Explore Zambia

Nothing beats drifting down the Zambezi at sunset. Listen to the sound of the river settling in for the night. Baboons and monkeys climbing to safe-haven perches high in the trees, flocks of birds heading to their night-time roost. Herds of elephant and buffalo coming down for an evening drink, hippos grunting and splashing around, jostling for the best position in the water. This is what you'll do on your first night at Waterberry - sundowner in one hand, camera in the other. Bliss.

At dawn the Zambezi wakes - completely still with mist rising from the waters, this is a magical time to set out in a small boat with hot water bottle and blankets and hot coffee to see the sun rise as the birds setting out for their daytime feeding grounds.

Our village guide lives in the community and will show guests how rural Zambians lead their lives in this completely noncommercial setting. Followed by curious children guests will see our school and education areas, the village library and the community farm that are part funded by the village walks.

Waterberry's owners have built a school, library and adult education centre, and given land for a community farm opened during the pandemic to help provide food for the village. From a mud and stick classroom in 2009 to recognition of the school as a regional exam centre, the community projects programme is at the heart of Waterberry.

Victoria Falls never ceases to amaze. Flowing over 1.6km of sheer cliff between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the huge body of water changes with every season. High water in the early part of the year floods with absolutely astonishing force, shaking buildings miles away, releasing massive spray and vast double rainbows. In the dry season, from late October until early January, the huge 100m deep canyon is exposed with boiling rapids and views to the fast running cataract on the west side.

Walking the paths around the Falls is an unmatched, awe-inspiring experience. We think everyone should see the Falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, because they are very different experiences.

Waterberry's expert bird guides take guests around the 1km Waterberry riverbank and through the wooded areas to see our amazing collection of birds. Keen birders can also visit Mosi O Tunya Park. A dawn cruise on the Zambezi reveals flocks of birds leaving their night time roost and heading for their daytime feeding grounds.

Livingstone was the capital of Zambia at the beginning of the 20th century, and some fascinating architecture remains. In the Museum guests can actually pull out and read David Livingstone's handwritten letters. At Maramba Market local Zambians shop for food, beautiful fabrics and literally everything!

All vehicles are open, comfortable and accommodate only four guests allowing for great photographic moments and plenty of opportunity to ask the guide questions.

Morning drives set off early from camp and are taken at a relaxed pace. A stop is taken at a scenic sight during the morning to enjoy a hot cuppa' and snack.

On afternoon drives, sundowners are taken overlooking the Luangwa River, after which a spotlight is brought into play, revealing Africa's nocturnal wildlife.

All vehicles are open, comfortable and accommodate only four guests allowing for great photographic moments and plenty of opportunity to ask the guide questions.

On afternoon drives, sundowners are taken overlooking the Luangwa River, after which the drive continues in the dark with the help of a spotlight.

Night drives are led by an experienced guide accompanied by a hawk-eyed spotter who controls the spotlight and finds many nocturnal animals rarely seen during the day activities.

On foot guests are given the rare opportunity to become part of nature, to immerse themselves in the wonders that present themselves at every turn. A walking safari is always led by an experienced guide with an armed National Park scout and a tea bearer so their are many eyes ready to spot the Luangwa's wildlife, identify the smallest insect, track last night's lion spoor and identify a possible threat before it really becomes one.

Children under the age of 12 are unfortunately not able to take part in walking safaris at Remote Africa Safaris.

Sitting in a game-viewing vehicle or walking delicately through the African bush may not provide the level of activity craved by more energetic guests. For these guests Tafika offers mountain bike safaris led by an experienced guide who in most cases is the owner, John Coppinger.

The cycling route takes the safari cyclists along the tracks and paths of the Game Management Area, adjacent to Tafika Camp. Mountain bike safaris generally take place in the afternoon. This gives participating guests enough time to finish their ride and meet up with the game drive, just before sunset, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of a night drive after an hour and a half of cycling.

At Remote Africa Safaris the local village, Mkasanga, kindly invites guests to visit and gives them the opportunity to learn about the lives of the people from the Luangwa Valley.

