Zambian Presidential Safari

Duration: 8 nights

Get away on your own “Presidential Retreat” including historic Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge in the game rich South Luangwa, originally built for Kenneth Kaunda, the first Zambian president, in the 1970s.

Day 01 - Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma

As you will be entering Zambia, a single entry visa will be required and is obtainable at the point of entry at a cost of USD50 per person, payable in cash. The visa fee is subject to change at the discretion of the Zambian Government.

On arrival at Livingstone Airport a Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge.  The transfer time is approximately 20 minutes. Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma is named after David Livingstone's faithful companions and consist of an intimate lodge and two exclusive houses, both of which are situated to make the most of the amazing views that the sweeping Zambezi River provides.

Overnight: Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma

Day 02 - Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma

The day is at leisure to enjoy the activities on offer, enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Mighty Zambezi River and watch an African sunset. Just a short drive away from the world famous Victoria Falls, the lodge offers guests a walking tour of The Falls. First described to Europe by explorer David Livingstone and known locally as the Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “the Smoke that Thunders”, the falls make a constant roar and are accompanied by a cloud of brilliant spray where the mile wide Upper Zambezi falls 300 feet into the Lower Zambezi. Rainbows constantly form and collapse in the tropical sunlight over the waterfall. The river is bordered by ebony groves and mopane forest. Well-known for its bird life, with many fish eating raptors attracted to the rich pickings in the river.

Overnight: Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma

Day 03 - Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge

Please meet the lodge representative in the reception area of the lodge for your transfer to Livingstone Airport. Depart Livingstone on a Proflight scheduled light aircraft flight via Lusaka to Mfuwe Airport. The flying time is approximately 1 hour to Lusaka, get off the plane and re check in for onward flight to Mfuwe. Lusaka to Mfuwe is a 1 hour flight. On arrival at the airport a Sanctuary Chichele Presidential lodge representative will transfer you to the camp. The transfer time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, mostly through the South Luangwa National Park.

Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge is situated in a remote wildlife rich area in the South Luangwa National Park Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge was originally built for Kenneth Kaunda, the former Zambian president, in the 1970s and the original colonial style has been retained in the furnishings. A long veranda stretches outside the dining room, from which guests are afforded views down the valley to the Luangwa itself. When possible, dinner is served outside. On cooler nights, roaring fires take the chill out of the air. The grunt of lions or the saw of leopards can often be heard from the wooded valleys that surround the lodge.

Each of the ten luxurious suites at Sanctuary Chichele comes complete with a four-poster bed, air conditioning, full bathroom and every other amenity guests could wish for - all in the middle of the African bush. The lodge also has one inter leading room and two triple rooms – making it ideal for families!

In keeping with the rest of the lodge, the suites are also decorated in an understated colonial style. French windows open onto private terraces, getting up early to watch the sun rise over the Luangwa Valley is a once in a lifetime experience.

A full range of day and night game drives in the South Luangwa National Park are offer

Overnight: Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge

Day 04 - Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge

The day is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer, including game drives and walking safaris. Walking is the best way to see the bush around Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge. Sanctuary’s experienced guides love showing guests the indicators of the wild, ‘rewinding’ the action of the last few hours from just a few small give away signs. See where an elephant stopped to browse, where a leopard scratched a tree or a pangolin rolled into a ball. Accompanied by an armed game scout and taking careful note of the wind to mask any scent. There’s nothing like seeing lion tracks or the giant footprint of an elephant to make guests relish the comforts of camp. The area is home to 60 mammals and over 400 bird species, making it one of the top birding destinations in the world.

Overnight: Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge

Day 05 - Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge

Lions and leopards are often seen in the area around the lodge, as are buffalo and elephant. For big game like this, guests really need a vehicle to get up close and here in the South Luangwa, travellers have the privilege of going on game drives at night. Guests are always amazed how much can be seen when they go down to the river for sundowner cocktails before leisurely driving back to camp. Bush babies in the trees stand out with their enormous eyes, puku and impala scarcely notice as vehicles pass by. Guests often see hyena and leopard in the early evenings and are able to get very close in Sanctuary Retreats’ specially designed 4 x 4 vehicles. On the open plains below the camp there are always grazing herds of antelope and of course they attract the predators that every guest wants to see.

