On arrival into the Luangwa valley, after a scenic 1-hour flight over the vast expanses of Central
Zambia, you’ll be met at Mfuwe airport by a member of the Msandile River Lodge team and
whisked off to your first destination, literally on the Luangwa River bordering the Luangwa
National park and away from the main gate.
The camp is often full of wildlife. Beware of the silent but massive elephants during the day, and
the equally quiet hippos at night out on their nightly foraging runs.
Morning game drive
An early start today! After breakfast, we head out on the long and very wild and remote road
north. We are passing through some of the remotest villages in Zambia, cut off from the rest of
the area for 6 months every rainy season due to unpassable roads and surging and rising rivers
that are teeming with crocodiles and hippos.
On these 2 days, we enjoy a morning and afternoon/evening drive in the park. The South
Luangwa is famous for it’s big cats (lion & leopard), and has a thriving wild dog population thanks
to the Zambian Carnivore program. Along with the normal plains game of impala, puku, kudu,
buffalo, waterbuck and of course the large number of elephants found in the park.
We experience walking safaris for up to 5 hours each morning with a highly trained guide and an
armed ranger that will take us into the heart of the action. The guide will explain everything there
is to know about the bush; from discovering different plants and their uses, to how to track
animals and distinguish between the different bird calls.
Today we start off after breakfast for a drive through the middle of North Luangwa from East to
West through the rhino sanctuary.
We are headed for a beautiful property founded by colonial government officer Stewart Gore
Brown in 1914. Still occupied by his relatives, it is a working farm and game ranch, and has a
beautiful hot spring set in a wooded area on the Mansa River.
Today is spent enjoying the hot spring, relaxing by the pool, taking a hike in the hills nearby or
maybe visiting the Manor House at Shiwa Ng’andu (at own expense, about 20km’s away)
After breakfast, we are heading further south towards the escarpment and the Luangwa Valley,
where we find the extraordinary Mutinondo Wilderness. Set in unspoilt miombo woodland, this
gem is set on granite rocks and surrounded by huge inselbergs that dot the landscape.
The landscape of the nature reserve is breathtaking. The area is an absolute dream for active
holidaymakers. There are no dangerous animals and so you can go hiking or mountain biking
over 60km’s of hiking trails including the 10 peaks walk.
Mutinondo also has several waterfalls that one can visit on foot, a beautiful river - which gives this place it’s name - for swimming and some river craft (canoe, kayak and stand up paddle boards) for guests to enjoy. Also a great spot for birding.
Between Mid-October to Mid-November, 2 nights can be spent at Wasa Lodge in Kasanka
National Park, that hosts the largest mammal migration on the planet. Around Mid-October,
African Straw Colored Fruit Bats start arriving from the Congo and feast on the fruiting trees in
the Mishutu Forest (swamp) and neighbouring areas.
At it’s peak, this forest houses 8 to 10 millions of these bats which head out to forage at dusk, and arrive back to sleep at dawn.
We leave Kasanka and head towards Lusaka, stopping off in Mkushi for the night to break up
the 8+ hours of driving it takes to get back to the capital city of Zambia. We spend a night at a
splendid lodge just south of Mkushi.
We drive back to Lusaka and say our goodbyes at the delightful Ciela Resort & Spa, very close to
Lusaka International Airport, where you will stay overnight before boarding your international
flights. Bon Voyage
