Kafue National Park – 1 night Lusaka | 3 nights Kafue Riverfront | 3 nights Busanga Plains

On arrival at Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Zambia, you are met by our representative as you exit the arrivals terminal. Our representative will meet you and transfer you by road to your Lodge located on a game farm on the outskirts of Lusaka.

Road Transfer Time: approx. 1 hour

Arriving at your lodge, you are met with a refreshing welcome beverage before you are briefed and assisted to your Deluxe Room for your overnight stay. Enjoy time at leisure or explore the activities available on the Game Farm. These include game drives, horse back or walking safaris and culinary experiences.

All roads lead to Lusaka, the geographic, commercial and metaphorical heart of Zambia. Zambia’s contemporary culture is a blend of values, norms, material and spiritual traditions of more than 70 ethnically diverse people.

Most of the tribes of Zambia moved into the area in a series of migratory waves a few centuries ago. Before the colonial period, the region now known as Zambia was the home of several free states. Each having comprehensive economic links with each other and the outside world along trade routes to the east and west coast of Africa. The main export was copper, in exchange for textiles, jewellery, salt and hardware.

Day 2 :

Lusaka to Kafue Riverfront

This morning is an early one as you may decide to enjoy breakfast before enjoying a “Behind the Scenes” Tour at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery. The “BTS” Tour allows you to see how these baby Elephants are raised with first-hand experience. Assist the elephant keepers with getting the milk ready for these beautiful animals as well as how they are released when they are ready to go back into the wild!

In the mid-morning, you are met by your driver and transferred by road in a western direction to your Luxury Safari Lodge located along the Kafue River in the Kafue National Park. Enjoy a scenic drive from Lusaka, reaching your Lodge in the late afternoon.

Road Transfer Time: approx. 3 ½ hours

On arrival at your Lodge, you are met at reception and assisted to your Luxury Tented Suite for your 3-night stay. Depending on your arrival time, you may decide to enjoy time at leisure or enjoy one of the afternoon game activities before enjoying a traditional African Dinner under the stars!

Day 2-5 :

Kafue Riverfront

Kafue National Park was established in the 1950s by the legendary Norman Carr but despite its size, diversity and wealth of game, the park remains largely unexplored. Kafue National Park is 22,400 square kilometres of pristine African bush. This unexplored gem of a park is enticing for its incredible diversity of wildlife and its sheer quantity of big game. From the remote northern seasonal Busanga floodplain formed of open grassland dotted with wild date palm, sausage and fig tree ‘islands’, through central miombo woodland and along the banks of the mighty Kafue River to the more sandy southern plains the Kafue represents an incredible collection of diverse habitats.

Day 5 :

Kafue Riverfront to The Busanga Plains

Depart on your final morning game drive in the Central Kafue National Park before you are treated to Brunch overlooking the Great Wilderness and Kafue River. You are met at reception by your guide for your road transfer through the National Park to your Camp in the Northern Kafue National Park.

Road Transfer Time: approx. 5 hours

Your Road Transfer between the two properties will be an exciting one as you venture through the Kafue National Park in search of various wildlife. Enjoy an additional game drive as you are transferred through this natural nirvana. On arrival at your Camp, you are met and assisted to your “Nest” for your 3-night stay.

The afternoon is at leisure or you may decide to enjoy a afternoon game drive through the Northern Kafue National Park.

Day 5-8 :

Busanga Plains

Secluded and special, the Busanga Plains can be found in the north of Kafue National Park, one of the continent’s largest protected spaces. If it’s raw nature, off-the-beaten-track and authentic that you want out of a trip to Africa, this region delivers. It is probably best suited to second or third-time-to -Africa travellers who have already been to the Kruger and/or Botswana.

The plains are positioned on an ancient lakebed which undergoes regular flooding during Zambia’s rainy season. During dry spells, the plains are reminiscent of the savannah of the Serengeti plains, distinct from the miombo woodlands which characterise most of Kafue National Park. With an abundance of puku, wildebeest, oribi, bushbuck, red lechwe, sable and roan antelope, Kafue National Park is one of Zambia’s prime game-viewing locations.

Day 8 :

Departure

This morning you bid farewell to this African Wonderful as you enjoy breakfast overlooking the Plains. You are transferred by road to the Busanga Airstrip for your Light Aircraft Transfer to Lusaka and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

Light Aircraft Transfer Time: approx. 2 hours

Upon arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, you make your way through the International Departures Terminal for your International Flight Home.

Lusaka: Lilayi Lodge

Lilayi Lodge is located on the outskirts of Lusaka, on a 650-hectare farm providing guests with that feeling of being deep in the heart of the African bush. The Lodge is designed to accommodate 28 guests in ten Deluxe Chalets and two Family Chalets and is perfectly suited for guests travelling in and out of Lusaka.

The deluxe chalets sleep two people comfortably. Each unit consists of an open plan, en suite bedroom with a tastefully furnished lounge. The bathrooms boast Victoria Albert Volcanic Limestone soaker baths and spacious showers, while the room’s folding bay windows open up to a wooden deck and veranda. Amenities include LED satellite television, wireless Internet connection, bar fridge, and coffee/tea station.

The dining area is the theatre where they showcase their true culinary delights, ranging from 7 course food and wine pairings to sundowners on the restaurant deck. Enjoy the true Zambian hospitality whilst surrounded by the beautiful wildlife of the Lilayi Game Park. The Bar & Lounge Area is where guests can make themselves at home. Guests can enjoy a variety of beverages including signature cocktails and real Zambian Coffee.

