Enjoy walking safaris, game drives and night drives in South Luangwa National Park before travelling to Kasanka National Park to witness the incredible sight of millions of fruit bats taking up residence there.
The world's largest mammal migration - that of the straw-coloured fruit bat - takes place from November to December when between eight and ten million bats congregate in a two-hectare patch of mushitu forest. Each day at dusk, the bats - many of which have a wingspan of more than two metres - fly out of the forest in a ‘blizzard of bats’ to feed, returning only at dawn. Kasanka also offers excellent sightings of the shy and elusive sitatunga antelope, and is a birder’s paradise in which 466 species of bird have been recorded.
Combined with five nights in the Luangwa Valley on escorted walking safaris, vehicle safaris and night drives, this makes for a fantastic trip exploring the diverse wildlife of Zambia.
Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
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Day 2:
Arrive Lusaka
On arrival at Lusaka airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, located in the centre of the capital, for an overnight stay. The rest of the day is free to relax.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, 1-night
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Days 3-7
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Fly to Mfuwe & transfer to South Luangwa National Park
This morning you will transfer back to the airport and board a light aircraft to Mfuwe, from where you will be driven to Nkwali. The drive takes approximately 1 hour through colourful local villages and bush.
You spend four full days in South Luangwa National Park on escorted safaris to explore the rich diversity of the Luangwa Valley.
Safaris from all the camps and lodges in the South Luangwa are conducted both by open 4-wheel drive vehicles and on foot (in the dry months of mid-May to early November), with armed scouts and fully qualified safari guides. Night drives with powerful spotlights are a highlight.
Accommodation: Nkwali Camp, 5-nights
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Days 8-10
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Fly to Kasanka National Park; fruit bat migration
Today fly by light aircraft to Kasanka National Park, and transfer to your camp overlooking the blue waters of Lake Wasa.
Each day at Kasanka starts with a pre-dawn wake-up call and a quick cup of tea or coffee, so you can watch the bats returning to their roost first thing in the morning from one of the various hides around the forest. After breakfast back at camp, there is still plenty of time to head out again before lunch to look for shy sitatunga - which are relatively numerous here - Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, or birds that include Pel’s fishing owl.
After a short siesta afternoon tea and cake is served, followed by another relaxed walk or drive to the evening bat-watching location in time to see the dusk exodus. Once the sun has gone down you head back to camp for dinner and sundowners. Other options while in Kasanka include a day trip to the amazing Kundalila Falls and the rock paintings of Nsalu Caves.
Accommodation: Wasa Lodge, 3-nights
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Day 11:
Transfer to Lusaka & depart
Depending on your departure time, there may be an opportunity for a final early morning wildlife activity before transferring back to Lusaka by road, in time to connect with your flights back to the UK.
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Day 12:
Arrive UK
