8N Zambia High Season 2018

Lions and leopards are often seen in the area around the camp, as are buffalo, giraffe, zebra and elephant. For big game like this, guests really need a vehicle to get up close and here in the South Luangwa, travellers have the privilege of going on game drives at night. Guests are always amazed how much can be seen when they go down to the river for sundowner cocktails before leisurely driving back to camp. Bush babies in the trees stand out with their enormous eyes, puku and impala scarcely notice as vehicles pass by. Guests often see hyena and leopard in the early evenings and are able to get very close in Puku Ridges' specially designed 4 x 4 vehicles. On the open plains below the camp there are always grazing herds of antelope and of course they attract the predators that every guest wants to see.

Also available are night drives which employ Chiawa Safaris' unique, award-nominated spotlight protocol, where a red filtered spotlight is used to find and watch the nocturnal action, and a diffuse filtered spotlight is used to help with the photography, ensuring that night drives are low impact on the wildlife which rewards our guests with more natural behavior and better wildlife sightings.

Walking is the best way to see the bush around Puku Ridge Camp. The South Luangwa is home of the walking safari and it remains the best way to experience the sights and sounds of the bush. Puku Ridge's experienced guides love showing guests the indicators of the wild, 'rewinding' the action of the last few hours from just a few small give away signs. See where an elephant stopped to browse, where a leopard scratched a tree or a pangolin rolled into a ball. Accompanied by an armed game scout and taking careful note of the wind to mask any scent. There's nothing like seeing lion tracks or the giant footprint of an elephant to make guests relish the comforts of camp. The area is home to 60 mammals and over 400 bird species, making it one of the top birding destinations in the world.

Game drives with vehicles seating max 4 guests. Game drives can be taken in the morning and afternoon. Enjoy a private sundowner watching elephants crossing the mighty Zambezi, or your coffee in the morning in the absolute splendour of the Winterthorn forest after an exciting morning tracking lion.

The wildlife on the river is everchanging, surprising and always exciting. Whether watching a pod of hippos jostle in the afternoon light, or a family of elephant bathing in the mud at the bank, the calm of the Zambezi will flood the soul with the magic of the bush.

With the gentle lap of water against the canoe, the measured peace of slowly drifting down the Zambezi in serene wonder, canoeing gives you the opportunity to see the wildlife along the riverbank at your own pace, guided by an experienced paddler.

Encounter the bush at it's best - on foot with our experienced guides. Watch as they explain the art of tracking animals from their spoor and listen as they unravel the symbiosis of species that make up the rich tapestry of life in the bush.

With an almost unparalleled species diversity of birds in the Lower Zambezi, there is always something to excite both experienced birders and novices alike.

Whether a keen angler or complete beginner, catching a Tiger Fish is one for the bucket list. With a selection of rods, reels, and all necessary tackle, our coxswains will guide you through the cast, play, landing, and of course the trophy shot before releasing back into the water.

A microlight flight over the Victoria Falls is a must for everyone. Flight options include a 15 minute

introductory flight over the Victoria Falls and Zambezi River - with genuine bird’s eye view of this

awesome spectacle. The 30 minute trip includes a flight over the Victoria Falls, then upstream over

Long Island, Palm Island, Kakunka and Kandahar Islands and finally onto the Mosi-oa-Tunya National

Park, where you’ll achieve a unique perspective of our famous park.

The most awesome perspective to see the Victoria Falls 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: swim under the Victoria Falls before you hop in the raft and experience the thrill of ‘rafting at its best’.

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.

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.

A daring highlight of visiting Zambia is swimming in Devil’s Pool. This uniquely located plunge pool resides right on the edge of Victoria Falls, where the waterfall’s thundering cascade plummets 350-feet down, providing a pulse-racing dip. The pool is also special in that it can only be visited between mid-August and mid-January, before the summer rains swell the Zambezi River. Afterwards, the pool remains hidden under the river’s pounding flow.

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

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.

The Royal Livingstone Express ‘time travels’ back in history using beautiful steam locomotives and carriages lovingly restored by Bushtracks Africa and Rovos Rail. In this magnificent, romantic, steam-powered train we offer ‘The Dinner Excursion’ which includes a run along the “Cape to Cairo” mainline, which will then go on to the Victoria Falls Bridge in time for sunset. Don’t miss this unique chance of experiencing the sights and sounds of Zambia

Enjoy a once in a lifetime helicopter ride and watch from above as the mighty Zambezi River carves its way through the steep cliffs of the Batoka Gorge and transforms from a gentle and serene river into the rampant Victoria Falls that descend 120metres to the floor of the valley.