Highlights of these visits include: a guided tour of the local school - proudly showcased by the teachers, a visit to the village and a local church choir performance where guests experience the perfect harmony of Africa's song

The Tafika camp hide is available to all camp guests and can be accessed any time of the day from the camp. The hide is a dug out seating chamber that looks out over a lagoon behind the camp. Birds, baboons and antelope frequent the lagoon and elephants visit on a daily basis from about August during the hotter time of the year.

A seasonal Carmine bee-eater hide is built annually at Tafika. The hide is built into the banks of the Luangwa river to gain the best view of the carmine colony as they flock around their newly dug breeding holes. This hide is generally available during September and October and visits to the guide are done with a guide.

Tafika guests are also able to visit the Kawere hide during a game drive activity. It is built on the camps private land and overlooks a productive waterhole where elephants and buffalo come to drink and fishing parties frequent towards the end of the season.

The Chikoko Trails Camps offer guests a great walking safari. On foot guests are given the rare opportunity to become part of nature, to immerse themselves in the wonders that present themselves at every turn. Whether it's a short morning or afternoon walk, a longer walking safari along the ancient and well-worn elephant and hippo trails, a journey into the remote North Luangwa National Park or a combination of all of the above, those on walking safaris are always accompanied by an experienced guide, an armed National Park scout and a tea bearer.

Children under the age of 12 are unfortunately not able to take part in walking safaris at Remote Africa Safaris.

Get out into the bush and explore the rich diversity of the surrounding area on guided morning and afternoon walks. With some of the South Luangwa’s most diverse and breathtaking landscape situated around Kuyenda, you can guarantee that no two outings will ever be the same.

Explore the surroundings at Kuyenda. Get further afield and experience South Luangwa's most diverse and breathtaking landscape on a night game drive.

Driving safaris are all conducted in open 4X4 vehicles (Land Cruiser or Land Rover) with either two or three 'rows' of seats. 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, canoe 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.

There is little to compare to the thrill of a walking safari, and we are fortunate to have some of the best terrain for exploring on foot in the Lower Zambezi valley right on our doorstep. Walking is the only way you really become intimate with Africa, learning about the small, seemingly irrelevant plants and animals which are often overlooked on a game drive.

We walk accompanied by an armed scout, and your safari guide will show you an amazing secret world of tiny wonders as he leads you slowly through the bush along ancient animal pathways, examining plants, trees and insects along the way.

One of the most leisurely ways to experience the sights and sounds of the Lower Zambezi valley is on a canoe safari. Our canoes seat two guests and a guide in comfort, with ample room for cameras and binoculars.

Canoeing offers you a completely different perspective as you glide gently along either the Zambezi and its beautiful channels or the Chongwe River, allowing you to fully appreciate the magical beauty of this incredible area and the creatures and plants that inhabit it.

It truly is a special experience for the nature lover using only the safest of routes where previous canoeing experience is not necessary, and lifejackets are provided. All you need to do is sit back, relax and watch Africa slip by!

Chongwe is tiger country! The Lower Zambezi is home to the tiger fish, nicknamed the “water dog,” whose sharp teeth are matched only by its fighting spirit and reputation as one of the world’s top game fish.

At Time + Tide Chongwe Camp we offer our guests the chance to head out onto the river in search of this formidable combatant, operating a strict catch-and-release policy in order to preserve stocks of this incredible fish. You can fish with both fly and popper.

Alternatively, you can try your hand at bream fishing on the river itself, where a limited catch can be brought back to camp and served up with a delicious lemon butter sauce!

Fishing can be combined with game activities and all equipment is provided, with both conventional tackle and entry level fly rods available. We recommend serious fly fisherman should bring their own tackle. Please contact us for specifications and recommendations.

The Zambezi River offers a variety of additional activities that few, if any, other destinations can offer. One such activity is a river safari which offers both morning and afternoon opportunities to view game from the comfort of a luxury boat.

Sit back and relax as your guide leisurely navigates the islands and main channels of the mighty Zambezi. Cruise the river looking at game, birds and enjoy some of the most spectacular sunsets you are ever likely to see. All without the bumps and dust of game drives.

Morning coffee or evening sundowners can be enjoyed from either the boat or from your own island in the middle of the Zambezi River!