Current as of: October 10, 2024 - 04:25
Current as of: October 10, 2024 - 04:25
4 out of 7 - Moderate & Challenging
Encounter the spectacular wildlife and incredible scenery of Zambia in as intimate and active way as possible. The mighty Zambezi is an excellent location for a canoe safari. Camping on secluded beaches, the days are spent relishing magnificent scenery and abundant game, while passing the ever-present basking crocodiles and hippos. Away from the water, we have plenty of time for game walks and drives to experience the diverse wildlife and remarkable scenery this region offers.
This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample contributes directly to the eBioAtlas, the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.
Highlights
This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging) with a Wildlife Rating of Four.For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is generally a comfortable participatory safari but, as it goes through some wild country, come prepared to be flexible and expect delays or inconveniences.
Travel is by Canadian-style 5.5m (18ft) two-person canoes and open-backed safari vehicle. No previous experience is necessary but you should have a reasonable level of fitness as it is an active trip. An ability to swim is recommended.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 12
After the arrival of the group flight in the early afternoon, we transfer to Nyamomba. En route, we have a brief stop at a supermarket where there is the option to purchase drinks and snacks to take with you on the canoes. Most of this road transfer to the start of the safari is on tar road with the last section of the journey being along a bush dirt track so a change to a 4×4 vehicle is necessary. We camp on the banks of the Zambezi River. Dinner is prepared by the guide.
Please note: Do not book flights arriving after midday.
Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory)
We gather at Lusaka Airport for our transfer to the Zambezi River. Most of this journey to the start of the safari is on tar road with the last section along a bush dirt track, meaning a change to a 4×4 vehicle is necessary. Depending on the time we arrive at the Zambezi River, we cross over to our evening campsite on Nyamumba island by canoe or motorboat. Dinner is prepared by the guide.
Please note: If you’re booking your own flights, do not book one arriving after midday.
Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory)
We have three days canoeing with early starts, as it is often better to canoe in the early hours when it is not so hot and, more importantly, when the easterly head wind is weakest. The pace is moderate, which allows us to make the most of our wildlife-viewing opportunities. We look for elephants feeding on the banks, basking crocodiles and numerous colourful bird species including the magnificent African fish eagle. The list of species we spot may include buffalos, baboons, vervet monkeys, pied kingfishers, goliath herons, carmine bee eaters and maybe even lions. We frequently pass hippo pods basking in the deeper water, who will no doubt keep an eye on us! There are few signs of human habitation throughout our time on the river. Lunches and breakfasts are either taken on islands or on the riverbanks.
Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory)
Distance covered: 12mi (20km) per day on average
We canoe to the Chiawa Game Management Area, which is 11mi (18km) from the Lower Zambezi National Park, just opposite the Mana Pools, where we spend the night in our fly camp on the mainland. This is a wildlife-rich area and renowned for numerous elephant sightings. It is also home to warthogs, waterbucks, impalas, kudus and rare samango monkeys, with many riverine bird species including the lilac-breasted roller. We have an afternoon game walk or game drive through the reserve, where we hope to spot other nocturnal species such as genets, civets, hyenas, porcupines, aardvarks and, if we’re really lucky, the elusive leopard.
Accommodation: Fly camp in Game Management Area
Today we canoe from the Chiawa Game Management Area into the Lower Zambezi National Park (approximately 5mi/8km downstream). We have a morning game walk with a guide, and then lunch in the park under the shade of the trees or on the banks of the Zambezi River. After lunch, we are taken on a game drive through the park back to our fly camp on the riverbanks of the Game Management Area. If river water levels are too high in winter (May-July) – which can happen when excess water is released from Lake Kariba – we may use a boat transfer as certain road crossings may be flooded.
Accommodation: Fly camp in Game Management Area
We are transferred by road from our bush camp in the Game Management Area to Zambezi Breezes. Should river conditions necessitate, we may use a boat transfer where required.
Accommodation: Zambezi Breezes or similar (semi-participatory)
An early start today; after breakfast we transfer approximately three to four hours to Lusaka International Airport for our flight to London.
We have an early start today. After breakfast, we transfer approximately four to five hours to Lusaka where our tour ends in the late morning. If you’d like the adventure to continue, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
We spend four nights camping in two-person dome tents and three nights in set-up bush camps with showers, toilets and large tents.
The camping is semi-participatory. You are asked to assist with camp chores and have to put up and dismantle your own tents on the canoeing safari. Most nights are spent wild camping with no facilities provided. All camping equipment is provided.
Single supplement from £ 260
All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners are included.
