Shoebills, Lechwe & Luangwa

Day 1. Depart London

Depart London for Lusaka.

Days 2 to 4. Kasanka National Park [B (Days 3 & 4 only), L, D]

On arrival in Lusaka you continue your journey by light aircraft to Kasanka National Park and Wasa Camp, for a 3-night stay. Kasanka is one of the smallest parks in Zambia and is unique by being privately run. The habitat is a varied mixture of Miombo woodland, riverine forest, evergreen swamp forest and papyrus swamps. It also has lakes, lagoons, plains, dambos and marshes. The game concentrations are not high, but there are a number of specialist species here including Sitatunga, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Sable, Grysbok and Blue Monkey. The birdlife is exceptional with nearly 400 species having been recorded, including the rare Pel's Fishing Owl, Wattled Crane and Ross' Lourie. At this time of year the rains will have stopped but the towering cumulo-nimbus clouds, lush greenery and fairly high water level will result in superb photographic opportunities. Wasa Camp is a small, rustic, but comfortable camp, overlooking Lake Wasa and close to the Sitatunga hide and Mushitu (swamp) forest. There are eight chalets, three of which have en-suite facilities and private verandahs. The camp offers excellent walking trails, as well as safaris by canoe and 4-wheel drive.

Days 5 to 8. Bangweulu Swamps [B, L, D]

A days drive takes you past Chief Chitambo's village, where Dr Livingstone's heart was buried, and on to the expansive wetlands of the Bangweulu Swamps and Shoebill Camp. Your four nights here will be spent birdwatching and game-viewing by boat, 4-wheel drive and on foot and with luck you may even see the rare Shoebill from camp! At this time too, thousands of Black Lechwe congregate on the watery 'flats'. Bangweulu is a vast watery wilderness about 55 kilometres north-east of Kasanka National Park. The endemic Black Lechwe congregate here in herds of 10,000 strong. Elephant, Tsessebe, Cape Buffalo, Reedbuck, Oribi and Sitatunga have also adapted to this area and can be found in good numbers. The birdlife is prolific, particularly at the end of the rains (March to May). One of the magnificent rewards for visiting this area is the possibility of sighting the increasingly rare Shoebill, an unusual stork-like bird, now thought to be a distant relative of the pelican. Shoebill Camp is the only camp in this remote and rarely-visited wildlife paradise. The camp sleeps twelve, each twin-bedded tent having its own toilet and shower. Excursions are conducted on foot, by 4-wheel drive and in boats around the swamps (subject to the very variable water conditions).

Days 9 to 11. Luangwa Valley [B, L, D]

A visit to Zambia would be incomplete without a trip to the Luangwa so after a short light aircraft flight you end your safari with a 3-night sojourn at Kapani Lodge (see pages 60 & 61 for description of the accommodation and activities on offer).

Days 12 & 13. Homeward [B]

Return to Lusaka by air for your final night at the Chaminuka Hotel before returning to the UK on the daytime flight.