Relax by our pool in the afternoons for a sundowner and wait for the wildlife of the game park to stroll in for their afternoon graze on the open lawn. A truly magnificent safari experience.

Kafue Riverfront: Ila Safari Lodge

Situated on the banks of the Kafue River, Ila Safari Lodge combines a sleek, modern design with an environmentally sustainable approach. The lodge is situated within Kafue National Park, an area of abundant wildlife, with hippos and elephants often seen relaxing along the riverbanks.

The 10 luxury safari tents are raised on decks overlooking the river and furnished in a modern African style, with each individually designed to blend in with its surrounding environment. The design of each tent is suited to mesh with the flora surrounding it providing shade, privacy and your very own piece of Kafue wilderness.

Our family tents can accommodate 4 people, or in case of families with 3 kids, can have an extra bed added. The spacious tents offer 2 separated sleeping departments, ideal for families or for couples sharing. Both family tents offer a luxurious bath and shower, overlooking the Kafue River.

All tents feature en suite bathrooms and either outside showers or baths. Beds are extra length for the most comfortable night’s sleep. Mosquito nets are spacious and billowing and are turned down for you each evening. The stay in your tent will be a unique and pampering bush experience, something you will remember for a lifetime!

The central boma of the lodge offers a swimming pool, an open-air restaurant, bar and lounge with 180-degree views over the river, a boat jetty, and a firepit area for evening gatherings. Trees have been incorporated into the design and structure of the lodge, and it is completely run on solar power. Dinner is served in the open-air restaurant, offering stunning views over the Kafue River, food is of a high quality and the service is excellent.

Busanga Plains: Chisa Busanga Camp

Positioned in a wildlife-rich area and in the heart of the Busanga Plains of the Northern Kafue National Park, Chisa Busanga will offer exceptionally good guided game drives and walking safaris. With only four rooms, Chisa Busanga Camp is an intimate Camp that was built with a unique style and remarkable architecture.

Each Room has been built as tree-house, in the shape of birds-nests, to perfectly blend-in with nature. The name of the Camp has been chosen based on this unique design, Chisa means birds nest in the local language. Each Tented Nest feature a Luxury Room with a full en-suite with single vanities and separate toilet cubicles. Showers are open plan to the bedroom but have shower curtains for privacy. All tents overlook the vast Busanga Plains and are elevated to a height of 4 meters which provides expansive views.

A short distance from your Nest, you can find the sparkling plunge pool that overlooks the plains as well as the Main Camp and Boma. Brunch, afternoon tea and dinner can be enjoyed in the open-air dining room which boasts scenic views of the Busanga Plains.

Meals are varied from International cuisine to local dishes. During your game activities, snacks and drinks are provided, while a small buffet is served in the morning prior to your morning game drive. A Tented Dining Room and Lounge is located next to the Main Camp and provides guests with various relaxation spots. Enjoy a superb wine and cocktails list at the Bar before making your way to the Boma for pre-dinner drinks.

INCLUDED IN PRICE Kafue Riverfront: Daily Safari Programme at Ila Safari Lodge

Ila Safari Lodge offers a wide variety of activities, to make sure you’ll get to experience the pristine wilderness of the Kafue National Park at its best and learn about the conservation programmes. Activities include Game drives in Kafue National Park and boat cruises down the river.

The Game Drives and River Cruises are excellent ways to see the abundant local wildlife, and you will have a good chance of seeing lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, and a range of other species. Ila Lodge takes great pride in their Eco-Lodge. Some of the vehicles at Ila Lodge are Eco friendly and run on electricity!

This vehicle allows you to experience all the sights and sounds of the bush in near silence and with a sense of environmental care. The eLandy is kept close to camp and operates in the Game Management Area for short drives or the relatively common ‘dinner table dash’ to investigate what that sound in the night was or how close those lion calls are!

Regular sightings include lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, a wide range of antelopes including roan, sable and zebra, hippo, crocodile, warthog, genet, jackal, mongoose, every entertaining baboons and monkeys and a myriad of species of bird. The rarer species are also on the cards including wild dog, cheetah, honey badger, civet, serval, bushpig, porcupine and bushbaby.

Besides the game drives, you can enjoy a boat cruise at either dawn or dusk along the Kafue River or a waling safari with on the specialist walking guides. The walking safari will take you on an exciting walk using footprints and spoor tracks to find the animals. Other activities include fishing, a visit to Ila Community and star gazing.

INCLUDED IN PRICE Busanga Plains: Daily Safari Programme at Chisa Busanga Camp

At Chisa Busanga Camp, you can expect thrilling game-drives and walking safaris. Keeping with the Green Safaris philosophy, the camp features an electric game-drive vehicle, to enable silent safaris, experience even more game and enjoy the sounds of the bush, without the constant rumble of a diesel-engine.

Enjoy sunrise and sunset game drives through the The Busanga Plains, a vast open grassland. The plains contrast with Zambia’s usual bush terrain which makes this area of the Kafue National Park a unique and exciting area. Exploring the plains by foot is a unique opportunity as you experience the African Bush as explores would.

Another exciting activity on offer is a exploring the plains with a e-bike! Cycle through the plains on Chisa Busanga’s very own electronic bicycles. The activities on offer at this Camp will allow you to experience the Plains and this unique Camp the way it should be, with exciting, eco-friendly and memorable game viewing activities.

The grasslands of Busanga Plains attract a variety of animals, most notably herds of zebra and blue wildebeest. The other large predators found here are cheetah and wild dog. The Busanga Plains certainly offer visitors their best chance of seeing cheetah in Zambia. Similarly, northern Kafue is one of the strongholds for wild dogs in the region, and they’re seen here fairly commonly.