Lower Zambezi Canoe Safari

Board a light-aircraft flight from Lusaka to Jeki Airstrip in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The scenic 45-minute flight crosses the Zambezi escarpment, revealing the vast river below. On landing, transfer by open 4x4 to your luxury riverside camp. Settle into your suite — complete with private plunge pool and Zambezi views — and enjoy a welcome lunch on the camp deck. The afternoon is a gentle introduction: a canoe excursion on a calm stretch of river, paddling past sandbanks where crocodiles bask and watching African skimmers skim the surface. Return to camp for sundowners and dinner by the river.

Today's canoeing adventure takes you downstream through the heart of the park. Paddle silently past herds of elephants drinking and bathing at the water's edge — the intimacy of approaching these giants by canoe is an unforgettable experience. Navigate around hippo pods with your experienced guide, who reads the river expertly to ensure safety while maximising wildlife encounters. Stop on a sandbank island for a picnic lunch as fish eagles call overhead. The afternoon continues downstream, passing through channels where waterbuck, impala, and buffalo come to drink. Return to camp by motorboat as the sun sets over the Zambezi.

The morning brings a change of pace with a game drive into the park's interior. The riverine woodland supports healthy populations of lion, leopard, and buffalo, while the open floodplains attract large herds of zebra, impala, and waterbuck. Your guide tracks predator spoor through the bush, explaining the ecology and behaviour of each species encountered. After brunch at camp, the afternoon is dedicated to tiger fishing — the Lower Zambezi's famous fighting fish. Your fishing guide takes you to productive pools and rapids where tigerfish strike with explosive force. All fishing is catch-and-release, ensuring the sustainability of this world-class fishery. Non-fishing guests can enjoy a walking safari along the river bank.

Your final full day combines every element that makes the Lower Zambezi special. Begin with a walking safari along the riverbank, tracking fresh elephant prints and watching for the elusive Pel's fishing owl roosting in the riverine canopy. After brunch, a final canoe excursion explores upstream channels and backwaters teeming with birdlife — kingfishers, herons, storks, and the spectacular carmine bee-eater all compete for attention. The afternoon game drive targets any wish-list species before returning to camp for a farewell dinner served on a sandbank island, accessible only by boat — candles, white linen, and the sounds of the Zambezi make for an unforgettable final evening.

Enjoy a final sunrise from your plunge pool overlooking the Zambezi. After breakfast, transfer to Jeki Airstrip for your light-aircraft flight back to Lusaka. The flight over the escarpment provides a stunning final perspective on the Zambezi Valley. Arrive in Lusaka with time for lunch and connecting flights. Depart Zambia with memories of canoe encounters with elephants, the explosive strike of a tigerfish, and the profound peace of drifting down one of Africa's greatest rivers.