Rivers & Rainbows of Luangwa

Day 1 - Depart UK

Fly with British Airways from London Heathrow to Lusaka (1830-0615*) in World Traveller class. (* Denotes arrival the next day.)

Days 2 and 3: Kapani Lodge, South Luangwa National Park

On arrival you will be met and transferred by air to Mfuwe in the heart of the Luangwa Valley. From Mfuwe there is a short (40 minute) drive to Kapani Lodge where you spend the next two nights.

Its wildlife is outstanding and you can expect to encounter numerous large animals both on foot, and in open four-wheel drives, both during the day and under the cover of darkness: Elephant, Lion, Baboon, Warthog, Puku, Impala, Crawshay's Zebra, Common Waterbuck, Cookson's Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu and Eland are all common, and Luangwa probably has the highest, naturally occurring population of Leopard anywhere in the world. For the birdwatcher too, Luangwa could hardly be better: Fish Eagles, Bateleurs, numerous other raptors, and bee-eaters, lovebirds, weavers and kingfishers to give it a splash of colour. (B,L,D)

Days 4 to 6: Mchenja, South Luangwa National Park

On the morning of Day 4 you transfer by 4-wheel drive to a riverside jetty and board a motor boat for the two-hour journey upriver to Mchenja. The river level is high in the emerald season making the journey exciting and interesting - there will be plenty of hippos and crocodiles to see, and numerous birds overhead many of them migrants flocking in preparation to head to the northern hemisphere.

The camp comprises five stylishly designed tents each under its own thatched roof, and each with private en-suite shower and bathroom facilities and inside bath. There is a small plunge pool by the bar area within the thatched main chitenje, allowing guests to seek cool refuge during the heat of the day. At this time of year game-viewing will be conducted by boat on the river and also on foot with an armed scout. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Kapani Lodge, South Luangwa National Park

After a morning game-viewing you return by river to Kapani for your final night of gameviewing. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Lusaka

Transfer by air this morning to Lusaka where you stay at one of the international hotels for our final night in Zambia. (B)

Day 9: Return to the UK

Fly today from Lusaka to London on the daytime British Airways flight, arriving into the UK early evening.