trip highlights
Explore the gentle natural heart of Southern Africa
1-2 NIGHTS in Lusaka
Where time slows down
Lusaka provides a warm and welcoming start, with opportunities to relax or visit a nearby elephant sanctuary.
3 NIGHTS in South Luangwa
Home of the walking safari
Explore oxbow lagoons and riverbanks where wildlife gathers at the water’s edge. Guided walks, game drives, and wildlife hides reveal intimate encounters in one of Africa’s most authentic safari regions. We adore the many owner-operated small bush camps in this area, all with strong ties to the surrounding communities. Zambian hospitality is generous and kind, and the people you meet come from the surrounding villages. Our favorite properties have a bit of a wild heart, where you are immersed into the bush, with touches like open-air bathrooms.
3 NIGHTS in Lower Zambezi
Big river adventures
Boat past hippo families, enjoy island picnics, and canoe on the Zambezi River. Day and night drives offer thrilling opportunities to spot elusive leopards and other nocturnal critters. Experience Zambezi conservation at its best when you stay at one of the many lovely camps started by this park’s founders. The river is at the heart of every camp’s design, with views right from your bed or deck. Hippos emerge after sunset to forage in the grasses surrounding camp. In season, there is world-class fishing to be enjoyed; from Giant Nile Perch, or casting for the dynamic Tiger Fish.
3 NIGHTS in Hwange
Elephants and cultural connection
Hwange National Park is famed for its vast elephant herds and diverse wildlife. This massive park is dotted with over 50 man-made waterholes, designed to support the wildlife during the dry season. Hwange is also home to some of Zimbabwe’s best walking guides. Visit surrounding communities, enjoy sundowners watching wildlife come and go from waterholes, and experience meaningful cultural exchanges. There is a special low-key charm to tented camps in this area, with beautiful elements like an active waterhole in front of your camp that immerses you in nature. These camps have all you need to be comfortable without going “over the top.”
2 NIGHTS at Victoria Falls
Monumental beauty
Walk the falls, visit rhino sanctuaries, or enjoy classic high tea overlooking the dramatic gorge. One of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders on earth, the falls are the perfect ending to an unforgettable African journey. This can be a fun return to civilization staying at a historic hotel in the center of town for dinners and shopping or squeeze out every minute of time in the wilderness at a luxury lodge tucked into the national park on the upper Zambezi River.
