Imperial Sojourn - Zambia

Back in the 1950’s Norman Carr pioneered walking safaris in Zambia. His aim was to track big game on foot in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, one of Africa’s last havens of un-spoilt wilderness and home to some of the continent’s greatest concentrations of game. Norman like to say "to view the bush from a vehicle is simply to be an observer, but to get out on foot was to become a part of your surroundings." Over 60 years on, at Norman Carr Safaris we are still walking....we are still passionate about sharing the thrill of tracking lions on foot through early morning mists, the delight in learning something new on every activity and the adventure of walking from camp to camp the original safari way. Walking safaris are immersive, sensual and peaceful. In Zambia, an armed wildlife ranger or "scout" leads each walking group, followed by the trained walking guide. In other countries, the walking guide is armed and leads the group alone. Having a walk led by two wildlife experts was conceived by Norman and our 60 year track record of safety speaks to the effectiveness of this approach.

While certainly vehicle safaris allow one to cover more ground and see a greater volume of game in a 3-4 hour safari, it is only on a walking safari where all your senses are heightened and you can see, hear, smell and feel the bush. You begin to understand the interconnectedness of the flora and the fauna, how each small part plays an important role in the greater ecosystem. Small mysteries of the bush are unlocked and explored; tracks are investigated; and the wide variety of animal poo becomes an unexpected and fascinated learning experience! And while generally speaking, walks are more focused on the little things in the bush, tracking big game on foot is not uncommon and always thrilling.

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Driving safaris are all conducted in open 4X4 vehicles (Land Cruiser or Land Rover) with either two or three 'rows' of seats. At Chinzombo, Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli and Mchenja we generally have 4, with no more than 6, people on a vehicle ensuring everyone has a 'window' seat.

Night drives are generally an extension of your afternoon game drive or walking safari. As the sun begins to set we stop to watch the day come to a close and as dusk falls set off to explore as the nocturnal animals start to emerge.

The best chance of seeing genets, civets, elephant shrew, porcupine and the fierce honey-badger is after sunset and the large predators, with the exception of wild dog, are most active at night. Night time birding can be very rewarding with nightjars, owls great and small, dikkop, bat hawk and coursers are all abundant.

The Africa night sky is simply magnificent and it’s worth coming all this way just to experience its vastness and splendour. The Milky Way seems 100 times brighter in the Luangwa Valley where there is no light pollution. We’re watched over by the Southern Cross, Orion and Scorpio amongst an infinite number of others and memories of sitting in awed silence listening to the distant call of lions, cicadas and a million tree frogs under the crescent of an African moon will live with you forever.

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Once regarded as the time in the safari calendar to be avoided by less adventurous operators, the 'Secret' Season months of January through March are now heralded by those lucky enough to experience them, as the highlight of the year.

Norman Carr Safaris has always been open all year round and is the only Zambian safari operator to open a true Bush Camp in the Luangwa at this time of year. Kakuli opens around the 20th January and closes again in early April. We gain access to camp by boat and activities are either on foot or by boat. A few days at Kakuli combines very well with the game drives and prolific wildlife on offer in the areas around Kapani Lodge and Chinzombo.

During these Secret Season safaris the bush is in its fullest flush of growth, rivers and lagoons are brimming and boating safaris take you eye to eye with hippos and crocs. The air is clear and excellent for photography; you will find magnificent skyscapes and sunsets with the occasional dramatic tropical downpour.

A wealth of migratory birds in breeding song and plumage make the bush a wonderful place to explore at this time of year. It is a time of plenty so there is no shortage of wildlife; the Secret Season months are usually the best for seeing wild dogs in the South Luangwa.

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Our local professional therapists offer you unique treatments with fresh homemade products.
All products used in the treatments are developed and mixed by the therapists using healing herbal plants and natural ingredients found in the local bush land and Mfuwe produce farms.

The products are all created and tested by us, and are safe to use on your skin; we guarantee a healthy and purely natural experience. Products are easily absorbed and are beneficial for the health of your body.

Enjoy all the treatments in the privacy of your Villa, surrounded by the sounds of the animals in the distance.

