Duiker Safari: Day-by-day
More detailed information of what each day entails, and the various places you’ll stay on the Duiker Safari. Everything we do is completely tailor-made so while this is an idea which works well, we’ll always design an itinerary just for you.
Starts: Lusaka International Airport
Lusaka to South Luangwa by flight & 4WD
From Lusaka Airport, it’s a 70-minute flight to Mfuwe in the Luangwa Valley, where you’ll meet your guide for the 4WD journey to Kakuli. Having passed small farms and shops, you'll cross the river into the national park then game drive to the small camp, arriving after about two hours.
Kakuli Bushcamp
Kakuli Bush Camp is a small, intimate camp situated in an area of South Luangwa National Park known for its high density of wildlife. One of Norman Carr Safaris’ seasonal camps, it overlooks a floodplain from an elevated bank of the Luangwa River, not far from its confluence with the Lubi (pronounced Luwi) River.
Kakuli Bush Camp is a small, intimate camp situated in an area of South Luangwa National Park known for its high density of wildlife. One of Norman Carr Safaris’ seasonal camps, it overlooks a floodplain from an elevated bank of the Luangwa River, not far from its confluence with the Lubi (pronounced Luwi) River.
"My 2nd time at Kakuli - still fabulous.. a leopard up a tree.. wild dogs nearby"
NJKfromManchesterArrived 21 May 2022, 3 nights
Kakuli Bush Camp is a comfortable, ‘no frills’ bushcamp in a game-rich part of the South Luangwa National Park. It’s probably best visited towards the end of a camp-to-camp walking safari, or perhaps for its walking and river trips between January to March, when very few other real bushcamps are open in the Luangwa. Note that during the hotter times of the year its open aspect and air-cooled tents provide few escapes from the heat. See our full report on Kakuli Bushcamp
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Night drive
4WD or walk from Kakuli to Mchenja
It's only about 7km, as the fish eagle flies, between Kakuli and Mchenja. While you can easily be driven this short distance, we'd recommend that you cover it as part of a walking safari. If you like, the route can shadow the river, which makes for a very scenic journey.
Mchenja Bushcamp
Mchenja Bushcamp is a beautiful and luxurious camp in a lovely setting within an ebony grove, beside a bend of Zambia’s Luangwa River. The whole camp has wide views of the river, and is cool and shaded under the grove of tall ebony and sausage trees around it.
Mchenja Bushcamp is a beautiful and luxurious camp in a lovely setting within an ebony grove, beside a bend of Zambia’s Luangwa River. The whole camp has wide views of the river, and is cool and shaded under the grove of tall ebony and sausage trees around it.
"guides are excellent.. no end of animals and birds to see.. a wonderful place"
Mr CfromEBMATINGENArrived 26 Jul 2023, 3 nights
Mchenja Bushcamp is small, and rather more luxurious than most of the Luangwa's other bushcamps, so makes a fantastic and relaxing end-point for a safari in South Luangwa. We really liked the atmosphere here – it is smart but relaxed and unpretentious, which is a difficult balance to get right. See our full report on Mchenja Bushcamp
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Luangwa to Lower Zambezi by air & 4WD
After driving from Mchenja to Mfuwe Airport, you’ll pick up a light aircraft for Royal Airstrip, flying over the Luangwa and Zambezi escarpments. A guide from Chongwe will meet you for the game drive to camp, though you may complete the 3–4 hour journey by boat along the Zambezi.
Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp is located at the confluence of the Zambezi River and its tributary, the Chongwe River, which forms the western boundary of the Lower Zambezi National Park. It lies in a game management area (GMA) that reaches a further 80km west along the Zambezi – so while it is outside the (unfenced) park boundary, it is still in a very productive wildlife area, with elephants regularly seen in camp.
Chongwe River Camp is located at the confluence of the Zambezi River and its tributary, the Chongwe River, which forms the western boundary of the Lower Zambezi National Park. It lies in a game management area (GMA) that reaches a further 80km west along the Zambezi – so while it is outside the (unfenced) park boundary, it is still in a very productive wildlife area, with elephants regularly seen in camp.
"beautiful location... Guiding is excellent."
Mrs EfromYardley, PA, USArrived 18 Aug 2024, 4 nights
Chongwe is a great camp with a stunning riverfront location. Due to its location outside of the park it can take a bit longer to get to the best wildlife areas further east, but this doesn’t detract greatly from your game viewing experience, partly due to the excellent guiding you’ll find here, but also due to the plentiful wildlife around the camp itself. See our full report on Chongwe River Camp
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Canoeing
Fishing
Night drive
Lower Zambezi to Lusaka by 4WD & light aircraft
Flight times depending, you'll usually have time for a game activity and a quick brunch at Chongwe before heading on a last hour's game drive to Royal Airstrip. From there you'll fly up and out of the low-lying Zambezi Valley, arriving at Lusaka Airport about 40 minutes later.
Ends: Lusaka International Airport
Side-trips whilst on this safari
We may be able to build some of these optional excursions into your Duiker Safari. Talk to us: they’re usually best arranged when you book.
Tribal Textiles Tour
One - two hours
Visit the Tribal Textiles workshop, where hand-painted textiles are produced by more than a hundred local people. The workshop is close to Mfuwe Airport, so is ideally placed for a stop en route to/from the South Luangwa. With products ranging from cushion covers to bags and T-shirts, it's a great place for souvenir shopping while at the same time supporting the local community.
More about Tribal Textiles Tour
Kawaza Village Visit
Two to three hours
Just outside Zambia's South Luangwa National Park lies a normal, working rural African village which is open and welcoming to visitors to the Luangwa valley. There is nothing artificial or contrived about Kawaza Village, and it offers a rare opportunity to experience and appreciate Kunda culture, and meet local Zambians.
More about Kawaza Village Visit