Leopards of Luangwa

Day 1. Depart London

Depart from London for Mfuwe, travelling via Nairobi and Lusaka.

Days 2 to 10. Luangwa Valley [B (Days 3 to 10 only), L, D]

On arrival at Mfuwe transfer to Kapani Lodge for your first night in the Luangwa Valley. South Luangwa is the jewel of the country's national parks and comprises 9,050 square kilometres of unspoilt African wilderness. Its eastern boundary is the meandering Luangwa River whose regular changes in course leave characteristic ox-bow lagoons which are one of the most scenic aspects of the park. Set amongst beautiful riverine vegetation of evergreen Mahogany and Ebony Trees, these lagoons and the 'grazing lawns' around them are a magnet to the outstanding wildlife of the park. You can expect to encounter numerous large animals here - Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Hippo, Thornicroft's Giraffe, Lion, Nile Crocodile, Warthog, Puku, Impala, Crawshay's Zebra, Cookson's Wildebeest, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu and Eland are all common, and the Luangwa Valley probably has the world's highest naturally occurring population of Leopard. For the birdwatcher too, Luangwa could hardly be better. The sun-scorched riverbanks play host to vast colonies of Carmine Bee-eaters, which together with numerous raptors, lovebirds, weavers and kingfishers lend more than a splash of colour to this beautiful destination. Your stay in Luangwa is centred around Kapani Lodge and its 'satellite' bush camps, Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli and Mchenja.

Kapani Lodge

Kapani Lodge is a small lodge on a quiet lagoon beside the Luangwa River which accommodates twenty guests. The rooms have an airy continental feel to them with high ceilings, overhead fans and large windows. Each bedroom has en-suite facilities, a large lounge/sitting area and a bar fridge. Most meals are served 'al fresco' with mid-morning brunch either on the beautifully manicured lawns or on the shady viewing platform overlooking the lagoon which also houses the bar. The lodge offers walks, day and night-time drives, as well as the chance to listen to the sounds of wildlife using special acoustic equipment, the latter being at additional cost. The four superb 'satellite' camps along the dry Luwi River (a tributary of the Luangwa) are only a walking safari's distance apart. Each bush camp is uniquely situated and each offers superb game-viewing opportunities. You will be able to enjoy morning and afternoon game drives as well as night-time safaris making use of powerful spotlights. You will also spend time on foot, with armed scouts, exploring without the use of a vehicle. No two days will be the same: you will sit by tranquil lagoons, track Lions, enjoy hearty bush breakfasts on the banks of the river, and enjoy unrivalled game-viewing!

Luwi

Luwi which accommodates eight people is set in a beautiful shady grove of trees. Each of the reed and thatch rooms has en-suite facilities. This is as close to the perfect 'bush camp' as it is possible to get.

Nsolo

Nsolo has five open-fronted 'chalets' on raised wooden platforms overlooking a nearby waterhole and whilst most of the time here is spent on walking safaris there will also be the opportunity for night drives.

Kakuli

Kakuli is a tented camp which accommodates ten people at the Luangwa's confluence with the Luwi River. All the tented rooms have en-suite bathrooms. There is a thatched dining and lounge area overlooking the river and a wide grazing lawn.

Mchenja

Mchenja is in a shady ebony grove upstream from Kakuli. The camp has five luxurious tents on raised wooden platforms, each with an indoor bath and outdoor shower. The camp also has a plunge pool. The game viewing in the area is superb and Mchenja is the perfect way to finish a walking safari through the Luangwa. Generally guests will spend the first night at Kapani, followed by a combination of nights at each of the intimate and remote bush camps, before returning to Kapani for the final night. This may of course be adjusted to suit.

Day 11. Homeward [B]

Take an early morning transfer to Mfuwe airport in time to catch your flight to Lusaka, where you board your flight to the UK. (Though you may perhaps consider extending your stay to Victoria Falls, the Lower Zambezi or even Malawi.)