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Get a bird's eye view of the Victoria Falls and Zambezi River on a 15 minute or 30 minute flight. This memorable experience will ‘wow’ you long after you’ve landed.

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Safari Par Excellence offers half and full day Zambezi Rafting and River boarding excursions during low and high water seasons. Acclaimed as the best one-day white water run in the world, the river is also recognised as one of the top ten paddling rivers in the world. SafPar are one of the original commercial rafting operations on the Zambezi River and have some of the best qualified guides

who will ensure that you have both an enjoyable and safe day on the river.The days adventure is captured on video and film and the trip includes either a riverside lunch and dinner at a lodge or

lunch at a lodge (depending on which trip is booked).

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An awesome way to see the Falls is from the bottom of the gorge. Swimming in the rock pools below the Falls, surrounded by the massive black basaltic rock towering up above you and the water cascading down, seemingly out of the sky, is certainly one of the most breathtaking experiences you will ever have. This activity is a perfect combination with white water rafting.

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Enjoy the most spectacular view of the Falls from the island where Dr Livingstone first viewed the Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders). At low water the island has its very own bathing pool,

(Devil’s Pool) which forms each year amongst the rocks along the edge.

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See the raw, powerful beauty of the Victoria Falls from the best possible angle – above. United Air Charter offers 3 different flight options from their base at Baobab Ridge. The short flight circuits the Falls and offers superb views over the gorges below and the Zambezi above. The longer flight skims over the Zambezi rapids, ascends over the Falls and finishes with game viewing over the

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The adventure flight in a Huey helicopter, flown with doors open at a lower lever, skims over the African bush, deep down into the Batoka gorge and over the falls. A gourmet champagne picnic is the perfect helicopter package, providing a romantic flight over the Falls and into the gorge to an exclusive setting on the banks of the Zambezi River as it rushes down the narrow gorge below the Falls. All flights include transfers to and from our helipad. Airport transfers and charter flights are available.

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This unique activity begins with a spectacular scenic helicopter flight over the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. The helicopter then swoops into the Gorge and lands at rapid 21, where a beautiful riverside spot with stunning views of the river and gorge await you. A beautifully prepared picnic lunch on the white beach at the edge of the Zambezi is a wonderful setting for a relaxing lunch. The ascent out of the gorge by helicopter is the perfect finale to a stunning midday excursion.

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The African Queen and the African Princess are berthed just upstream of The Victoria Falls. Fully inclusive morning, lunch and sunset cruises are offered daily, treating passengers to sophisticated

views of the Zambezi River and the surrounding game reserves. We take great pride in our cuisine and friendly service, making The African Queen experience unforgettable.

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The Zambezi - river of dreams and romance, evoking images of the great era of adventure and exploration. Wild and captivating, the Zambezi beats to a rhythm and a time that is fast disappearing.

The clear waters of the river and the game reserves that surround it, attract herds of elephant, buffalo, several species of antelope, giraffe, zebra, lion and leopard. Join us on full or half day canoe

trips. You will negotiate small but exciting rapids, canoe through narrow channels and drift down open stretches. No previous canoeing experience necessary.

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The Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls is widely considered to be the very best rafting river in the world. A deep channelled, high volume river, the Zambezi has class 3-5 rapids interspersed with tranquil pools. This enables you to marvel at the magnificent beauty of the Batoka Gorge between some of the most exciting and challenging rapids rafted anywhere on the planet. Highly professional guides ensure your safety and enjoyment of this amazing adventure. .

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The ultimate safari experience is a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana, which boasts the world’s largest elephant population. The game cruise on the Chobe River brings you close to brilliant bird life, pods of watering hippos, primeval crocodiles and elephants, breathtaking in their sheer number. The afternoon’s land-based safari heads deeper into the Park to spot the elusive big cats that make Chobe their home.

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On the Victoria Falls tour, led by our experienced guides, you will explore this most awe-inspiring

phenomenon - one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At times of high water the mist from this torrent can be seen as far away as 40 kilometres. If you are lucky enough to be here for

a full moon, the magnificent lunar rainbow will take your breath away.

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