Zambia
Day One: Arrive in Zambia
Welcome to Zambia. It’s an easy transfer to your lodge for the night – around 20 minutes by private car. You’ll have time to check-in and refresh, then you’ll enjoy a cruise along the Zambezi river as the sun sets and the animals come to the water for their last drink of the day. As the sky darkens from rose to deep purple, watch silhouetted birds flit across it and hear the soothing sound of the water below. You’ll then return to your chosen lodge for the night.
Overnight at your chosen lodge
Meals included: None (dinner, with the Deluxe option).
Classic: Victoria Falls Waterfront Lodge
Premium: David Livingstone Safari Lodge
Day Two: Big Cats and Bungees
After breakfast, you’ll have the chance of a lifetime to walk with cheetah. During this unique experience, you’ll visit the Mukuni Research Centre, which has an ongoing cheetah conservation programme. After a safety briefing, you’ll spend an hour with cheetahs who have been rescued by the programme, walking them on leads, playing with them and learning more about the species. You’ll get as close as possible to these beautiful creatures. Afterwards, you’ll return to your lodge for lunch, and then visit the majestic Victoria Falls with a private guide. Named as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and called ‘The Smoke That Thunders’ in the local language, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world and a sight of epic proportions. Take in its hugeness and then prepare to tackle it – from the Victoria Falls Bungee Bridge. As you ready yourself to jump, you’ll see spectacular views of the Zambezi River flowing into the Batoka Gorge, right on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe; then you’ll head 111 metres down on a bungee rope, on a never-to-be-forgotten leap into the unknown.
Overnight at your chosen lodge
Meals included: Dependent on lodge choice
Classic: Victoria Falls Waterfront Lodge
Premium: David Livingstone Safari Lodge
Day Three: Safari in Chobe
It’s an early start this morning, as you travel across the border to Botswana’s first national park, Chobe. Due to a high concentration of wildlife, this is one of the best places to view animals in the world, especially lion and elephant. You’ll get there by boat along the Zambezi River, passing the point where four countries meet (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia), and then you’ll transfer onto a River Safari along the Chobe River. Relax with drinks and snacks as you drift past groups of hippo, huge crocodiles and gigantic flocks of birds, then disembark for lunch at a lodge overlooking the river. Afterwards, you’ll head out into the Chobe National Park by open-top vehicle, spotting darting impala and strolling elephant on a game drive, before returning to your lodge in Zambia for the night.
Overnight at your chosen lodge
Meals included: Dependent on lodge choice
Classic: Victoria Falls Waterfront Lodge
Premium: David Livingstone Safari Lodge
Day Four: Victoria Falls by Helicopter
It’s your last full day at the lodge and you’ll end on a high, on an incredible trip above the falls – by microlight or helicopter. You can choose whether to soar serenely or hover by heli: both are incredible experiences.* There is no better way to grasp the scale of the falls than soaring above them, taking in the Zambezi River and huge gorges that lead up to them as you cut through watery mist. You’ll return to your lodge for lunch, then it’s all aboard the luxurious Livingstone Express in the late afternoon. You’ll savour sundowners followed by a silver service dinner on this classic steam train, as you leave the outskirts of Livingstone bound for the falls, spotting wildlife en route.
*Helicopter flights require a minimum of two passengers. Microlight flights are available for single travellers.
Overnight at your chosen lodge
Meals included: Dependent on lodge choice.
Classic: Victoria Falls Waterfront Lodge
Premium: David Livingstone Safari Lodge
Day Five: Home Time
After breakfast, you’ll be driven to Livingstone airport, ready for your onward flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation
Classic - Victoria Falls Waterfront Lodge
Premium - David Livingstone Safari Lodge
You will get a choice of hotel options for the duration of your experience:
Classic ★★★
Classic hotels provide mid-range accommodation (minimum three-star rated), with comfortable rooms and private facilities. We’ve selected these hotels based on positive client feedback.
Premium ★★★★
Premium hotels are typically upper mid range (usually four star), with more amenities than our classic choices. They all have comfortable rooms with private facilities and have received good client feedback.
Deluxe ★★★★★
Deluxe hotels are luxury hotels with excellent facilities and service, usually categorised as 4.5 or 5 star. Clients rate them extremely highly.
When booking an experience, please remember that the hotel category you select is for the whole holiday. The table below displays the hotels listed for each category. Please note that the actual hotel selection will be driven by availability at time of booking.
Overall meals included: 4 Breakfasts; (4 dinners also included for guests at David Livingstone Safari Lodge).
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- All game drives and park entry fees
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Victoria Falls bungee jump
- Microlight or helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Tips for guides, drivers and other staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday and during border crossings during your experience
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
What to pack:
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- A fleece or jacket for early mornings and evenings
- Cool, comfortable clothes
To check for related African trips, click here.
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £800 per person and take approximately 16 hours depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
Experience start point: Livingstone (LVI). Arrive by lunchtime.
End point: Livingstone (LVI).
Prices for departures to 30th October include a 20% Pioneers Club discount and are subject to Pioneers Club terms & conditions. Click here for more information about the Pioneers Club.
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