Appointment with Wonky Tusk’s Family; A Safari to the Elephants of Zambia

Welcome to Zambia.

Today's Schedule

• On arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Lusaka, you will be met by a representative of Tours Africa who will assist you with your luggage and transfer to the Latitude Hotel for your overnight stay.
• Drive time from the airport is approximately 30 minutes.
• A welcome cocktail reception will take place in the evening where you will meet Nick Aslin who will provide you with an orientation of your itinerary and be able to answer any questions you may have.

Point of interest - Meet Nick Aslin

• Nick Aslin arrived in Zambia in 1992 to live in the South Luangwa National Park and to work with Norman Carr. After a couple of years under Norman’s wing, Nick was asked to run Norman Carr Safaris. The company is Zambia’s oldest and most established safari company, and Nick was extremely enthusiastic to take up this opportunity. Months turned into years, and Nick and his wife moved out of the bush to Lusaka, and by 2009, realized that he was eager for change.
• Having been involved in all aspects of Zambian tourism for many years, Nick was keenly aware of the lack of an independent company that specialized in moving people throughout all areas of the country, and it was this awareness that led to the birth of the company Zambian Ground Handlers, which has been growing from strength to strength ever since.
• Nick's time guiding in the bush gave him a firm understanding of the different habitats throughout Zambia, how they existed side by side and how animal densities and behavior are affected. This understanding and knowledge is put to good use on a daily basis when designing safaris for international visitors to the country.
• Nick has travelled the world with the aim of increasing awareness Zambia which has contributed to the growth of the tourism industry and the increase of visitor numbers. As Nick says " it is always a slow process but Zambia is a country of innumerable possibilities and it is with a great sense of pleasure that I see its potential becoming realized"

Overnight: Latitude Hotel

Today's Schedule

• After breakfast you will be collected at the Latitude hotel @ 09:30 am and transferred to Lusaka Airport for your Royal Air private charter flight to the Lower Zambezi.
• Flight departs Lusaka @ 10:30am  and arrives Royal Airstrip @ 11:00am
• On arrival at the airstrip you will be greeted by the lodge guides who will assist you with luggage and accompany you on the short drive to the Royal Zambezi  Lodge.
• After check-in, lunch is available before spending some time to relax and enjoy the location and surrounds.
• In the early evening enjoy a sunset cruise and experience the magnificent sunset. See hippos and crocs and just enjoy the amazing sounds of the African bush.
• Return to the lodge with time to freshen up before the evening meal.
• Overnight: Royal Zambezi Lodge

African Food Safari - a food safari adventure with professional chefs

• During your stay at Royal Zambezi Lodge, South African culinary chef Callie-Anne Gavazzi - known by food-loving viewers worldwide for her safari cooking show "Callie-Anne cooks, into the wild"  or one of her talented chefs, will take you on a food safaris adventure, giving you insight into the culture of African cuisine and experiencing the outdoors from a different perspective.
• This food safari explores methods of cooking over an open fire in the wild and the traditional yet modern take on cooking outdoors gives you a real sense of what Africa has to offer with all its glorious produce.
• Enjoy bush breakfasts on a wilderness flood plain: a midday affair under a shady baobab tree making homemade gnocchi paired with some of southern Africa's best wines is a great way to break up the day. An afternoon game drive or boat cruise is not complete without the chance to stop and take in the magnificent sunset. Enjoy sundowner drinks and canapes followed by an interactive African feast on the banks of the Zambezi river

Lower Zambezi Wildlife

• There is a strong, diverse population of big game in the Lower Zambezi.
• Elephant and buffalo sightings are common as they like to swim between the mosaic of islands on the river.
• Lions, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs are the main predators in the areas. Leopards especially feel at home because of the many large trees, in which this slightly elusive cat likes to hide.

Activities offered by the Royal Zambezi Lodge.:

• Game drives
• Bush walks and hiking
• Canoeing
• Angling (equipment cost for own account)
• Birding
• River Cruise
• Community Engagement - visit to the Chiawa Village
• Conservation Support
• DNA ( Do Nothing at All)
• Spa Treatments (for own account)

"Doing Nothing at All"

• This is sometimes a total misnomer as the goings-on in a quiet camp often leave you breathless.  The concept of "doing nothing at all" is essentially to stay in camp, spend time relaxing by the main pool or bar, chatting to other folk on the deck, browsing through the many reference books in the lounge or staying in your suite.
• You might find yourself nose to trunk with a bull elephant while lying on your day-bed or a mum and her calf munching close to your plunge pool that realise what "relaxation" can entail!
• The Royal Bush Spa, is of course, another form of "doing nothing at all" as is the exercise machine by the pool, the pool itself or merely catching up with the news at home with the wireless internet service.

16 Nov 2020

• Early wake-up call and meet for tea / coffee and snacks before setting of on your morning game drive
• Enjoy a lavish bush breakfast prepared by your private chef on a wilderness flood plain with a fiery Zambezi sunrise peaking over the horizon to welcome you to this bush setting.
• Return to the lodge
• Lunch with your private chef
• After lunch you will visit the K9 anti-poaching unit.  Guests are invited to learn more about the tireless work this unit does in protecting our wildlife and educating the community. This excursion would be approximately 1hr 30 minutes.
• Return to the lodge to meet you guide for afternoon game viewing and sundowners
• Tantalize the taste buds with another delicious dinner at the lodge with your private chef
• Overnight: Royal Zambezi Lodge

Conservation Lower Zambezi - K9 anti-poaching unit

• This is a Zambian non-profit organisation that has been committed to the conservation and sustainable use of the local wildlife and natural resources of the Lower Zambezi for 25 years, through wildlife protection environmental education and supporting local community development.
• Conservation Lower Zambezi implements these values through three core programmes:
  • Wildlife Protection Programme - scout patrols, tracking dog unit and 10-man rapid reponse unit
  • Environmental Education Programme - raising awareness within the local community about the benefits of protecting the environment
  • Community Engagement Programme: human-wildlife mitigation and advising and supporting income-generating activities to help the community benefit directly and indirectly from the safari industry.