Overnight: Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge

Day 06 - Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

After breakfast a camp representative will transfer you to the Mfuwe airport. The transfer time will be advised to you locally. Depart Mfuwe on Proflight shared light aircraft flight to Kulefu airstrip via Lusaka, in the Lower Zambezi. The flying time is approximately 1 hour to Lusaka and 40 minutes to the Lower Zambezi. On arrival at the Kulefu airstrip a camp representative will transfer you to the camp. A short walk down the bank to the boat. The transfer time is approximately 20 minutes by boat to the camp. Kindly note, that all inter-camp flights are subject to multiple pick up and drop offs en-route to your destination which would affect the flying time.

Deep in the game-rich Lower Zambezi National Park, Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp is a secluded, intimate safari camp settled comfortably in the deep shade of tall riverine trees. Profoundly peaceful, eco-friendly and well appointed, the camp overlooks one of the permanent channels of the legendary Zambezi River.

Enjoy the beautiful riverbank setting at Kulefu 'the faraway place', which offers excellent game viewing opportunities, as the wildlife is concentrated in the land corridor between the steep escarpment and the river. The camp offers seven spacious tented rooms with twin or double beds, mosquito nets and en-suite facilities, offering a relaxing view of the mighty Zambezi. The central lounge and dining area are housed in a magnificent Bedouin style tent which gives a lovely open air feel to the setting and allow guests to feel as though they are part of the surrounding environment. Teak furniture and natural fabrics add an authentic feel to this incredible bush experience as well as providing luxurious comfort. The location is enhanced by a swimming pool right on the river bank as well as a teak deck overlooking the river. An evening campfire forms an integral part of the camp where guests can sit and discuss the events and sightings of the day.
The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer.

Overnight: Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

Day 07 - Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

The day is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer. For the more adventuress take a breathtaking trip down one of the many channels on a canoe, viewing game from the waters edge. Try out your hand on some tiger fishing, done on a catch and release basis. Try beating our 12 pound (5,5kg) record! 

Enjoy a sundowner cruise on the camp private boats on one of the many channels of the Zambezi River.One of the most interesting ways of seeing the game at Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu is from the water. Sanctuary has specially designed flat-bottomed motorboats that take guests up close to the game in great comfort. Seeing a big bull elephant towering on the banks from the nearby safety of a motorboat or buffalo wading the river channels, looking for fresh grass on the islands is a thrilling sight. Enjoying refreshing sundowners, Kulefu coolers, while watching the sun set from the boat is the perfect opportunity to marvel at this untamed wild area and its beauty and diversity. A common sighting in the area are the elephants who often feed on the islands in and around camp, as well as occasional herds of zebra and kudu. Impala flit through the grasslands like rust flakes on a pine workbench, adding a little colour to the bush.

Overnight: Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

Day 08 - Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

The day is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer.

Another exhilarating experience is canoeing on the Lower Zambezi River where Sanctuary Retreats’ experienced guides lead canoe safaris through the reed beds, byways and channels through the woodlands that line the river for intimate encounters with hippos and waterbuck. Canoeing provides the perfect way to experience the bush from a different perspective. If guests get tired of paddling, motorboats can always tow their canoe back to camp while they enjoy a cocktail on the deck.

Overnight: Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

Day 09 - Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp

Time permitting this morning you can enjoy one last game viewing activity. After breakfast a camp representative will transfer you to the airstrip. The transfer time will be advised to you locally. Depart Kulefu on a Proflight shared light aircraft flight to Lusaka Airport. The flying time is approximately 40 minutes. Kindly note, that all inter-camp flights are subject to multiple pick up and drop offs en-route to your destination which would affect the flying time. Depart Lusaka on a scheduled flight for onward journey.

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