This twin-centred safari, staying in two exceptional camps, offers you the opportunity to photograph Zambia’s exceptional wildlife under the guidance of photographic leader and Zambia expert Bret Charman.
Zambia is often thought of as one of Africa’s premier safari destinations, but many people miss out on the opportunity to visit the Kafue and Lower Zambezi National Parks. Combining these two beautiful parks gives unrivalled photographic opportunities in a wealth of beautiful landscapes. Both parks have their own distinct feel and therefore sightings, with varied photographic opportunities throughout the trip.
Kafue National Park, and the area around Musekese, is a particularly reliable place to photograph lion and leopard, while the area is also home to large herds of elephant and sought-after antelope such as sable, puku and hartebeest. The bird life is just as rewarding and can provide an entirely new portfolio of imagery. The golden light and cooler weather make this the perfect time to explore the Kafue’s vast landscape. Our stay at Musekese also provides the opportunity to enjoy boat safaris along the Kafue River and opens up another way to photograph the region’s exceptional wildlife.
Lower Zambezi National Park provides an entirely different backdrop, with huge trees and the constant companion of the mighty Zambezi. The wildlife highlights here are a little different from Kafue, and although there's undoubtedly some overlap, the difference in habitat will mean an entirely new canvas to work with. Alongside the big cats, lion and leopard, we can expect to see large herds of buffalo, huge elephants and African wild dog. Once again, there's the chance to see the wildlife from the water, and this allows you to photograph the wildlife drawn to the constant flow of the river.
With the quieter nature of these more remote, smaller camps, the service is very personal, and it isn’t unusual to enjoy exclusive sightings with our chosen subjects. This unique photographic safari promises to offer the opportunity to build up an impressive portfolio of Africa’s iconic wildlife in two of its most beautiful protected areas.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Depart the UK for an overnight flight to Lusaka, Zambia.
Day2: Arrive Lusaka & fly to Lufupa, Kafue
Today, we arrive in Lusaka and catch an afternoon flight to Lufupa airstrip in Kafue. On arrival at Lufupa, we are met and transferred by boat to Musekese Camp for our first meal together.
Accommodation: Musekese Camp, 4-nights
Days3-5: Photographic safaris in Kafue
Each morning for the next three days, we have an early wake-up call and head out on a morning safari. The length of the game drives depends on what we may see and the light conditions, but they typically last for between three and four hours. This allows plenty of time to find and photograph our target species such as lion and leopard.
Bret Charman is on hand throughout our safaris to offer guidance and help position the vehicle to maximise our photographic opportunities by working with our expert local guides. The open-sided vehicles are perfect for all-round visibility and photography.
During the middle of the day there's plenty of time to sit and enjoy the comforts of camp or utilise the experience and knowledge of Bret. As the heat of the day starts to fade away, it's time to head out again for our afternoon safari. With an idea of what has been seen in the day, we can make a plan and position ourselves to be able to photograph in the best of the golden light. Musekese also offers the chance to enjoy a night drive, therefore allowing us to see a host of other species that are often out of reach.
Day6: Light aircraft flight to Jeki airstrip, Lower Zambezi
This morning we enjoy one last game drive in the stunning surrounds of Kafue National Park, before heading back to the airstrip for our light aircraft flight to Jeki airstrip in Lower Zambezi National Park.
Upon our arrival at Jeki airstrip, we enjoy a short game-drive transfer to Chula Island Camp.
Accommodation: Chula Island Camp, 4-nights
Days7-9: Photographic safaris in Lower Zambezi
For the next few days, we can delight in the stunning surrounds of Lower Zambezi National Park. Similar to Kafue, we enjoy early morning safaris in the park, searching for the area’s exceptional wildlife. With an open woodland landscape, the photography here is very different, with a large emphasis on photographing our subjects in the environment.
After a chance to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch, there's the opportunity to enjoy afternoon safaris, where we once again have the chance to add to our already impressive portfolios. After enjoying a sundowner, there's also be the chance to enjoy night drives as we make our way back to camp. This is a typically Zambian safari schedule, and it offers the chance to see a wonderful array of species.
Day10: Morning safari; fly back to Lusaka & onward flight to the UK
This morning, we enjoy our last safari in Lower Zambezi National Park, before returning to camp and having to pack our things before our flight back to Lusaka this afternoon. Upon arrival in Lusaka, we head across to the international terminal and continue on our overnight flight back to the UK.
Day11: Arrive UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 11 daysfrom £7.995 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 9 daysfrom £7,095 pp
Bret is an award-winning wildlife photographer with a background in the wildlife travel and safari industry, with a particular interest in African and Australian wildlife.
After spending a year in Australia to pursue wildlife photography, he was rewarded with success at the prestigious Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, as well as winning the Birds in Flight category in Bird Photographer of the Year. Bret has experience leading groups in Europe, the Americas and in Africa.
Kafue is one of the world’s largest national parks. It’s has a rich variety of wildlife and a profusion of game who are attracted by the diverse habitats, which range from woodland opening onto wide, grassy dambos. The vast, rolling Busanga Plain, fed by the Lufupa River, attracts large herds of red lechwe and buffalo.
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Where: North Western Province
Ideal for viewing: Cape buffalo, defassa waterbuck, lion, red lechwe, sable
Excellent for: Walking safaris, Vehicle safaris, River safaris
The Lower Zambezi National Park is one of the few pristine wildernesses left in Africa. Its backdrop is dominated by the steep Zambezi Escarpment, but the Zambezi River is the main attraction, where tranquil yet exciting excursions by boat are an excellent way to appreciate the river and its wildlife.
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Where: Lusaka Province
Ideal for viewing: Cape buffalo, African elephant, cheetah, leopard, lion
Excellent for: Walking safaris, Vehicle safaris, River safaris
Taking its name from the local Kaonde name for the monkey-bread tree, Musekese is a small camp situated on the Kafue River, with superb views over the floodplain. Four chalets are surrounded by the sounds of the bush, with leopard coughing at night, hippo snorting and the eerie call of the scops owl.
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