Meru style safari tent with an open bush bathroom. Expect a combination of porceline flush loo's and warm bucket showers. Crisp linen and small touches to make you as comfortable as possible.
Fresh and healthy meals are enjoyed in the cooling shade with your guides and other guests. Most meals are served either around the fire or on the cleverly created deck with far reaching views over the plains. The deck is a perfect place to relax and take in the ever changing view on the Busanga, look out across the plains and you can see a vest colony of storks, mornings and evenings are a procession of birds migrating to and from the Busanga swamps. The southern tree line is a good area for predator sightings of all kinds, traditionally Lion prides have been found here taking advantage of the game density but far enough from the open plains prides so as not to get in conflict. We find Cheetah move in this area often migrating seasonally on the the plains as they dry, especially when Oribi antelope can be found on the edge of the plains and when the Wildebeest begin to give birth.
Game drives will be our main activity on the plains as distances are quite big. We will leave camp at dawn after a light breakfast taking a fresh pic nic lunch and refreshments to enjoy out on the plains allowing us to comfortably reach and enjoy the northern floating grass areas home to thousands of Red Lechwe. Herds of Roan Antelope are found out on the grasslands, Sable venture from the bush in search of water and grazing. We return to camp after sundowners possibly staying out until darkness draws out the nocturnal species, which we continue to search for with the aid of a spotlight.
Back in camp apperatiffs at the camp fire before a sumptious dinner where enevitably light hearted conversation and safari stories are shared. Night caps as you gaze at a star filled African sky before being led back to your tent where you will be lulled to sleep by the sounds at night wafting through the walls of your tent are magical. are the perfect end to a day on safari.
Day notes
Today may be chance to explore on a walking safari led by Tyrone with an additional armed scout or if you prefer a game drive in the treeline woodland and thorn-bush savannah. Leopards are quite commonly encountered as you discover the meandering streams that flow from the plains, there are a number of chances to enjoy watching and photograph large pods of Hippos from low level. Elephants are here and as the season drys we hope to meet with a group of majestic bulls who gravitate to Ntemwa area especially at this time of year. Tony and the team will keep you safe and will brief you at each camp but please don't be tempted to walk around at night as the Lions pass through camp.
Day notes
This morning as the sun rises on the plains we will enjoy breakfast you will load our game drive vehicle and when ready we will set off on a game drive back across the Kafue to the confluence of the Kafue and Lufupa Rivers where we will take a short (20min) boat safari to the private Jeffery and McKeith Safaris concession. The habitat varies from Miombo woodland to open clearings (known as dambos) and of course the wide clear Kafue River with its shady tree lined banks. Until Musekese was built, this area had never seen a vehicle, but as the seasons pass the game has become more used to our presence and the drive in to camp can be productive with sightings.
On arrival expect another genuine warm welcome and a cool drink. We will enjoy a light healthy lunch overlooking the dambo in front of camp which can be full of wildlife at this time of year.
Musekese is the home of Jeffery & McKeith Safaris, and will be yours for the next three nights. Tyrone will show you around and make sure you are settled in and comfortable. Wildlife very often passes through camp, especially elephants and including during the day. The camp is in the territory of both lion and leopard; you will be walked to and from your tents after dark.
later this afternoon will be able to take a first foray into the bush.
After enjoying the sun set and evening light out in the bush or on the incredibly beautiful river, its back to camp for dinner and your first night at Musekese, serenaded by the soothing sounds of the African night.
Check-out from Ntemwa-Busanga Camp
Game Drive from Ntemwa-Busanga Camp to Musekese Camp
20 Oct 2018
Jeffery & McKeith Safaris
Game Drive
Ntemwa-Busanga Camp
Musekese Camp
Check-in to Musekese Camp
Expert tips:
When Tyrone and Phil first found this previously unknown area during walking expeditions, they immediately christened it ‘Eden’, a very big open dambo which stays wet all year and is full of life.
There can be hundreds of antelope in view. Elephant’s love the dambo too, migrating daily between the dry bush and the wet mud areas on the Dambo. beyond is the strip of riverine woodland along the main Kafue.
No fences means you are encouraged to keep aware even during the day.
Day notes
The award winning guiding team at Jeffery & McKeith have created several driving tracks leading from camp, providing options to really explore woodland and clearings. Camp is a stones throw from the Kafue River. Camp has two purpose built safari boats, which produce some good Leopard and Lion sightings also chance of seeing Elephant feeding on the banks and with luck also playing or swimming across the river. You can not help but become enthralled by the colourful birds and myriad of other wildlife that your guides will introduce you to.
Musekese has a viewing blind a short distance from camp so that it is easily accessible, but far enough from camp to be appealing to game, an hour or two sitting quietly here is a wonderful way to absorb your self in the bush.
Expert tips:
Imaginative en-suite bathrooms have warm bucket showers and porcelain flushing loo’s, combining safari chic with an authentic safari feel.
Camp centres around the ‘boma’ deck which is a great spot to simply relax between activities and enjoy the view as well as the company of your fellow guests and guides.
Day notes
Each day at Musekese is arranged to suit you. Nothing is to much trouble for the Tony and the guides. You will be able to choose to take part in a gentle walking safari, a morning and /or evening game drive an river safari to experience the stillness of morning on the river, or head out later to find a Leopard enjoying the cool river breeze, and let your guide pour you a G&T whilst you watch the sun go down.
Day notes
Today after a relaxed breakfast and time to bid farewell to the team at Musekese.
We will drive back to Lusaka airport. Taking a packed lunch and stopping on route. We may head to Pioneer to freshen up before heading to the airport in time to catch your homeward flight .
We sincerely hope you have had a fantastic safari experience, and that you travel home with camera cards full of great photos and memories to last a lifetime.
Check-out from Musekese Camp
Private Transfer from Musekese Camp to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport [LUN]
23 Oct 2018
Jeffery & McKeith
Private Transfer
Musekese Camp
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport [LUN]
