Shoebill Safari
7 days—Shoebill Safari
$5169-5169 USD
pp
Safari summary
This is an exceptional 6 night safari combining South Luangwa National Park, Kasanka National Park and Bangweulu Swamps. One of our leading guides – Jacob Shawa - will lead this trip. Anyone who has travelled to Luangwa Safari House will remember Jacob for his amazing sense of humour and great passion for the bush.
After a couple of nights at Nkwali in the South Luangwa the group flies to Kasanka there are many bird species that will be new to the safari and the sitatunga will certainly been seen at the swamp. Then the safari will continue onto Bangweulu Swamps, which remains one of Zambia special gems - with superb birding from all the water birds to the endangered wattled crane elegantly strolling around the plains. Of course the star attraction remains the extraordinary shoebill. At this time of year it is virtually a sure sighting. The area also hosts the endemic black lechwe along with tsessebe and buffalo.
Tips on activities on offer:
South Luangwa: walking, game drives (day and night), Kawaza Village Tour, Tribal Textiles tour (for souvenirs), Chipembele Wildlife Orphanage visit.
Kasanka National Park: walking, game drives and bird watching.
Bangweulu: walking, game drives and bird watching.
About this tour
| Tour type | Set-date, set-itinerary, group | |
| Main focus | Game drives | |
| Activity level | Easy activity | |
| Best months | May | |
| Countries | ||
| Parks |
Fine details
Safari highlights
- Boat, canoe, dhow, kayak, mokoro safari
- Night game drives
Itinerary
Day 1
South Luangwa
Day 1 : Nkwali Camp On arrival at Lusaka International Airport, you will be met by a representative from Robin Pope Safaris, who will assist you with your luggage and check-in for your flight to Mfuwe. Jacob (or another guide) will be waiting for you at the Mfuwe airport where he will drive you to Nkwali Camp. The drive to Nkwali Camp is 1 hour through colourful local scenes of villages, agriculture as well as bush. Nkwali Camp has a wide view of the Luangwa River. On Robin’s private land, and overlooking the South Luangwa National Park, Nkwali is ideally situated for the start of your safari. The six rooms all look out over the river and have open air bathrooms. Depending on your arrival time in the day you will enjoy a lunch looking out over the lagoon to the back of Nkwali or if in the afternoon for tea and the afternoon and night game drive.
Day 2
Day 2 : Nkwali Camp This is a full day to explore the Luangwa, onboard a vehicle or on foot.
Day 3
Kasanka
Day 3 : Wasa Camp After breakfast around the camp fire you will be transferred to Mfuwe Airport with Jacob for the 50 mins flight to Kasanka National Park. Depending on your flight time you may arrive in time for lunch and then enjoy birding for the afternoon with Jacob along the Luwombwa River. With luck you may see African finfoot, ross’ lourie, pel’s fishing owl and osprey. Returning to camp for dinner and an early night or after dinner drinks around the camp fire.
Day 4
Day 4 : Wasa Camp Enjoy a day of birding and game watching in the hope of seeing many mammal species such as Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable antelope, reedbuck and the rare blue monkey. Visit the sitatunga hide with its panoramic views over the Kapabi Swamp where you can spot as many as 40 sitatunga feeding at one time.
Day 5
Day 5 : Shoebill Camp Transfer by plane to Bangweulu Swamps, arriving at Shoebill Camp by boat from the airstrip. The search by boat and foot will start - to track down the elusive Shoebill. Back to camp for lunch and out again after tea to see the herds of antelope for which the area is famous. Dinner is simple but adequate and then an early night.
Day 6
Day 6 : Shoebill Camp A full day of birding and enjoying the surroundings. Watch from the hide at dawn or dusk as thousands of waterfowl fly overhead.
Day 7
Day 7 : Transit Today you will take a flight back to Lusaka for your onward connection.
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