Meals are prepared for you but group members are asked to assist in preparation and washing up.
Typical meals
Vegetarians can be catered for but, given the difficulties of preparing different meals while wild camping, the variety of food may be limited.
Please indicate special dietary requirements (eg vegetarian or allergies) when booking. We supply the following drinks: fruit squash served throughout, and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner.
There is always a plentiful supply of chlorinated water available (sometimes even chilled!) and we encourage you to drink water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
All other beverages are at your own expense and can be purchased at the supermarket in Lusaka prior to travelling to the river.
Travel is by Canadian-style 5.5m (18ft) two-person canoes. Transport on land is in a minibus or Landcruiser for road transfers and safaris.
Travelling conditions
Most of the roads in Zambia are reasonably well maintained; however, some stretches have a few potholes and rough surfaces depending on the previous rainy season. Some travel is on unsurfaced roads, some of which are quite dusty and bumpy (eg during the game drives).
Safety
Exodus strive to ensure client safety and take all necessary precautions. On certain sections of this itinerary, we are likely to come into proximity of several different wildlife species. These mainly include hippos, elephants, buffalos and, occasionally, crocodiles while on the water, along with a variety of other game while on foot. As all wildlife is potentially dangerous, it is important to heed all advice given to you by the guide and to follow instructions accordingly.
Lifejackets are available for those who would like to wear them.
With exceptionally mild winters, Zambia is best enjoyed during the dry season. This period extends from May to early November. The days are generally dry, hot and sunny with daytime highs around 25C (77F); however, nights can be cool (down to 10C/50F). From June to August, it can be exceptionally cold. September and October are the hottest months, where daytime highs are regularly 35C (95F) and night-time temperatures can be around 23C (73F). Rainfall is generally confined between November and April. Rains normally occur as heavy showers, but they tend to clear rapidly with sunshine still predominant.
Start point: Lusaka Airport (LUN)
Recommended arrival time: Do not book flights arriving after midday on the first day
Airport: Lusaka Airport (LUN)
Getting to the start accommodation
On the first day, we meet as a group at Lusaka Airport for an early afternoon transfer to the Zambezi River. It is essential you join this group transfer, so please do not book flights arriving after midday on the first day.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
There’s a group transfer to Lusaka on the final day, where our tour ends in the late morning. There is then a group departure transfer to Lusaka Airport (LUN) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Lusaka
Location end: Lusaka
Please note, you need a smaller bag to take 11lb-15lb (5kg-7kg) of stuff with you on the canoe safari – your main luggage is sent to the fly camp where you have it after the canoe safari finishes. It is best to have this smaller bag already packed before arrival as there is not much time on the river to repack before the canoeing starts. It is also best to pack enough clothes for the first three nights on the river in your carry-on bag, as well as any needed medication, as it can take time for luggage to catch up with the group if it is delayed. Given the luggage needs to be transported by vehicle to the river and then by boat to catch up with the group, it can be quite a lengthy process.
Water included
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
If you would like to help under-privileged Zambian school children, please consider packing some basic educational supplies that our partner Charity Baraka Community Partnerships (www.barakacommunity.com) will distribute to the schools and children they support. Second-hand items are fine, such as: notebooks, pens, pencils, colouring pens, paper, young children’s reading books, primary school textbooks, rulers, pencil sharpeners and flashcards. Also needed are footballs (soccer balls), tennis balls, netballs, young children’s clothes and shoes. Just leave them with your tour guide before you head down the river and Baraka will do the rest.
Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours via a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Malaria is also a known risk, please seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic on the best course of action for all the above.
Bilharzia is known to occur in some of the lakes or rivers visited on this itinerary, we therefore advise all to take advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.
Zambia's time zone: Africa/Lusaka (UTC +02:00)
Zambia's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins), D (three round pins) and G (three rectangular pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Zambia's currency: Zambian kwacha (ZMW)
You are strongly advised to change money into Zambian kwacha on arrival at Lusaka Airport, as this is one of the few opportunities you have to obtain local currency. Exchange desks are readily available throughout Lusaka, where money can be easily exchanged but you may not have time to do this. ATMs are only available in Lusaka.
There is not much opportunity for spending money on this trip but you may wish to allow approximately 60 kwacha (US$3) per day for drinks and incidentals.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work. Our guides work hard and can be tipped if you feel they have done a good job. Tipping is not compulsory and should only be given if you feel you received exemplary service. Although entirely optional, we suggest you budget approximately 510 kwacha (US$30) in total to be broken down as follows:
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.