Today's Schedule 

• Breakfast at the lodge
• Depart on a Cultural and Community visit to Chiawa Village.
• This is an approximate 45 minute boat transfer to the village, spending 2.5 hours in the village before your return boat transfer to the lodge.
• Here you will learn about some of the partnerships and work that has been done to assist the community: one of which is the building and running of a maternity ward for the community which will soon include the building of accommodation for doctors: installation of solar-powered fridge in the clinic to store perishable drugs; provision of tables and chairs for the primary school: water pumps in the villages to ensure clean drinking water: provision of Edu-pads/i-school tablets to the local school; borehole drilling and more.
• Return to the lodge for lunch with you private chef
• Afternoon game viewing and sundowners
• Dinner at the lodge with your private chef
• Overnight : Royal Zambezi Lodge

Today's Schedule

• Early morning wake-up call with tea and coffee before your game drive
• Combination morning game drive and bush walk
• Return to lodge for brunch
• Afternoon game viewing with sundowners and canapes specially prepared by your private chef
• Dinner near the riverbank with your private chef to enjoy an interactive African feast prepared over an open fire.
• Return to the lodge
• Overnight: Royal Zambezi Lodge

Today's Schedule

• After breakfast, you will transferred to the Royal Airstrip for your charter flight to Lusaka Airport
• Flight time is approximately 30 minutes,.
• On arrival at Lusaka Airport, you will transfer to your connecting scheduled flight for Mfuwe Airport.
• You will be met by your driver/guides on arrival at Mfuwe Airport for transfer to Mfuwe Lodge.  
• Drive time to the lodge is approximately 45 minutes.
• Enjoy lunch on arrival at the lodge and some time to relax before high tea and your afternoon game drive.
• 3:30pm / 4:00pm : Depart on the game drive stopping to enjoy sundowners at sunset.
• Return to the lodge to freshen up before dinner
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

Location information - Elephant Experience

• South Luangwa National Park has been dubbed as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world as the concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its ox-bow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa, the National Park covers an area of 3,500 square miles. Mfuwe Lodge commands the most central of locations overlooking ox-bow lagoons on both sides of camp. It’s location is one of its best features as the populations of game in the immediate vicinity of this camp and indeed inside the camp itself are as good as anywhere in the Park. This is the lodge where the elephants walk through the reception area to reach the mango trees on the other side.
• Each year from early to mid-November, when the fruits of the Wild Mango Trees ripen, there is a family of Elephants that remember the juiciness and flavour of the fruits of a certain group of trees. In order to access these trees the elephants walk up a set of steps and right through the lodge reception. The regularity and reliability of this parade has meant that this particular family of Elephants has become known the world over. Documentary film-makers and regular guests alike are enthralled by their antics.

Today's Schedule

• Enjoy your early morning and late afternoon game drives, and experience the wonderful sights, sounds and smells of the African bush.  
• Game viewing activity start time for the morning game drive is 05:30/6:00am and afternoons is 3:30/4:00pm
• Experience one of Zambia’s unique wildlife walks in the care of a professional safari guide. These walks were pioneered in Zambia allowing only six safari goers to accompany each guide. On a safari walk, all of one’s five senses come alive! As they say at Mfuwe, “From a vehicle you see Africa. On foot you feel, hear and smell Africa.” You could add touch and taste as your guide draws your attention to everything around you, including the trees and vegetation, as well as the wildlife, both big and small
• Return to the lodge for brunch and later in the afternoon high tea before the afternoon game drive.
• Afternoon game viewing and sundowners
• Dinner
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

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Today's schedule

• 08:00am: Breakfast at the lodge
• 09:00am : Start the day with a visit to Tribal Textiles.
  • The company employs a number of local community members in the area and a visit to the workshop is always very interesting.
  • You will have the opportunity to see the production of the beautiful  internationally recognised African textiles which are used for cushion covers, handbags, table cloths and much more.
• 10:30am:  Visit the local Community at Chiwawatala. 
  • See the local schools and clinics that have been built and supported through tourism funds.
  • Learn about "a meal a day" programme which feeds 2,500 children from donations and support from Mfuwe Lodge, as well as the programme to educate 700 children. You will be interested to know that there are now 70 boreholes in the community areas thanks to fund-raising efforts and donations. Mfuwe Lodge donates $ 400 000 a year to the community. Meet with some of the local people and experience a glimpse of their daily les.
• 11:30am: After your visit to the school  we visit the Project Luwanga workshop and craft store.
  • Project Luangwa is a charitable organization which aims to help the local community in and around South Luangwa improve their economic prospects through developing schools; supporting girls and women by encouraging both self-esteem and self-reliance; providing training facilities and helping to get more kids into school through sponsorship.
  • The Craft Store has handmade items by local women including handbags, fabrics, lithograph print cards, beads and more. As a charity operating in Zambia,  developing and improving education in schools and creating training opportunities can help families have the chance of a lasting and sustainable income.
• 12:30am: Return to the lodge for lunch
• 3:00pm: High Tea
• 3:30/4:00pm: Afternoon game viewing and sundowners
• Evening farewell dinner
• Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge

Today's Schedule

• After breakfast, enjoy another wonderful day at the lodge
• Depart the lodge (lodge management to confirm departure time) for transfer to Mfuwe Airport.
• Scheduled flight departure from Mfuwe Airport
• Arrive Lusaka Airport  and our representative will assist with your check-in and connection with your international flight home.