Nyati BIG-5 Classic “Best of Zambia” Safari Experience: Lower Zambezi, Kafue (Busanga Plains) and South Luangwa National Parks – 11 days

Experience the best Zambia wildlife exploration in three major National Parks!

Wildlife experts consider Zambia to be one of the best places in Africa to see wild animals and birds in their natural habitant. South Luangwa National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park and the Busanga Plains of the Kafue National Park offer the classic “Best of Zambia” wildlife experience. 

Accolade: This 11-day Nyati safari tour gives you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful African wilderness in Zambia’s best parks and see the famous “BIG 5” wild animals. 

Narration: In this 11 days Nyati safari tour (i.e Nyati means Buffalo in the African Bantu language), you will encounter an intimate experience with nature. You will visit Zambia's best national parks: the Lower Zambezi National Park,  the world famous Busanga Plains of the Kafue National Park  and South Luangwa National Park ( a world-renowned wildlife haven). 

Offocial starting point for this tour.

The 11-day Nyati Safari tour starts from the beautiful and centrally located StayEasy Lusaka Hotel (GPS LOCATION INFORMATION S 15 24' 10'' E 28 17' 7'') in Lusaka Zambia. It is situated on the corner of Church and Kabelenga Roads in Lusaka city within Levy Shopping Mall yard. 

Park Entry Fees:  Please note that government park entry fees in all the three (3) major National Parks are not included in the costing of this package. Kindly be preapred to pay government park entry fees either in U$Dollar or in the Zambian Kwacha currency as follows:

1. Lower Zambezi National Park: You will enter only once in the Lower Zambezi National Park for game viewing. So you will be required to pay $25 per person for the full day game viewing.

2. Busanga (Kafue National Park): You will enter and remain in the Busanaga Plains for 3 consecutive days. So you will be required to pay $20 per person per day. Therefore, the total park entry fees you will pay to access and enter the Busanga Plains is U$D 20 x 3 days = U$D 60 per person.

Additional camping levy: Since you will be camping in the Busanga Plains, you will also be required to pay an additional U$D 10.

3. South Luangwa National Park:  You will enter the South Luangwa National Park on two occasions. The total park entry fees you will pay to access and enter the South Luangwa National Park is U$D 30 x 2 days = U$D 60 per person.

Travel Tip! You are kindly advised to add into your Travel Budget the above park entry fees at your trip planning stage. Please note that the above park entry fees may change at short notice due to government deciding to change the park entry fees. 

General Information

•  Pre-arrival accommodation: Kindly arrange your own pre-arrival accommodation in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. We recommend you staying at StayEasy Lusaka Hotel as it is the official starting point for this safari tour. For making your reservations, use any of the following email addresses: res@stayeasylusaka.co.zm   (or)  stayeasylusaka.reservations@tsogos.com  For personalised reservation assistance via WhatsApp conversation, you may contact Mary on WhatsApp line +260975039004. In an event that StayEasy Lusaka Hotel is fully booked at your time of visiting Zambia, try booking and staying at Southern Sun Ridgeway Hotel. You may visit their website. For personalised reservation assistance via WhatsApp conversation, you may contact Sharon the Assistant Front Office Manager on WhatsApp line +260977414734. The third alternative is Marriot Protea Hotel in the inner Lusaka central business district on email: dm@phcairoroad.co.zm. The fourth alternative hotel is at Hilton Garden Inn. You may contact Judith on the following email: Judith.Mweene@hilton.com

• Safari types: Guided Wildlife Safari,  Birdwatching, Photo Safari. 

•You will visit: Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park, drive through the Kafue National Park, the world famous Busanga Plains, South Luangwa National Park

•Wildlife: The BIG 5, Buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards, Hippos, Lions, Birds, Giraffe,  Zebra, Wildebeest, Cheetah, Hyena, Wild Dog, Puku, Tsessebe, Impala, Antelope.

•Activities: Game Viewing, Sightseeing Tour, Birding Activities  & evening/night game drives

•Getting around: Game Viewing Vehicle, Transfer Vehicle

•Start/end: Start in Lusaka, Ends in South Luangwa National Park at Mfuwe airport.

•Can be customised: You can request changes to this tour by sending your request to our customer support team on email: ngomacampsitezambia@gmail.com.

•Private tour: This is a tour organized exclusively for your family members, friends or members of special interest group.  However, some wildlife viewing activities in the Parks are run by the lodges/camps themselves.  At such times kindly expect to share safari vehicles with other people staying at the same lodge with you but rest be assured that safe travel protocols will be observed.

•Suitable for solo travelers:  For a solo tour arrangement, you will be all by yourself as a single traveler accompanied by our tour guide and medic. 

Information on the national parks you will visit.

Journey segmentation

Phase 1: Lusaka International Airport –(TO)  Lusaka   -(TO) Lower Zambezi National Park – (Return) to Lusaka   

Phase 2 : Lusaka -(TO) Kafue National Park – Busanga Plains -(Return) to Lusaka. 

Phase 3: Lusaka (flight) to Mfuwe - Southern Luangwa National Park -  Mfuwe airport (end of tour).

Guaranteed Group Travel Departure.

We do not wait for tour seats to fill up to the required number. All our departure dates on this tour are 100% guaranteed to take off on the stated date regardless of the number of people that have booked. The set base default arrangement is "Group Tour Arrangement" where other people will join you in the safari tour.

General description of the three icon parks you will visit.

(1) South Luangwa National Park

A world-renowned wildlife haven, South Luangwa National Park, in the eastern part of Zambia, is a fantastic option for walking safaris and is home to herds of elephants, buffalo, Thornicroft’s giraffe and endemic species of zebra and wildebeest. It’s a leopard hot spot with night game drives making the chance of seeing one good. Around the Luangwa River wildlife populations are among the highest in Africa with wallowing hippos, bathing elephants and plenty of crocodiles.

(2) Kafue National Park 

You will drive through the off the beaten track, the little-visited Kafue National Park  on you way to Busanaga Plains. Kafue National Park is enormous, with thriving herds on the plains including the majestic sable, stalked by lion, leopard and wild dog. No Wildlife Zambia safari would be complete without a visit to Kafue National Park, one of Africa’s largest parks and especially good for spotting a variety of wildlife!

Birdwatching - especially on the rivers and the dambos is superb. Notables include the wattled crane, purple crested loerie and Pel's fishing owl. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded throughout the park. The Kafue and Lunga Rivers offer superb fishing opportunities, especially good bream, barbel and fresh water pike. 

Busanga Plains - Zambia's best kept secret 

You will visit and tour Zambia's best kept secret, the Busanga Plains in the northern section of the Kafue Park. It is Africa's largest protected spaces and best place to see Lions.

***NOTE***:  Busanga Plains has limited months when it can be accessed being mostly from late May to late November as a result of flooding. Therefore, should you visit Zambia during the season when the Busanga Plains can not be accessed, alternative place of interest to visit will be arranged  for you.

(3) Lower Zambezi National Park 

It’s in the Lower Zambezi National Park where a canoe safari is an exhilarating option as well as sunset cruise, all within beautiful riverine surroundings – there’s nothing quite like quietly paddling past a large elephant herd on the Zambezi river’s edge.  

The Zambezi river basins provides the much needed relief from the scotching valley heat for a variety of wild animals for a frequent drink of water to cool off. Therefore, the game cruise will give you an exciting opportunity to view a variety of wild animals notably Hippos, Buffaloes and Elephants among other many animals. We will make many stops on the river whilst you continue enjoying viewing animals both on land and on the river. Lunch and refreshments will be provided whilst on this exciting tour. 

Recommended Things to carry

A few pairs of khaki shorts/light trousers, light and portable long sleeve shirts, swimming costumes, sandals, thick trousers and jacket for your cooler evenings.  Wide Brimmed Hat, Sunglasses and lots of sunblock is generally enough to protect you from the scotching African sun heat. 

Camera: Kindly bring a good SLR with different lens, especially a super telephoto zoom lens e.g. 200-600mm Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Super Telephoto Zoom. Extra memory cards are a must - one can never take enough photos. Other equipment to bring are the camera charger (240v), enough film, extenders as well as adequate batteries because you do not get a possibility to shop for time within the wild bush.

Binoculars: Bring some good brand binoculars preferably a hunting one, to spot elusive animals like the leopard.

Visas

Effective 1/10/2022, Zambia is now offering free visa entry into the country for the following countries: China, Norway, USA, Japan, UK, South Korea, Gulf States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the entire EU countries. For other countries, please check with your local travel agents  before traveling on the procedures of obtaining a travel visa to Zambia.